Experiences Challengesin Creating Mathematical Optimization Modelsthat Facilitate Simultaneous Product and Supply Chain Design

摘要

This paper proposes a new perspective of product design and supply chain configuration (SCC) for large-scalernmanufacturing companies. In the classical design approach, the SCC problem is solved after the product design isrncompletely realized (sequential assumption). The sequential assumption is relaxed by simultaneously solving thernproduct design and SCC problems. By combining product design and supply chain design domains one faces twornmajor challenges. First, a large optimization state space that results in an unsolvable model may be created. Second,rnsignificantly large amount of information (acting as optimization model parameters) that cannot be generated byrntraditional information systems may be necessary. In this paper, research teams comprising of the University ofrnIllinois at Chicago researchers and Motorola Labs scientists report their experiences on a common project thatrnintends to solve the stated problems.