EkuPro: Decision support in short-term production control

 

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in mechanical engineering and plant construction are often characterised by dynamic customer-supplier relationships. The resulting fluctuations in the product range to be manufactured and the production quantities represent an external complexity. In addition, internal problems such as machine breakdowns, personnel shortages and faulty materials require a high level of planning effort in order to ensure a high level of adherence to delivery dates and quality.

Due to the interdependence of production orders, machine and personnel capacity, making decisions in the context of production planning and control is a challenge for employees. In many cases the decision making is based on subjective experience and assessment of the employee.

Research objective and procedure

In order to support the production controller in his work, realistic decisions are examined in tandem in the research project "EkuPro" of WZL of RWTH Aachen together with the FIR at RWTH Aachen. These decisions are analysed according to their cause-effect relationships, structured and transferred into a simulation model. In the form of simulated scenarios, the person in the decision situation is informed about the impact of the decision scenario with relevant key figures and thus supported in making an optimal decision. The quantitative evaluation of the situation and the simulation enable an objective and temporally extended consideration, which should improve the quality of the decision.

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