The optimal operation planning of a Kanban system with variable lead times

Abstract

In the majority of the previous research on Kanban systems delivery lead time is treated as a fixed value. In many practical situations, however, the lead time is variable. In this paper, optimal operation planning of a fixed interval withdrawal Kanban with variable lead times is proposed. A cost is incurred for inventory level less than the safety inventory level, since the risk of shortage of inventory must be considered. Behaviour of the optimal number of Kanbans and the withdrawal interval of Kanbans are investigated in terms of various parameters such as standard deviation and mean lead time.

Keywords:

• Kanban system
• optimal operation planning
• variable lead times
• total operation cost
• shortage inventory cost

Additional information

Notes on contributors

YOSHINARI YANAGAWA

YOSHINARI YANAGAWA is research associate of engineering mathematics at the Okayama University. He received his B.S. and M.S. in industrial engineering from the University of Osaka Prefecture. His current research interests are in the areas of JIT, inventory control and logistics. He has published papers in the Journal of Japan Industrial Management Associatio.

SHIGEJI MIYAZAKI

SHIGEJI MIYAZAKI is professor of engineering mathematics at the Okayama University. He received is B.S. in industrial engineering from Nagoya Institute of Technology, and M.S. and Ph.D. in industrial engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology. He served as research associate, assistant professor and associate professor of industrial engineering at the University of Osaka Prefecture until 1990. During 1983 and 1984 he was visiting assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering at the Ohio University. His research interests are in production scheduling, JIT, plant layout, and line balancing etc. He has published papers in theInternational Journal of Production Research, Journal of the Japan Industrial Management Association, Journal of the Operations Research Society of Japanetc.

HIROSHI OHTA

HIROSHI OHTA is professor of industrial engineering at the University of Osaka Prefecture. He received his B.S. in electronics, M.S. in electrical engineering and Ph.D. in industrial engineering from the University of Osaka Prefecture. During 1977 and 1978, he visited the Georgia Institute of Technology as a post-doctoral fellow. His research interests are in the application of control and information theory to industrial engineering, AI application in manufacturing and engineering statistics etc. He has published over 170 papers in journals such asAIIETransactions, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, Naval Research Logistics Quarterly, Journal of Quality Technology, Technometrics, Human Factors, International Journal of Production Research, International Journal of Systems Science, Journal of Operational Research Society, Journal of Japan Industrial Management Associationetc.