Assessing manufacturing system performance: Frequency response revisited

The use of continuous models, both mathematical and computer simulation package based, is currently being reappraised to evaluate the interaction between order and material flows in production environments. It is found that these models adequately replicate observed industrial behaviour. Furthermore, they are couched in terms, which permits the correlation between observed flow amplifications and various counterbalancing effects. The frequency response of these models can be directly interpreted as the needs of managers requiring smooth production flow in the face of periodic market trends. It is thus relevant to assessing system performance along with other standard tests found in classical control theory studies. In developing the use of general purpose models of manufacturing systems, the need for succinct and easily generated criteria has led to the authors favouring the use of frequency response as a general design tool. This paper explores the reasoning behind this choice via a comparison of two examples of inventory and order based production control systems.