Purpose: The theory of constraints (TOC) methodology and its drum-buffer-rope (DBR) production planning and control system are well suited to managing production plants in complex environments. The objective of this study was to design an evolution of the systematic process for implementing the...

Problem definition: We introduce and formalize a concept termed as conditional leadtime flexibility (CLF), which refers to the industry practice where a manufacturer requests its upstream suppliers to dynamically adjust the leadtimes. We consider an assemble-to-order (ATO) manufacturer's...

We review the recent academic literature on Assemble-to-Order (ATO) systems, which stock inventory of components that are then assembled into final products upon receipt of customer demand. The key feature of such systems, component commonality (i.e., products may share common components),...