A Simulation Model of Drum-Buffer-Rope for Production Planning and Control at a Naval Aviation Depot

This paper describes a SLAM II- FORTRAN simulation model of Drum- buffer-rope (DBR) as a production planning and control methodology at the engine component division of a Naval Aviation Depot. The model represents all of the functional areas of remanufacturing facility (a total of 27 shops) required for the repair/overhaul of an aviation component, as well as DBR for production planning and control. The model allows for experimentation in a variety of areas, including setting buffer sizes, buffer management techniques, input/output control, and capacity management. The model experiments indicate that DBR is an extremely robust method of production planning and control and that DBR leads to better performance to schedule, lower work-in- process inventory and improved use of present resources.