Material flow

About: Material flow is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3050 publications have been published within this topic receiving 36844 citations. The topic is also known as: material stream.

Material Flow in Electronic Product Based Supply Chains

Abstract: A review of electronics product based supply chains is presented. This naturally leads to the development of a “reference framework” for electronic products supply chains. It is used as a foundation for the analysis of a typical supply chain for a personal computer. Attention is focused on the published dynamic behavior associated with the electronic components echelon. The shortage/surplus behavior characteristic of the echelon and exemplified by the “bookings‐to‐billings” ratio is explained using a causal loop model. A pragmatic approach to the reduction in on‐costs achieved by redesign is presented and illustrated by comparing the relative merits of a number of suggested improvement strategies. Many of the features highlighted are applicable to the majority of electronic product supply chains; particularly the prominent role of multinational companies and the global nature of material supply. The establishment of much improved buyer‐supplier relationships is seen as an essential component in achieving improved supply chain design and operations.

Physical distribution, logistics, supply chain management, and the material flow theory: a historical perspective

Abstract: The evolution from physical distribution to logistics, and then to supply chain management has invoked many interesting studies in recent years. By applying the material flow theory that expands attributes of logistics to coordination of environment, economy, and society, this paper examines the evolution from a unique perspective: sustainable development. The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary review of the evolution of physical distribution, logistics, supply chain management, and their new stage-material flow theory. The paper aims at tracing how concepts and findings in physical distribution, logistics, supply chain management, and material flow have been developed and extended continually. The results show that the requirements for material flow services vary with the economic development level in different countries and that material flow service is required to be compatible with a country's development stage. The paper concludes that the MF theory is the option for dealing with the overwhelming complexity of material flow systems in the global economy of the twenty-first century.

An heuristic for configuring a mixed uni/bidirectional flow path for an AGV system

Abstract: An heuristic methodology has been developed in the present work for configuring a mixed (hybrid) uni/bidirectional flow path for an AGV material handling system. The given unidirectional flow path layout, material flow intensities and vehicle travelling time matrix among various processing centres are taken as input information to this technique. A multiplicative function of material flow intensities between any two centres is used as a criterion for selectively configuring a path as a bidirectional one. The highest such product indicates that the shorter path between that pair of centres is a strong candidate for being configured as bidirectional. The heuristic has been applied to an illustrative FMS and various alternate flow path designs have been obtained. Simulation is then performed with the aim of comparing the productive potentials of the facility when it is operated on either unidirectional, or mixed uni/bidirectional, or allbidirectional flow path design alternatives. The benefits of bidirection...

A simple methodology to define conical tool geometry and welding parameters in friction stir welding

Abstract: The friction stir welding is a solid state welding process which has been successfully applied for industrial parts. The process development has been supported by experimental and theoretical studies related to weld outcome, material flow and tool geometry. In this study, we propose a new methodology to define the geometry of a conical tool as well as welding parameters for the friction stir welding of thin plates of a given material. This is based on a concept that the tool geometry and process parameters must satisfy four heuristics: a thermal condition and rules relevant to volume, surface and material flow. This all should tend to ensure that the matter reaches an appropriate processing temperature and remains confined to the tool zone without any loss to the surroundings. A calculation algorithm that integrates a basic thermal model, tool geometry and process kinematics is proposed. The methodology and details of tool design are further discussed in relation with the definition of a process window. Experimental investigations on Al 2017-T4 alloys by using a shouldered unthreaded conical tool are presented in support of the model. The outcome of the model and experimental studies is further substantiated by using the published results.