Title
Inventory-Service Optimization in Configure-to-Order Systems
Abstract
This study is motivated by a process-reengineering problem in personal computer (PC) manufacturing, i.e., to move from a build-to-stock operation that is centered around end-product inventory towards a configure-to-order (CTO) operation that eliminates endproduct inventory. In fact, CTO has made irrelevant the notion of preconfigured machine types and focuses instead on maintaining the right amount of inventory at the components. CTO appears to be the ideal operational model that provides both mass customization and a quick response time to order fulfillment. To quantify the inventory-service trade-off in the CTO environment, we develop a nonlinear optimization model with multiple constraints, reflecting the service levels offered to different market segments. To solve the optimization problem, we develop an exact algorithm for the important case of demand in each market segment having (at least) one unique component, and a greedy heuristic for the general (nonunique component) case. Furthermore, we show how to use sensitivity analysis, along with simulation, to fine-tune the solutions. The performance of the model and the solution approach is examined by extensive numerical studies on realistic problem data. We present the major findings in applying our model to study the inventory-service impacts in the reengineering of a PC manufacturing process.
Year
DOI
Venue
2002
10.1287/msom.4.2.114.282
Manufacturing & Service Operations Management
Keywords
Field
DocType
configure-to-order systems,realistic problem data,inventory-service optimization,pc manufacturing process,process-reengineering problem,build-to-stock operation,end-product inventory,optimization problem,nonlinear optimization model,endproduct inventory,cto environment,ideal operational model,sensitivity analysis,stochastic model,mass customization,nonlinear optimization,service level,greedy heuristic,supply chain,market segmentation,stochastic models
Mass customization,Mathematical optimization,Economics,Service level,Supply chain optimization,Nonlinear programming,Personal computer,Greedy algorithm,Optimization problem,Operations management,Assemble-to-order system
Journal
Volume
Issue
Citations 
4
2
34
PageRank 
References 
Authors
3.15
7
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Feng Cheng111111.08
Markus Ettl214018.66
Grace Lin313419.26
David D. Yao4861140.51