A Reference Model for a Synchronized and Dynamic Alignment of the Order Fulfillment Process

Abstract

The market and technology environment of manufacturing companies in Europe is rapidly changing. Past crises have shown that variability in demand is far greater in magnitude in a highly networked global economy. With growing customer requirements, companies expand their variety of products, a trend that is intensified by the order-specific product customization typical for build-to-order and small batch production. Companies will only be able to address these challenges if a high level of technological and process flexibility and adaptability on the shop floor is provided for and made use of. Within a socio-technical production system (where men and technology interact), organizational and process-related response mechanisms are also necessary to dynamically align the complex order fulfilment process to be found in build-to-order and diversified mass production. The presented approach describes a reference model with a takt-based production system enabling the dynamic alignment of the entire order fulfillment process, spanning all stages from sales via material planning to manufacturing and assembly. The takt times are modularized and designed in a way to enable integration across functional boundaries for a dynamic alignment.