Advanced Series in Management
2 total works
Mathematical Theory of Production Planning
by Alain Bensoussan, etc., M. Crouhy, and J- M Proth
Published November 1983
The book proposes a unified mathematical treatment of production planning and production smoothing problems, in the framework of optimal control theory. General concave and convex cost models which relate most closely to real life applications are considered. Planning horizon results are always central to the discussion and developments. This allows the treatment of finite horizon problems only, and guarantees that the production plan implemented over the first periods is optimal with regard to any demand pattern beyond the planning horizon. Algorithms are proposed to compute the optimal production policy, together with the corresponding software designed to be implemented on any microcomputer. The book is organized in seven chapters and a mathematical appendix, which provides the reader with all the necessary background to render the volume self-contained.
In this book the strengths and weaknesses of typical U.S. and Japanese companies are identified and two different models of organizational adaptations (rational-strategic and organic-evolutionary) are proposed on the basis of a quantitative comparison of the largest 1,000 firms both in the U.S. and Japan. Strategies, organizational structures and management processes of large corporations in the U.S. and Japan are compared. An intensive longitudinal analysis of 36 large firms within the sample found both (a) consistent differences in strategy, organizational structure, and management process among the sample companies in general and (b) remarkable commonalities among high-performing companies in the two countries. An evolutionary model, which is drawn out from typical Japanese companies, is applicable to high performers in both countries with certain modifications.