Customer demand satisfaction in production systems: A due-time performanceapproach

The problem of customer demand satisfaction in production systems with unre liable machines and finite finished goods buffers (FGB) is addressed. The m easure of customer demand satisfaction is characterized by the probability to ship to the customer a required number of parts during a fixed time inte rval. This measure, referred to as the due-time performance (DTP), is often used to characterize the quality of a supplier in the automotive industry supply chain. In this paper, a method for evaluating DTP in serial and asse mbly lines is developed and the problem of selecting capacity of the FGB is discussed. The results obtained are illustrated by a case study at an auto motive component plant.