The requirements for two smaller companies in integrated manufacturing are addressed, in particular, the area of manufacturing control. The functional areas pertaining to manufacturing control in both companies are reviewed. On the basis of these reviews and management objectives, their...

Sound design, planning and monitoring is critical to the operational and financial success of today′s sophisticated manufacturing and non‐manufacturing systems. Owing to their increasing complexity, discrete‐event simulation is becoming the most acceptable tool to aid planning the design...

The development of computer technology, artificial intelligence, and simulation modelling has become increasingly complex, and yet the application of these techniques is necessary for a company to be effective and competitive. However, the end users may not have the ecessary sophistication to...

In the operations management field, where data are always second best to reality, the whole success of a computing scheme will depend on the motivation of the users. A scheme is presented, based on the idea of simplifying the task of supplying relevant information to operations managers with the...

This paper describes a decision support system for once‐off facility acquisition decisions in a manufacturing environment. The system is based on the Kepner Tregoe Decision Analysis Technique and has been implemented in a high‐level language.

Computer production management systems are far more common than they were even five years ago, as a result of reductions in the costs of computer hardware and the growing use of package software by both large and small firms. However, there are still many problems associated with such computer...

The case is argued for a coherent, conceptual framework for operations management practice, system design and education. The framework described here is concise. It is defined by eight tenets which are individually reinforced by practical examples. The set is central to the philosophy of CIM and...

Three changes in the rules used to control a manufacturing unit, which were suggested by simple control engineering concepts, have been examined. A model of an actual make‐for‐stock shop, driven by real order time‐series, was used to examine the impact of the rule changes on a production...

Information technology companies are having to broaden their overall strategic view in deference to the premise that it is better to be market‐driven than technology‐led. Cost and technical performance are o longer the only considerations, as quality and service now demand equal recognition....

Implementation is a key process in the effective development of Advanced Manufacturing Systems. Specifically, implementation should not be confused with installation of the technology for it involves change in companies on a much wider front than mere technological change. Change has to be...