A production planning method for mass customization

Based on the analysis of the fundamental thoughts of mass customization, the production characteristics and product structure, the occurring problems in coding process of product items, the definition of product structure and production planning under the traditional MRPII system are discussed. It provides the method to identify the customized product code by product family code and customer order number. In virtue of the technology of expert system and the establishment of product family structure and product configuration knowledge base, the dynamic customized BOM can be engendered. Meanwhile, a production planning method oriented to mass customization is presented. For standard product and its module for all-purpose, the standard MRPII production mode has been adopted. As for customized product, the production and assembly plan can be operated based on standard product and its general module. Finally, this system offers customized product with specific characteristics to customers and implements the integration with standard MRPII system.