A Hybrid Push/Pull Production Control System for Multistage Manufacturing Processes

Abstract

It is currently popular to classify production control systems for multi-stage manufacturing processes into Push-Type Systems and Pull-Type Systems. Push-Type Systems are commonly defined as those types of materials requirements planning (MRP) systems which utilize information of the future customer demands. Pull-Type Systems, on the other hand, are those where order quantities are controlled by the difference between the supplementary stock point and the state of current inventory. While the behavior of term-end inventories in Push-Type Systems are affected by fluctuation of demand. In this paper we deal with a Hybrid Production Control System, operated periodically, which joins the benefits of both systems. Theoretical arguments in advantage of this system are discussed and numerical studies are shown to give insights on the system’s performance.