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

Decide on that is the best alternative and choose weights, 1.Decide on whic...

1.Decide on which is the best alternative and choose weights for the two capacity factors based on your findings. 2.Once you have selected the factors for the two capacity alter

Explain swot analysis of united airlines, Can you help me with the swot ana...

Can you help me with the swot analysis of united airlines?

Explain step of the risk identification process in a project, Describe the ...

Describe the outputs and subsequent steps of the risk identification process in a project.

Soft change initiatives - linking strategic, Soft Change Initiatives - Link...

Soft Change Initiatives - Linking Strategic 1. Team working/investors in people (IIP) 2. Empowerment - understanding the value chain and the 'cycle' of failure  3. The l

Line balancing, what do you understand by line balancing what happens if ba...

what do you understand by line balancing what happens if balance doesn''t exist

Describe supervisor can avoid rote, How can supervisors avoid receiving "ca...

How can supervisors avoid receiving "canned" or rote answers to interview questions? This question is about the Supervisor

Mass customisation - operation strategy, Mass Customisation - Operation Str...

Mass Customisation - Operation Strategy This example of mass customisation is rather limited in scope to denim trousers. A customer who wishes to purchase a jacket of a partic

Describe mpc can run independent of the operation plan, Which of the follow...

Which of the following is true? MPC can run independent of the operation plan. Business failure can result from poor MPC performance. In PAC, order release directly affect

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