A Planning System Using a Four Level Approach for the Planning of Production in a Networked Organization

Planning of production in a networked organization is a challenge for many manufacturers in a globalized world. Optimal dimensioning of the network consisting of production sites and their economic interrelations is the overall planning task to be tackled. A system using a hierarchical four level approach to cope with this task is presented in this paper. The complex task is divided into four sub-tasks according to the time frame of the decisions, scope of consideration and the decision hierarchy of the company. These tasks are linked to a hierarchical overall process by adequate coordination processes. Mathematical optimization models are used to represent and solve the individual sub-problems. This process is implemented into a prototype planning system an evaluated using case studies.