This paper describes an innovative and integrated approach to component management optimization within a production/assembly system. In a mixed-models assembly process the handling of parts and components for each work station represents a substantial variable that can greatly affect job...

Purpose – Logisticians in the worldwide industry are frequently faced with the problem of measuring the total cost of holding inventories with simple and easy-to-use methodologies. The purpose of this paper is to look at the problem, and in particular illustrate the inventory holding cost rate...

A growing number of manufacturers are adopting the so-called supermarket strategy to supply components to the production system. Supermarkets are decentralized storage areas used as intermediate warehouses for parts required by the production system (typically assembly lines). Such a feeding...