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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Global supply chain design and optimization methodology

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The work for this thesis was performed at Honeywell in the Automation and Control Solutions (ACS) division. The project focuses on ACS's manufacturing strategy regarding its global supply chain design, primarily discussing the manufacturing growth opportunities available in emerging regions. Honeywell ACS's current methodology for the development of a long-term manufacturing strategy is based on growth and total cost reduction objectives. In order to comprehend the total cost of the manufacturing strategy, considerations such as inventory, logistics and duties, outsourcing and material sourcing are evaluated. The project also considers a factory's geographical location and ACS's year-by-year implementation plan. An outcome of this Honeywell project and the basis of this thesis is the development of a general supply chain design and optimization methodology that utilizes three analytical tools (Country Selection Framework, Total Cost Model and Implementation Plan Process) that are capable of validating the supply chain design of any company. The analytical tools can be used to verify key strategic supply chain decisions or to create a baseline manufacturing strategy. The following results can be determined using this supply chain design methodology: Determine an appropriate operating region for current or future business needs; Evaluate the feasibility of factory relocation projects by considering all relevant costs; Evaluate the cost implications of the supply chain structure by considering logistics, inventory and material sourcing costs; Understand the impact of outsourcing on the manufacturing strategy; Recommend a year-by-year implementation plan in the case of multiple projects and limited capital resources.

Degree

thesis:*
Department dc:contributor.department
Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
2004

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Henkle, Aimee L. (Aimee Leigh), 1975-
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Thomas Roemer and Alvin Drake.

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34762
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/34762

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
MIT
Base URL
dspace.mit.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Henkle, Aimee L. (Aimee Leigh), 1975-. Global supply chain design and optimization methodology. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34762