Julien Maheut

A Supply Chain Operations Lot-Sizing and Scheduling Model with Alternative Operations

The aim of this paper is to propose an mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model for operations lot-sizing and scheduling (assignment and sequencing) in the supply chain of an international company which produces and delivers customized products through several geographically distributed assembly plants. The model schedules the purchase of raw materials in the various plants considered, the transshipments, shipments to customers and the various operations to assemble the product. The model considers different alternative production operations such as product substitution (upgrading), alternative procurement and transport operations. It also addresses the different lead times associated with these operations. Specific constraints such as space availability on each plant and workforces are contemplated. A novel approach based on the stroke concept is applied to the MILP model to model alternatives.

A decision support system for modelling and implementing the supply network configuration and operations scheduling problem in the machine tool industry

This paper presents a decision support system to simultaneously solve the supply network configuration problem and the operations scheduling problem for the machine tool industry. A novel database structure, which is able to consider alternative operations and alternative bills of material, has been used. An algorithm for complete enumeration to determine all the feasible solutions using stroke graphs is introduced. A multiagent-based simulator evaluates the different key performance indicators that the supply network deals with for each alternative solution (e.g. workload, profits, delivery times, etc.) to determine that ‘satisficed’ by the collaborative decision-making among its members. A case study based on a Spanish company that assembles highly customised machines and tools in several European plants is considered. From the experiments results based on data linked to this industry, it will be demonstrated that the tool is potentially useful for stakeholders and for the central decision-maker to make decisions collaboratively in a multisite context case.

Outreach initiatives operated by universities for increasing interest in science and technology

ABSTRACT Since the 1990s, the low number of students choosing to study science and technology in higher education has been on the societal agenda and many initiatives have been launched to promote awareness regarding career options. The initiatives particularly focus on increasing enrolment in the engineering programmes. This article describes and compares eight European initiatives that have been established and operated by universities (and in some cases through collaboration with other actors in society). Each initiative is summarised in a short essay that discusses motivation, organisation, pedagogical approach, and activities. The initiatives are characterised by comparing the driving forces behind their creation, how the initiative activities relate to the activities at the university, size based on the number of participants and cost per participant and pedagogical framework. There seem to be two main tracks for building outreach activities, one where outreach activities are based on the universitys normal activities, and one where outreach activities are designed specifically for the visiting students.

A capacitated material requirements planning model considering delivery constraints: A case study from the automotive industry.

JIT delivery practices require that only what is requested is sent. The simplified solution generally accepts that only, what is going to be sent is what is produced, with minimum inventory. Due to the turbulent environment within the plant, the reality is very different. Such simplifications are not viable and buffers between the delivery process and the production process are often allocated. In this paper we present a single model that successfully integrates the delivery, the production, and the supply process. The model that this paper presents includes usual operations plan objectives (production and delivery) but also regularity constraints that keep the system feasible under JIT approach. both objectives on a single model. This model has been successfully implemented in an engine plant of a global automaker which is now planning the operations (supply, transform, assembly and delivery of the plant) with it. Due to the specific characteristics of the tools used at the factory the model was divided into two different models that could be solved sequentially with a large gain in efficiency. The paper ends with some remarks about the implementation process and future research lines…

A Mixed-Integer Linear Programming Model for Transportation Planning in the Full Truck Load Strategy to Supply Products with Unbalanced Demand in the Just in Time Context: A Case Study

Growing awareness in cutting transport costs and minimizing the environmental impact means that companies are increasingly interested in using the full truck load strategy in their supply tasks. This strategy consists of filling trucks completely with one product type or a mixture of products from the same supplier. This paper aims to propose a mixed-integer linear programming model and procedure to fill trucks which considers limitations of stocks, stock levels and unbalanced demand and minimization of the total number of trucks used in the full truck load strategy. The results obtained from a case study are presented and are exported in a conventional spreadsheet available for a company in the automotive industry.

Competence Acquisition, Encouragement and Development in Smart Organizations: Some Examples

A good competence and knowledge management is required in smart companies to achieve and maintain competitive advantages. In this context, competence acquisition, encouragement and development are needed to hire and retain talented employees in these companies. In this paper, we describe briefly some examples according to these three dimensions.

Analisis del grado de consistencia entre diferentes modos de evaluar las competencias transversales de creatividad, pensamiento crítico, liderazgo y trabajo en equipo/red

Este trabajo ha sido parcialmente financiado por la Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (PIME/2016/A/027/A) “La evaluacion pareada como metodologia para la evaluacion del pensamiento critico de los alumnos”.

El efecto del empleo de anclas verbales o numéricas en una rúbrica para evaluar presentaciones orales, sobre la consistencia de las puntuaciones de los alumnos universitarios

En este trabajo comparamos el uso de dos versiones de una rubrica para la evaluacion, por parte de alumnos universitarios, de las presentaciones orales de sus companeros. Hemos analizado dos conjuntos de datos provenientes de estudiantes de Ingenieria de Organizacion Industrial: 29 presentaciones (449 evaluaciones independientes) en el ano 2004 y 36 presentaciones (468 evaluaciones independientes) en el ano 2013. Contrariamente a lo esperado la consistencia de las evaluaciones de la rubrica mejorada (segunda version) son peores que la primera. Pero esto puede ser debido a las diferencias en el modo de realizar la actividad de evaluacion con los alumnos.

Methodology to Manage Make-to-Order and Make-to-Stock Decisions in an Electronic Component Plant

Supply chain management is a crucial part of any production system, therefore many strategies and concepts have been developed in order to help firms make the most out of their manufacturing capacity and to fulfil the best service level for customers. However, companies still face the problem of supply chain failures. Some of the main strategies to fulfil orders that exist nowadays are make-to-order (MTO), make-to-stock (MTS), assemble-to-order (ATO) or engineer-to-order (ETO) policies. In this paper, we review the literature about methods to help stakeholders to decide if a product has to be MTO or MTS. A case study of a hybrid MTO/MTS system on an electrical component manufacturing plant, that has to consider new decision factors and constraints, is introduced.

MILP Model for Designing the Intermodal Inland Terminals and Seaports Network: A Case Study

This paper aims to propose a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model based on the typical hub location problem, which has been designed and used to propose an analysis for the intermodal inland terminals network design considering container seaports, their traffic and limited allocations. The main container freight flows from/to selected seaports and distances between provinces (with the support of a Geographic Information System) are considered. Estimated functions for road and railway transport costs are included, these being the required inputs to solve the problem. The model’s main objective is to reduce total transport costs through the optimal location of a set of inland terminals connected to seaports by railway. The problem has been successfully solved by using the Gurobi software, which allows an interesting analysis of inland terminals location and their area of influence.