Proposal of an alternative method to dynamic buffer management for sizing inventory levels in supply chains

• Grant number: 20/15077-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: June 01, 2021 - May 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering - Production Management
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Bernardi de Souza
• Grantee: Fernando Bernardi de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to evaluate the performance of Dynamic Buffer Management (DBM), and propose improvements to its procedures for resizing inventory levels of a factory and a distributor, which adopt, respectively, Make to Availability (MTA) system and the Theory of Constraints (TOC) pull distribution and replenishment solution. To this end, a model that represents a real environment will be developed using the Anylogic software and simulations will be carried out in different scenarios, enabling analyzes of the DBM method effectiveness based on indicators related to service level and inventory in the system. From the evaluations, scenarios in which the DBM may present unsatisfactory performances in relation to the selected measures and that differ from its conceptual proposal, which is to guarantee the availability of products, will be investigated. Then, this research will explore tools based on statistical principles, contributing to the proposition of an alternative to traditional DBM method so that the sizing of stock levels in supply chains be more effective. Finally, it is expected that this research will contribute to the scientific community and professionals related to operations management area, to the TOC research field, and that its results will be published in high impact international journals. (AU)