Self-organizing Systems:
A system which returns to a state of balance after a shock or
perturbation.
Bucket
Brigades:
A production line that is self-balancing, without any conscious
intention of the workers, or management intervention. Bucket
Brigades have been implemented successfully in many industrial sites
across various applications.
Supply
Chain/Production Scheduling:
A production facility or supply chain that is able to
absorb shocks in demand or equipment and then return the system to a
state of balance. Here is a first paper.
Warehousing and Distribution:
The economics or science of how to design and operate a
facility, such as a distribution center or warehouse. I'm
teaching a PhD course in the area using journal papers and the web book
by Bartholdi and Hackman: see warehouse-science.com.
Here is one of my papers in the area on the design
and analysis of an orderpicking system.
CEO Survey: Here is a
survey with Chicago area CEO about their supply chains. Download Survey
Papers: Here are some of my other papers available to
download.
Teaching
Riverside Fashions Case:
A case designed for the MBA classroom about issues facing an
actual assembly plant and how to convert the plant to lean
manufacturing. I have a website with the case and supporting
teaching materials including lecture slides, teaching notes and a
video.
Other Resources Beamer
Lecture Macros:
A system I developed to make using the LaTeX-Beamer class
especially nice for teaching purposes. One command will generate four
versions of your slides from one LaTeX source file. A Class hand-out version that
hides selected materials. A Note
version with your lecture slide on top and your notes on bottom.
A Post-class version for
students with hidden material revealed. And of course a full Lecture version for use during
your lecture.
CEO Survey: Here is a
survey with Chicago area CEO about their supply chains.