Design of a Production Planning System Using Customer Oriented Design and Resource Utilisation (CODARU)

Customer oriented design and resource utilisation (CODARU) is a new tool aimed at the integration of decision support systems in the design and manufacture of products based on customer requirements. The software system includes two distinct modules developed for this purpose. Customer optimisation route and evaluation (CORE) includes a novel approach allowing use of customer satisfaction levels in the design of products. The description of an algorithm deployed to select optimum process plans from process plan alternatives for a combination of designs is also provided to improve overall performance of a manufacturing/service system. A case study is presented in which CODARU is used to provide improved solutions through the integration of different functions within an enterprise. CODARU provides a systematic tool for a manufacturing/service system for integration of customer requirements into their design and production planning systems.