A methodology for the vulnerability analysis of just-in-time production systems

Great emphasis is given by literature to the fragility of just-in-time production systems, due to the different sources of uncertainty which usually affect industrial operations. In this paper, the authors propose a methodology, based on the concept of vulnerability, to evaluate the effect of variability on just-in-time system performance. The proposed approach, specifically aimed to investigate the system sensitivity to changes (in particular, its incapacity of reaction), can be useful to point out the weakness of such systems and to suggest prevention measures as well as improvements of the management system. A simple model, well known in the literature, is analysed in terms of vulnerability to show the guide lines for the methodology implementation. Two industrial problems are also discussed in order to stress the relevance and the usefulness of the vulnerability analysis.