A Combined Approach of Cycle Time Estimation in Mass Customization Enterprise

To enhance customer satisfactions and improve ability of quick responses, the production type of mass customization is advocated in many manufacturing enterprises. But in the mass customization enterprises, the customization demands will influence the standard cycle time estimation, which is essential in the analysis of contracts negotiation, capacity planning, and the assignments of due dates. Hence in this paper, a combined methodology employing an analytical model and a statistical regression method is proposed to facilitate the cycle time estimation in the mass customization enterprise. Using inferential reasoning for the analytical optimal model for cost minimization, it is deduced that the relationship between the customization degree and cost coefficient provider an efficient way to estimate the cycle time accurately. And their relationship is described with a statistical regression method. Finally, a case study from a bus manufacturing enterprise is used to illustrate the detailed estimation procedures.