[Return to Ph.D. Research] [Return to Research Overview]
Updated: 3-Feb-97
| Student: | Sean Willems |
| Companies: | Kodak |
| Advisor: | Professor Steve Graves |
| Contact Info: | (617)-253-0250 fax (617)-258-7579 willems@mit.edu |
| Organization: | Sloan School OM Group |
| Address: | Room E53-364A 50 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02142 |
The goal of the project is to develop an optimization model that determines where to place strategic safety stock across a supply chain that is subject to demand or forecast uncertainty. The model can be used by both supply chain managers who want to take a higher level view of the supply chain and by materials management personnel who want to see how changes in one part of the supply chain influence the entire supply chain's performance.
A software application has been created for both Macintosh and Windows environments (95 or NT). You can get to the code in the Archives area.
The model has been applied to twelve supply chains at Kodak with impressive results. For several of the product flows, inventories have been reduce by 50% or more.
We are now in the process of applying the model to other companies, and we would be interested in hearing from anyone who thinks they might want to become involved in the project.