EXPIM: a knowledge-based expert system for production/inventory modelling

This paper discusses the development of a knowledge-based expert system (EXPIM) which can identify and recommend up to 30 production-inventory models. The user (manager) is asked a sequence of questions regarding the problem situation. The system uses backward-chaining to identify what is the correct model to use given the situation described by the user. The paper also discusses the general methodology for building expert systems in management science for the purpose of identifying models in other areas, such as queueing theory and location theory.