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System State Analysis Using Value Stream Mapping, Discrete Event Simulation, and Fuzzy Logic
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- Author / Creator
- Noueihed, Karim
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Offsite construction (OSC) is a construction method commonly used for its benefits in improving quality, saving costs, and decreasing delivery time. Research on OSC production covers a wide range of applications, methodologies, and approaches, as attempts to optimize different aspects of any production system. However, a gap exists in the myopic approach of optimizing a production system, whereby studies focus on certain metrics that highlight a part of the system that overshadows another. This leads to suboptimal results and in some cases might lead to negative impacts on the production system. This research presents a framework to study and optimize OSC production systems on micro and macro levels. The framework is based on lean concepts and lean thinking. A case study of an OSC facility for making cabinets is used to apply and validate the framework. The research includes the application of value stream mapping (VSM) as a conceptual model to understand the current state of the system. Discrete-event simulation (DES) is used to study performance metrics on a micro level, including production lead time (PLT), production rate, station utilization, and levels of work in progress (WIP). Along with the analysis conducted to study the relationship between the different metrics evaluated, a new metric, total processing time / production lead time (TPT/PLT), is introduced as a single indicator of the overall state of the production system. TPT/PLT is analysed using fuzzy logic, since production system state is a linguistic variable. Lastly, lean interventions aimed to improve production are suggested and studied using the presented techniques to evaluate their impact on the production system, particularly with respect to certain metrics and holistically with respect to the system state. The results demonstrate that these interventions improve certain aspects of the production system; however, some lead to negative or neutral impact on the overall system state. This highlights the importance of a having a holistic approach when optimizing production systems with the consideration of the whole and not only the parts.
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2022
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Library with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.