9409519 Johnson This research is aimed at developing supply chain models to facilitate the analysis of the delivery performance of a product. The supply chain of a product is the interdependent network of activities from procurement of raw material through final distribution. Supply chain models are analytical tools for analyzing the delivery performance of a product. To buffer against uncertainty in demand, manufacturers often hold excess inventory or maintain excess capacity. The models to be develop will analyze tradeoffs between buffering with capacity and inventory. These models will aid in capacity planning and inventory control. The outcome of this research will contribute to supply chain theory through the development of models which reflect manufacturing capacity limitations. The results will provide some guide to engineers and production managers in the design of supply chain software. Furthermore, knowledge will be gained as to when supply chain models are applicable and how model results should be interpreted by management.
