Application of analytic hierarchy process in just-in-time manufacturing systems: a review

Because of globalisation and an associated global manufacturing environment, cost competitiveness has become necessary. In order to survive, the manufacturing firms have to provide a high level of service to the customers and a high level of throughput with the lowest Work-In-Process (WIP) inventory among other factors. It often becomes difficult to achieve all the objectives by a company management. Implementation of the manufacturing techniques like just-in-time (JIT) or pull production techniques may give the solution. Selection of optimal policy among various JIT policies is another issue which requires a trade-off among performance measures. The most widely used method in the decision making is analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The present paper is devoted to a literature review concerning the applications of AHP in JIT manufacturing environment.