Management redesign of a multi-product line through discrete event simulation and response surface methodology

The redesign of the operational procedures of a multi-product line, which came into being to operate from a just-in-Time/pure pull perspective, involves a few points of uncertainty and points for management to reflect on. In particular, the unexpected existence of stochasticity linked to certain exogenous (demand becoming unstable) and endogenous variables (emergence of accidental malfunctions, worse performance by the machinery) makes the evaluation of the decisions one intends to implement complex. The paper demonstrates, upon application to a real case, how the combined use of Discrete Event Simulation, Design of Experiments and Response Surface Methodology may provide adequate quantitative support in similar Business Process Reengineering operations.