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

Which factors influence the choice of evaluation design, What factors influ...

What factors influence the choice of evaluation design? Which of these factors would have the greatest influence on your choice of an evaluation design? Which would have the smalle

Quality management, what are stra thetegies used in TQM to deal with issue ...

what are stra thetegies used in TQM to deal with issue of cost of quality

Share the data and understanding of the data, •Using the Internet, research...

•Using the Internet, research statistics using PollingReport.com. •Select a topic from either the "In the News" section or the "Issues" section. •Study the data that the Website pr

Point rating method, Point  Rating Method In  selecting  a site  of l...

Point  Rating Method In  selecting  a site  of location companies  have several  objectives, but  not  all are  of equal  importance. The relative weight a company assigns to

What is process of implementing a new strategy, In most cases, organization...

In most cases, organizations adjusted their structures as part of the process of implementing a new strategy. Why might this practice not be advisable?

Line balancing, Describe What happens if balance doesn’t exist

Describe What happens if balance doesn’t exist

Explain expected monetary value criterion, The product design group of Flor...

The product design group of Flores Electric Supplies, Inc., has determined that it needs to design a new series of switches. It must decide on one of three design strategies. The m

.., what steps of lacation selection?

what steps of lacation selection?

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