The interchangeability of safety stocks and safety lead time

Since the net influence of safety stocks and safety lead time and their quantitative interchangeability are of major interest, an analytical model is proposed for this study. The lead-time offset procedure for components loading are represented by a matrix model that is based on a lot-for-lot lot-sizing technique. This lead-time offset matrix model is the product of the precedence matrix and the fixed-duration matrix. The precedence matrix is formed according to the total requirement factor matrix and the duration matrix is formed by each component process time. Thus, the lead-time offset matrix will generate the starting period of each component. When the model is examined, it is found that planned safety stocks at the higher level can buffer the fluctuations of lower level components quantity as well as the fluctuations of same level components quantity. Safety stocks can also buffer shortages that are caused by the delay of raw material and manufacturing processes. Thus, safety stocks can be used to buffer unexpected delay time up to certain limits. A planned safety lead time at higher level component process can buffer the fluctuations of lower level components process time, as well as the same level component process time.