SBIR Phase I: Web-Based Manufacturing Performance Management with Multi-Objective, Multi-model Optimization using Meta-Modeling

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will further develop a new Flow Path Management System (FPMS) representing an innovation in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) that is more effective than existing supply chain management (SCM) software at improving manufacturing performance, because it incorporates "lean manufacturing" principles into a set of innovative simulation-based optimization algorithms. The company will research an innovative application of simulation-based optimization known as meta modeling to the manufacturing performance problems common at its customers. The company will develop software that will deliver these algorithms via the Internet and integrate the software with common back-end legacy systems. If successful, the result of this research project will provide millions of dollars in inventory savings to manufacturing customers. Virtual enterprises and smaller manufacturing companies will benefit from the systems that can be delivered via the World Wide Web.