Skip to main content
Log in

Developing a framework for performance analysis of a production process controlled by Kanban and CONWIP

  • Published:
Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a framework for comparing pull production control systems, which defines and contains of activity interaction diagram and critical circuit. Kanban and CONWIP control systems are focused on and analyzed. We show that, for a production process controlled by Kanban or CONWIP, the critical circuit determines performance measures, such as the system throughput. Initial inventories as well as card distribution are important parameters that decide the critical circuit, and hence influence the system performance. In addition, by means of our proposed framework, we provide comparative results between Kanban and CONWIP control systems in tree-shaped production processes and serial production lines as sample applications of the framework. The results show that determining the certain superior production control system depends on the system parameters, such as the process structure, initial values and processing times.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baccelli F. L., Cohen G., Olsder G. J., Quadrat J. P. (1992) Synchronization and linearity—An algebra for discrete event systems. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Duenyas I. (1994) Estimating the throughput of acyclic assembly system. International Journal of Production Research 32: 1403–1419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duenyas I., Hopp W. J. (1992) CONWIP assembly with deterministic processing and random outages. IIE Transactions 24: 97–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Framinan J. M., Gonzalez P. L., Ruiz-Usano R. (2003) The CONWIP production control system: Review and research issues. Production Planning and Control 14: 255–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Framinan J. M., Gonzalez P. L., Ruiz-Usano R. (2006) Dynamic card controlling in a Conwip system. International Journal of Production Economics 99: 102–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Framinan J. M., Ruiz-Usano R., Leisten R. (2000) Input control and dispatching rules in a dynamic CONWIP flow-shop. International Journal of Production Research 38: 4589–4598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaury E. G. A., Pierreval H., Kleijnen J. P. C. (2000) An evolutionary approach to select a pull system among Kanban, Conwip and Hybrid. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 11: 157–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gstettner S., Kuhn H. (1996) Analysis of production control systems kanban and CONWIP. International Journal of Production Research 34: 3253–3274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hazra J., Seidmann A. (1996) Performance evaluation of closed tree-structured assembly systems. IIE Transactions 28: 591–599

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopp W. J., Roof M. L. (1998) Setting WIP levels with statistical throughput control (STC) in CONWIP production lines. International Journal of Production Research 36: 867–882

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopp W. J., Spearman M. L. (1991) Throughput of a constant work in process manufacturing line subject to failures. International Journal of Production Research 29: 635–655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopp W. J., Spearman M. L. (2008) Factory physics, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang M., Wang D., IP W. H. (1998) Simulation study of CONWIP for a cold rolling plant. International Journal of Production Economics 54: 257–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ip W. H., Huang M., Yung K. L., Wang D., Wang X. (2007) CONWIP based control of a lamp assembly production line. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 18(2): 261–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khojasteh-Ghamari, Y. (2009a). An integrated framework for pull production control systems. Ph.D. Thesis, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, Japan.

  • Khojasteh-Ghamari, Y. (2009b). A performance comparison between Kanban and CONWIP controlled assembly systems. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing (forthcoming). doi:10.1007/s10845-008-0174-5.

  • Monden Y. (1998) Toyota production system: An integrated approach to just-in-time. Industrial Engineering & Management Press, Norcross, GA

    Google Scholar 

  • Muckstadt J. A., Tayur S. R. (1995) A comparison of alternative kanban control mechanisms: I, background and structural results. IIE Transactions 27: 140–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pettersen J. A., Segerstedt A. (2009) Restricted work-in-process: A study of differences between Kanban and CONWIP. International Journal of Production Economics 118(1): 199–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sato R., Praehofer H. (1997) A discrete event model of business system—A systems theoretic foundation for information systems analysis: Part 1. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics 27(1): 1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma S., Agrawal N. (2009) Selection of a pull production control policy under different demand situations for a manufacturing system by AHP-algorithm. Computers and Operations Research 36: 1622–1632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spearman M. L., Zazanis M. A. (1992) Push and pull production systems: Issues and comparisons. Operations Research 40: 521–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spearman M. L., Woodruff D. L., Hopp W. J. (1990) CONWIP: A pull alternative to Kanban. International Journal of Production Research 23: 879–894

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi K., Hirotani D., Hirotani D. (2005) Comparing CONWIP, synchronized CONWIP, and kanban in complex supply chains. International journal of production Economics 93(94): 25–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yaghoub Khojasteh-Ghamari.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Khojasteh-Ghamari, Y. Developing a framework for performance analysis of a production process controlled by Kanban and CONWIP. J Intell Manuf 23, 61–71 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-009-0338-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-009-0338-y

Keywords

Navigation