SBIR-STTR Award

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will investigate the feasibility of a new manufacturing improvement, planning and execution system that combines the data of a supply chain management system with the incentives of the lean manufacturing philosophy along with the author's own Factory Physics knowledge base in a systematic manner. The result will be a system containing implementation methods, training, and software that is repeatable, portable, and will always result in predictable, improved manufacturing logistical performance. Understanding manufacturing measures such as cycle time, throughput, capacity, work in process, inventory, and variability allows one to develop effective control procedures that are uniquely suited for any particular manufacturing environment. This project attempts to create a system that includes benchmarking (diagnostic) tools, analysis (planning) tools, and execution tools. What makes the proposed approach different is Factory Physics, Inc.'s systematic way of improving the manufacturing operation and addressing the planning and control needs. The broader impact of this research will be a well-defined methodology to improve the effectiveness of production systems that can be marketed to the manufacturing sector. In addition, using the system will result in better-educated manufacturing managers and engineers.

This SBIR Phase II project involves the creation of an innovative Methodology and software Toolkit that can substantially improve the supply chain of virtually any manufacturing firm. The proposed Support Tools offers a comprehensive system that combines the best of the "software only" and the "best-practices" approaches with a framework to create a new paradigm for production system improvement. Algorithms based on this framework will provide important diagnostic and analysis tools that show how and where major improvements to the supply chain should be made. Execution algorithms that "bolt onto" existing supply chain management systems will provide the means to improve productivity, reduce inventory, and increase customer responsiveness without having to replace existing implementations. The toolkit can also be delivered over the Internet, providing a cost effective alternative to smaller companies. Commercial versions of this innovation could enable widespread adoption of a new and more effective paradigm of manufacturing logistics. With the loss of 2.3 million jobs in the last three years, the issue of manufacturing productivity is critical as is the need for supply chain tools which integrate production software systems with operational initiatives to improve productivity and cost competitiveness. Widespread adoption of this methodology and tools could have a profound influence on the competitiveness of U.S. industry.