Multi-criteria approach to comparison of inspection allocation for multi-product manufacturing systems in make-to-order sector

This paper studies multi-product production manufacturing systems with in-line quality control. Quality control is carried at inspection stations located within a production line. Quality control has an impact on performance of the system: throughput decreases and resource utilization increases. Production lines are modeled as a multi-product Open Jackson Network, where stochastic character of routing is a result of quality control operations. Quality inspection can result in feedback to a work station of the manufacturing system. The approach developed allows for comparing different inspection allocations using three principal indices: overall cost, lead-time and equipment utilization.