Time lag effects - operations function, Operation Management

Assignment Help:

Time Lag Effects - Operations Function

Feedback control in complex systems can bring its own problems, due to time lag between measuring the output deviation and realising the effects of the corrective adjustments. A well-known illustration of this phenomenon was presented by Jay W Forrester in his book, Industrial Dynamics. He had been consulted by a white goods manufacturing concern which had been experiencing wildly fluctuating production levels over a period of years; despite the best efforts of the company's management they had been unable to keep production output in reasonable balance with customer demand. Forrester and his team studied the operations of the company's distribution chain (shown in simplified form in the figure) and formulated a computer simulation model of the factory - warehouse - distributor - retailers.

1355_Time Lag Effects – Operations Function.png

The figure below (adapted from Forrester, 1965) shows the results obtained when a 10 per cent step-increase in demand at the retail outlets was introduced. This chart is necessarily 'cluttered', to show how the various order, inventory and production levels changed in response to the initial increase in sales.

1964_Time Lag Effects – Operations Function 1.png

For our purposes it will be sufficient if you locate the two lines labeled 'Retail sales' and 'Factory production output'. It was found that, because of a series of time-lags in the chain, the feedback signal was greatly amplified by the time it reached the factory, resulting in over-reaction. Note that the production level climbs by 45 per cent, creating an excessive build up of inventories. In response the production level falls to 3 per cent less than the original level, and so on. It takes about 18 months for the fluctuations to be damped out.


Related Discussions:- Time lag effects - operations function

Force-field analysis - improving productivity, Force-field analysis - Impro...

Force-field analysis - Improving Productivity  Force-field analysis is based on the concept that any given level of productivity is the result of an equilibrium between drivi

Line balancing, What do you understand by “line balancing”? What happens if...

What do you understand by “line balancing”? What happens if balance doesn’t exist?

Explain what is the long-term probability, A copy machine is always in one ...

A copy machine is always in one of two states, either working or broken. If it is working, there is a 70% chance that it will be working tomorrow. If it is broken, there is a 50% c

Explain when a firm is able to move to an assemble, When a firm is able to ...

When a firm is able to move to an assemble- To- Order capability from a make -To- Stock approach, there can be a substantial reduction in the number of things that must be tracked

What are routine and strategic decisions, What are routine and strategic de...

What are routine and strategic decisions? Routine decisions are of repetitive nature that do not need much analysis and evaluation, are in the context of everyday operations of

Short-term and long-term liabilities, In addition to the car lease, Leonard...

In addition to the car lease, Leonard and Rose each have a VISA card with an interest rate of 18.25% p.a. They currently have a balance of $1,205 and made payments of $3,537 in 201

Explain about the level capacity strategy, Explain about the level capacity...

Explain about the level capacity strategy. Level capacity strategy: The organisation produces or manufactures at a constant rate of output avoiding any changes or fluctua

Long term capacity reduction, Long term Capacity Reduction Capacity pl...

Long term Capacity Reduction Capacity planning does not necessarily mean the expansion of the capacity. It may also mean reduction of the capacity which may be done in the fol

Explain what do your contingency plan, What do your contingency plan in cas...

What do your contingency plan in case your plan of action doesn't work?

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd