User performance evaluation of a pipeline based production control system

The paper examines the dynamic performance evaluation of an automatic pipeline, inventory and order based production control system (APIOBPCS) via the use of simulation. Model outputs of particular interest to the system users are finished goods stock levels, production output and work-in-progress (WIP). The major players with interests in the evaluation of an APIOBPCS include the inventory manager who puts a high priority on controlling stock levels, the production manager who wants effective control over the factory output and the production scheduler who needs accurate WIP information and utilisation to ensure that the system "pipeline" is full. A systems engineering methodology is introduced that examines all three measures and their total contribution to the dynamic performance of a system. A version of the multi attribute utility technology (MAUT) known as SMART (Simple Multi Attribute Rating Technique) is utilised in deriving a unified performance index.