Optimal inventory policies for short life cycle successive generations’ technology products

Abstract

In this paper, a new Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model for a successive generation of technology products has been discussed. The classical EOQ model is based on the assumption that the demand rate is constant. Hence it cannot be used for technology products where competition-substitution among products is a usual phenomenon. To address this problem, the EOQ model proposed in this article is considered a demand model for a technology product that follows the innovation-diffusion process. A numerical example has been illustrated and a comprehensive sensitivity analysis is conducted to understand the path of the optimal planning horizon and optimal costs under varied innovation and imitation effect. The sensitivity analysis of the introduction timing of the second generation has been performed to know the applicability of the model in actual circumstances. The behavior of the model has been discussed in detail in the numerical illustration section.