Decision Sciences Journal
Volume 30, Number 1
Winter 1999
Dynamic Benchmarks for Operations Evaluation Using Soft Computing
Methods
Lewis H. Warren
Defence Science and Technology Organization, P. O. Box 1500,
Salisbury SA 5108, Australia, email: lewis.warren@dsto.defence.gov.au
Miles G. Nicholls
School of Business and Graduate School of Management, Swinburne
University of Technology, P. O. Box 218, Hawthorn Vic 3122, Australia,
email: mnicholls@swin.edu.au
ABSTRACT. New dynamic benchmarks are developed as performance
metrics for operational activities in the ingot mill of an aluminium
smelter. This new type of high-level performance measure enables
both a systematic and a holistic appraisal of operations performance
that is not possible at present. The benchmarks also allow changes
in performance of each distinct resource group to be clearly
identified. The method for computing such measures is based on
a wide range of shop-floor data, and possibility theory is used
to model the soft characteristics of much of the input. Fuzzy
performance estimates are dynamically updated with special attention
to combining the different forms of uncertainty that exist in
the input information. Although these procedures are site specific,
the methodology is applicable to other types of manufacturing
systems.
Subject Areas: Benchmarks, Fuzzy Logic, Global Operations
Management, and Meta-analysis. |