Computation And Optimization Of Shipbuilding Supply Chain Response Time

Characterized by integrity and complication, the shipbuilding industry has been playing an important role in the development of national economy. With the continuing eastward of world shipbuilding center, China has become a more and more critical factor on the stage. However, compared with the world top level, we have to make up for a deep gap from the perspective of management. One illustrative problem, both serious and representative, is the violating of delivery date specified in the shipbuilding contract. Given the substantial costs of an unoccupied ship, delivery in time would definitely be more and more competitive, especially in the current financial crisis. Whereas the relationship between shipyards and their suppliers has somewhat been neglected, it would do a remarkable favor if we can view the shipbuilding supply chain response time as a whole. To that end, the thesis completes a fundamental study in the following scope.First, combining basic supply chain principles with the shipbuilding process, the author puts forward a conceptual model of the shipbuilding supply chain (SCC). Thus the structure of its response time is set up under three-stage SCC, multi-stage SCC as well as netlike SCC. The respective elements and determinants are analyzed. Then, based on the results of former researchers, the author considers Markov chain applicable in the computation of SCC response cycle and its distribution along the supply chain. Dividing the chain into interlinked operation cycles, mathematical formulae are derived using probability theorems. For net-like chains, formulae designed to calculate the response time of operation cycles and enterprise knots are proven valid, yet the expectation and variance of total response time have to be recalculated. Under the latter scenario, a special type of supply chain is taken as an example. Finally, the author illustrates an approach to recognize time bottlenecks in the SCC. Enlightened by the theory of constraints, further procedures are established to control the time bottlenecks. Bottlenecks are classified, causes are summed up and hence methods for clearance are attainable.The thesis takes into account the compelexity and uncertainties of SCC, and has to some extent realized the extension from chain-like SCC to net-like SCC. Computational results are in line with the industrial practice, which verifies the feasibility and robustness of the models. Nevertheless, problems remain unsolved for complicated net-like chains. Conclusions and suggestions herein may be helpful to the future work.