An entropy-based approach for assessing the operation of production logistics

Production logistics is increasingly receiving attention from supply chain research. This paper focuses on the lack of quantitative approaches to assess the different operating efficiency of production logistics caused by different production modes or structures. Production logistics is first defined as a whole circulation process. Evaluation indexes are established from a perspective of major factors which make up production-logistics systems. Their computational methods are given as well. Based on the fuzzy entropy theory, an operation entropy model of production-logistics systems is developed to measure the operational efficiency of production logistics. In the case study, two operation order parameters under different conditions are calculated using the evaluation indexes and the operation entropy model developed to accurately compare the level of operational efficiency of the workshop before and after implementing cellular manufacturing. Finally, the result demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.