In today's fast-changing business environment, companies must constantly adapt their supply chain policies.
E-business, advanced manufacturing and shorter product lifecycles increase the pressure on companies to optimize their supply chains.
The greater availability of data, coupled with the increase in computer power, enables more aspects of their operations to be included in the analysis, and decisions need to be continuously updated as new information becomes available.
Multi-echelon simulation and optimization
Industry
Semiconductors
Challenge
Simulate and optimize the total value stream of a multi-echelon production chain. Requires the combination of inventory control and production processes. A particular challenge is to capture the great details of the operational processes: e.g. BOM, Push & Pull simultaneously, high variability.
Solution
IBM Research implemented a discrete-event simulation for the multi-echelon production network. Specific modules cover optimization of sub-problems. The simulation is used for optimization of the inventory parameters and for evaluation of optimized production parameters. The solution is web-based.
Benefits
Enables the client to link tactical and strategic plans. The solution visualizes the impact of changing parameters on operational KPIs. Different what-if scenarios can be evaluated and compared e.g. to achieve a constantly high utilization of machines.
Inventory control
Related links
IBM Multi-Echelon Simulation and Optimization (MESO)
Microelectronics Gets Lean with MESO (IBM-internal only)
IBM Microelectronics Division (IBM-internal only)
Taming the Supply Chain. How IBM reduced its microelectronics inventory but elevated service levels
Contact the experts
Marco Laumanns
IBM Research scientist
Ulrich Schimpel
IBM Research scientist
Stefan Woerner
IBM Research scientist