EVALUATION OF JUST-IN-TIME ALTERNATIVES IN THE ELECTRIC WIRE-HARNESS INDUSTRY

This paper investigates some of the theoretical and practical issues f or the introduction of Just-in-Time (JIT) techniques into an automotiv e wire-harness assembly line. Some of the issues explored include the number of production kanbans and the unit load size to be used for eve ry air of subassembly-assembly stations in a production line. An assoc iated probability of stockout for different combinations is also deter mined. Simulation is used to validate the results obtained through an analytical method and to compare two commonly used strategies: the 'on -line' strategy which uses the subassembly operations adjacent to the assembly stations and the 'off-line' strategy which has the subassembl y operation at some distance from the assembly line. Four performance criteria are used to evaluate the strategies: throughput, work-in-proc ess inventory, lead time, and subassembly equipment utilization.