Strategic inventory management in an aerospace supply chain

This paper introduces multiple methods to set and optimize inventory levels. These methods are then classified based on the complexity involved to implement them. As an organization develops a deeper understanding of inventory, it becomes more mature and can apply more complex methods. This sequencing of methods is defined as a three phase maturity model. First, a foundational level of maturity is defined, which quantifies inventory levels based on future demand and business requirements. Second, a transitional level of maturity defines safety stock positioning in a single-echelon supply chain. Finally, the maturity model concludes with an optimal level of maturity that is based on principles of multi-echelon inventory optimization: safety stock at multiple positions of a supply chain. The setting for this paper was the Aerospace industry. Honeywell Aerospace is in the middle of a 3-year effort to re-engineer Sales, Inventory and Operations Planning (SIOP) systems. At the same time, Honeywell Aerospace is standardizing on a uniform implementation of an ERP system. Through SIOP, standard inventory and planning practices aided by the uniform ERP backbone and a strategic inventory program executive management hopes to reduce what is seen as a disproportionate contribution of inventory to Honeywell International.

Department dc:contributor.department

Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Mauro, Joseph (Joseph Peter)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• David Simchi-Levi and Donald B. Rosenfield.

• Sloan School of Management.
• Engineering Systems Division.
• Leaders for Manufacturing Program.

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.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/44295

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/44295