Approach for integrated product variant allocation and configuration adaption of global production networks featuring post-optimality analysis
针对全球生产网络中产品变体需求变化带来的复杂性，提出一个混合整数线性规划模型，集成产品变体分配与配置适应，并通过后最优性分析（影子价格和松弛变量）识别改进潜力，帮助管理者做出更优决策。
Given today’s demand shift for product variants triggered by different market segments, manufacturing companies are facing high degrees of complexity, when utilising their global production networks. To remain competitive, companies need to prepare proactively for increasing demand dynamics by using the adaptability of their production network and planning their product allocation to production network entities comprehensively. In this paper, a mixed-integer linear programme (MILP) is proposed for the integrated product variant allocation and configuration adaption of global production networks. Further improvement potential for the optimal solution is identified and evaluated by means of post-optimality analysis, i.e. an analysis of shadow prices and slack variables is conducted. This approach contributes towards decision-making in the context of strategic production network design. Its application may reduce the risk of disadvantages decisions and supports the identification of further improvement measures in complex decision-making problems while improving decision transparency. The approach is applied at a global production network for final assembly in the aeronautics industry.