An Overview of Input-Output Analysis Applied to Production-Inventory Systems

Input-Output Analysis, together with the Laplace transform, have been applied to multi-level, multi-period production-inventory systems in a number of papers. This article gives a historical overview of the areas involved in these studies. It is shown that the input and output matrices as well as the Leontief inverse can be generalised to include timing properties for the inputs by means of the Laplace transform. The consequent advantages are exemplified in different production models, treating, for instance, capacity requirements and safety stock problems. The main literature in this field concerns assembly systems, but the approach is easily applicable to process industries with a divergent material flow or when feedback is essential.