Research On The Compontent Replenishment Policy Of Manufacturer In Assemble To Order System

With the development of the science and technology as well as the market competition becoming intensive, customers ask for a more specific product and quicker response from enterprises. As a result, meeting various demands of customers as quick as possible has become the target of many enterprises, for which enterprises have adopted a variety of advanced production technologies and management concepts, among which assemble-to-order (ATO) has become one of the preferential production mode of many enterprises.Under the ATO production mode, the manufacturer assembles final products with parts and components according to customers'demands after receiving their orders. Therefore, a good compontents replenishment policy is a key factor for a successful implementing ATO production mode. However, as the ATO mode is so different from the traditional build to stock production mode that the traditional replenishment strategies are not appropriate to be applied in ATO system, it is necessary to study the manufacturer's components replenishment policies in ATO system.In this thesis, the key issues of components replenishment of ATO manufacturer are studied, including components replenishment policies under customer-driven demand substitution, enterprise-driven demand substitution or mixed replenishment mode. The theoretical models, numerical examples and realitical cases are proposed to obtain and testify the optimal policies of product portfolio and pricing, as well as components replenishment. The conclusions of this thesis propose a theoritial basis for ATO manufacturers'decision making.First, the components replenishment policies under customer-driven demand substitution are studied. Under the assumption that the buying behavior of customers, whose demand is heterogeneous, is affected by product prices and manufacturer's inventory level, and the product family ATO manufacturer assembles family products with a common component and specific components, a components replenishment model under customer-driven demand substitution is developed. The optimal product pricing and components replenishment policy of manufacturer is proposed. Furthermore, under the assumption that the intrinsic value and sales price of products, and the type of potential customer are common knowledge, the model of product portofolio and components replenishment for ATO manufacturer under customer-driven demand substitution is developed, and the optimal policy and algorithm for it are proposed. Finally, two numerical examples and a realitical case are given to illuminate the models.Second, the component replenishment policy under enterprise-driven demand substitution is studied. Considering that the ATO manufacturer assembles family products with common component and specific components, and affords a certain price discounts to customers to enhance customer brand loyalty and reduce the cost of shortage and lost sale when the component is out of stock, a components replenishment model under enterprise-driven demand substitution is developed, and the optimal policy and algorithm for it are proposed through theoretical analysis. Finally, a numerical example and a realitical case are given to illuminate the model.Finally, the component replenishment policy under replenishment of push and pull mode is studied. Considering that push replenishment mode and pull replenishment mode are simultaneously adopted by ATO manufacturer, a model of the ATO manufacturer's conponents replishment under mixed replishment is developedit, and the optimal solution is obtained by backward induction approach. Finally, a numerical example and a realitical case are proposed to illuminate the model.