SIMULATION BASED COMPARISON OF PUSH VERSUS PULL PRODUCTION IN A HARDWOOD DIMENSION MILL
Open Access
Author:
Gill, Satinder S
Graduate Program:
Industrial Engineering
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
None
Committee Members:
Deborah Jean Medeiros, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Deborah Jean Medeiros, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Charles David Ray Sr., Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Keywords:
Hardwood Dimension Mill Manufacturing Simulation Push-Pull System
Abstract:
This research focuses on two different operational strategies in a typical hardwood dimension mill - pull and push order scheduling. The use of simulation modeling to test and clarify lean production strategies in dimension mill operations is a powerful technique. A discrete event system simulation model of a hardwood dimension mill comprising different stations like planing station, ripping station, chop station, and molding station was developed for this purpose.
The objective of this research is to compare the relative impact of push and pull scheduling systems on final product inventory levels. For the mill and specific push and pull systems simulated, the push system resulted in higher inventory accumulations, throughput, and yield. The lower inventory accumulations associated with the pull configuration that was implemented did not benefit the system enough to allow greater throughput. The pull system resulted in lower utilization of machines and lower lead times.
