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Optimal inventory control in cardboard box producing factories : a case study

Thesis (MScIngwet)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is a case study in optimal inventory control, applied to Clickabox factory, a
South African cardboard box producer from whom cardboard boxes may be ordered at
short notice via the internet.
The problem of developing a decision–support system for optimal stockholding at the
factory, in order to minimize cardboard off–cut wastage subject to required service levels,
is addressed in this thesis. Previously a simple replenishment policy, based largely on
experience, was implemented at the factory. The inventory model developed for and
applied to Clickabox in this thesis takes account of a raw materials substitution cascade,
as well as the stochasticity of demand, and other factors such as cost, service level and
spatial requirements for the storage of stock. This combination of stochastic demand and
product substitution has not, to the author’s knowledge, previously been dealt with in
the literature.
There are two primary deliverables of this study. The first is a suggestion as to the suitable
stock composition (cardboard types from which boxes may be manufactured) to be kept
in inventory at the factory. The second deliverable is a computerised decision–support
system, based on the inventory model developed, to aid in future inventory replenishment
decisions at Clickabox.
Some of the results of this thesis have, at the time of writing, already been implemented
with success at the factory. These include the suggestions given to the management
of Clickabox as to the suitable stock types to be held in inventory, which have been
implemented in stages since March 2003. The suggested stock composition has proven to
be superior to the previous stock types held, in terms of a reduction in off–cut wastage
and increased availability of suitable boards. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is ’n gevallestudie in optimale voorraadbeheer, toegepas op Clickabox fabriek,
’n Suid–Afrikaanse kartondoosprodusent by wie kartondose op kort kennisgewing via die
internet bestel kan word.
In hierdie tesis word ’n besluitnemingsteunstelsel ontwikkel vir optimale bestuur van voorraad
by die fabriek, wat karton afknipselvermorsing onderhewig aan vereiste diensvlakke
minimeer. Vantevore is ’n eenvoudige voorraad aanvullingstrategie, wat hoofsaaklik op
ondervinding gebaseer was, by die fabriek toegepas. ’n Wetenskaplike gefundeerde voorraadmodel
word vir Clickabox ontwikkel en toegepas, waarin ’n rou–voorraad kaskade–
substitusie proses in aanmerking geneem word, asook die stogastiese vraag na kartondose
en faktore soos prys, diensvlakke en benodigde stoorruimte. Hierdie kombinasie van stogastiese
vraag en rou–voorraad kaskade–substitusie is, tot die skrywer se kennis, nog nie
in die literatuur behandel nie.
Die studie het twee hoof–uitkomste ten doel. Die eerste is ’n aanbeveling ten opsigte van
’n geskikte rou–voorraad samestelling (kartontipes waaruit kartondose geproduseer kan
word) wat by die fabriek in voorraad gehou moet word. Die tweede is ’n rekenaarmatige
besluitnemingsteunstelsel, wat op die ontwikkelde voorraadbeheermodel gegrond is, en
wat vir toekomstige besluite in verband met voorraadaanvulling by Clickabox bedoel is.
Van die resultate wat in hierdie tesis vervat is, is reeds ten tyde van die opskryf daarvan
doeltreffend by die fabriek ge¨ımplementeer. Ondermeer is die aanbeveling in verband
met die geskikte voorraadsamestelling, geleidelik vanaf Maart 2003 by die fabriek ingefaseer.
Dit het duidelik geword dat hierdie samestelling beter as die vorige voorraadprofiel
funksioneer, in terme van ’n verlaging in afknipselvermorsing en ’n verhoging in
die beskikbaarheid van geskikte kartonne.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16259
Date12 1900
CreatorsBlack, Catherine Dianne
ContributorsVan Vuuren, J.H., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mathematical Sciences.
PublisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatxxii, 158 p.: ill.
RightsUniversity of Stellenbosch

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