Article ID: | iaor19941397 |
Country: | United Kingdom |
Volume: | 31 |
Issue: | 12 |
Start Page Number: | 2789 |
End Page Number: | 2806 |
Publication Date: | Dec 1993 |
Journal: | International Journal of Production Research |
Authors: | Donahue K.L., Spearman M.L. |
Keywords: | perturbation analysis |
With the recent increase in expense and specialization of equipment, capacity decisions have taken on greater significance. As a result, companies are in need of a better understanding of the investment tradeoffs. In this paper, the authors examine the problem of determining the most profitable capacity configuration for a production line modelled as a series of single-server stations. In the context of a constant work-in-process control system, an algorithm is developed for solving the general problem using a single-run simulation procedure. Various market structures are examined and sensitivity analysis is performed on the cost of capacity, quality and the amount of work-in-process allowed in the system.