Cornwell Glass produces replacement automobile glass for all makes of cars. Cornwell has a sophisticated forecasting system
Question:
Cornwell uses these forecasts for its production planning. It manufactures several types of glass, and demand is aggregated across products and measured in pounds.
It is obvious from the demands that there is a great deal of seasonality/cyclicality in the demand pattern. Cornwell will need to take this into account in developing a production plan for the coming year.
Cornwell must consider the costs of hiring or firing workers; using overtime; subcontracting; and holding inventory or running out of the product. The holding cost for glass is $.12 per pound per week. The company estimates that the cost of a late order is $20 per pound per week late.Cornwell currently costs out each hire at $5.63 per pound (based on training costs and production rates per worker). It costs out each fire at $15.73 per pound (based on unemployment compensation and loss of good will). The company currently has the capacity to manufacture 1,900 pounds of glass per week. This capacity cannot be exceeded under any plan. At most, 2,000 pounds can be subcontracted in a given week, and overtime is limited to 250 pounds per week. Glass that is manufactured during overtime costs $8 per pound more than glass manufactured during regular time. Glass that is subcontracted costs $2 more per pound than glass that is produced during overtime.
The current inventory is 73 units, and currently production is working at full capacity, 1,900 units. Cornwell has not been able to determine whether demands not met in the current month can be met later or whether these orders are lost.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Find the production schedule Cornwell should follow under the various assumptions and policies, and detail the differences among these schedules.
Step by Step Answer:
Introduction to Operations Research
ISBN: 978-1259162985
10th edition
Authors: Frederick S. Hillier, Gerald J. Lieberman