Implementation of S-DBR in four manufacturing SMEs: a research case study

Abstract

Production planning and control systems (PPCs) are tools that have a major effect on the performance of manufacturing companies. An inappropriate determination of the applicability of PPCs could seriously jeopardise the ability to achieve competitive priorities. This mistake can be expensive for any company, but proper implementation is particularly critical for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are characterised by limited access to financial resources. Simplified Drum-Buffer-Rope (S-DBR) is a PPC control approach that is characterised by minimum detail in the planning stage and a primary emphasis on the control of execution. Therefore, this approach is a suitable choice for the highly variable context of SMEs. This study aims to explore the practical issues related to S-DBR implementation in four Ecuadorian SMEs through case study research. The case analysis within this study first identifies the choices made in the implementation process design within the four companies according to process and product characteristics. We then conduct a cross-case analysis to explore the effects of the S-DBR implementation process designs on a group of performance measures. Our research findings provide new insights into the S-DBR implementation process in the context of SMEs, and the effects of this approach on performance measures.

Improving the Return Loading Rate Problem in Northwest China Based on the Theory of Constraints

“…By the resulting outcomes, our proposed solution procedure successfully integrates the Sub-Tour reversal model and TOC. The results show the superiority of the TOC model in solving issues in logistics and answering the question mentioned by previous studies (see Schragenheim and Dettmer [24]; Lee et al [13]; Chang and Huang [14]; Benavides and Landeghem [25]; Chakravorty and Hales [26]). The TOC model achieves the logistics goal for increasing the return loading rate by increasing by more than 50%.…”

Analysis of production resources improvement strategies in make-to-stock environments managed by the simplified drum-buffer-rope system

“…In research carried out on the Scopus and Web of Science databases, only nine papers published in journals involving the S-DBR method were identified. Of these, eight addressed applications in MTO environments (Lee et al, 2010;Souza & Baptista, 2010;Kim et al, 2010;Chang & Huang, 2011a, b, 2014Benavides & Van Landegheim, 2015;Chakravorty & Hales, 2016), while only one approached the MTA method (Souza & Pires, 2014). Lee et al (2010) address some difficulties that some production environments may impose when implementing the S-DBR in MTO environments.…”

“…From a proposal for a production order sequencing method based on layer production buffer to monitor the status of the buffer (Chang & Huang (2011a, b), Chang & Huang (2014) proposed an enhanced simplified drum-buffer-rope (SDBR) model to be applied in a reentrant flow shop (RFS). More recently, applications of the S-DBR system have been studied, as in small and medium-sized companies, due to the simplified planning characteristics of such a system (Benavides & Van Landegheim, 2015), or in assessing the performance of work relationships (Chakravorty & Hales, 2016).…”

Analysis of a support method for offering delivery promises in environments managed by S-DBR system

“…Relying on Ikeziri et al (2019), a search for studies focused on the S-DBR method was carried out on the Scopus database. Among the studies found were those that showed production system improvements with S-DBR, which permitted greater flow (Buestán Benavides & Van Landeghem, 2015;Hales & Chakravorty, 2016) and reductions in response times (Hales & Chakravorty, 2016).…”