Emergent Methodology for Solving Tool Inventory Sizing Problems in a Complex Production System

Based on recently established correlations between emergent synthesis classes, a Class III synthesis problem concerning tool inventory management in a complex make-to-order manufacturing environment is addressed. Such environment is shown to be affected by significant non-random uncertainty involving tool delivery time fluctuations and unpredictable tool demand. The trade-off typical of the inventory sizing dilemma is introduced with reference to reusable tools, such as grinding wheels, and a satisfactory solution is achieved by means of a dynamic purpose assignment approach. This leads to a global behavior, expressed by a recurrently oscillating pattern, affecting the inventory level trend in the nearby of a peculiar attraction band: the oscillation amplitude mainly depends on the attractor's bandwidth as well as on the peaks attained by the tool demand rate during the tool management period.