Logistics-Oriented Production Configuration Using the Example of MRO Service Providers

Abstract

Providers of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for complex capital goods, such as aircraft engines, which are indispensable for the customers to perform their services, are facing increasing market dynamics as well as constantly growing, diversifying customer requirements. The ability to achieve (the required) high logistics performance is greatly determined by a suitable production configuration. From the strategic definition of goals to the design of suitable supply chain structures as well as planning, controlling and monitoring mechanisms, a multitude of interdependent configuration decisions must be made on different organisational levels at various points in time. At the same time, numerous internal and external influencing variables must be taken into account, observed and continuously examined for configuration-relevant changes. If necessary, suitable reconfiguration measures must be initiated. This article presents an approach to production configuration based on logistics modelling. To handle the multitude of effects and interactions they are translated into a framework for efficient and sustainable production configuration. It consists of four successive levels for the initial configuration as well as an additional module for long-term production configuration monitoring. It serves to review pre-existing configurations in the context of reorganisation projects and enables the target-oriented configuration of internal supply chains.