Analytics for setting up strategic inventory systems to handle small lot orders in the steel industry

Abstract

A method of managing manufacturing production includes determining a plurality of products for manufacture using a production line is disclosed. Each product is specified by composition and production line steps and criteria. Production orders for products are analyzed to determine whether products should be grouped into product-types, and whether product (type) should be made-to-stock or made to order. Queuing theory based analytic methods and optimization based heuristics are used to determine the priority for each product in the production line, taking product substitution opportunities in batch-production into account. Preselected points along the production line are determined for gathering an amount of inventory for each product. This decision is made considering product-differentiation down the line. An established inventory policy for each product at preselected points along the production line requires that inventory is reviewed and an order is placed for additional inventory when on hand inventory reaches a predetermined reorder point.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.