Case studies in implementing dynamic production planning and scheduling system in make-to-order high-mix-low-volume small and medium-scaled industries for production efficiency

To manage a high-mix manufacturing environment efficiently is a big challenge for the small and medium-scaled industries (SMIs) because of the nature of its dynamic and ever changing production environment. This has added extra challenges for the SMIs to adopt the right and suitable computerized system for improvement. This paper reviews the implementation of computerized planning and scheduling system to the make-to-order (MTO) high-mix-low-volume (HMLV) SMIs to overcome their daily production challenges in managing the products, processes and resources. Investigation has been conducted in two local manufacturing companies to study the effectiveness of implementing the planning and scheduling system that has brought improvement to the MTO HMLV production environment. The research was conducted in mixed mode of qualitative and quantitative methods after the software being implemented for a year. The findings show the implementation of the system that can bring improvements overall. However, there are some other challenges not related to the software have been discovered such as human factors. The issues are listed in discussion section. The outcome of this research will accrue to manufacturers through an improved understanding of the operation and performance of implementing the system. The authors recommend further research works to be carried out to determine the other key success factors for MTO HMLV SMIs to implement computerize system to improve overall production efficiency

Management Control Systems and Contextual Variables in the Hospitality Industry

Purpose – The paper examined management control systems (MCS) in Indonesian hospitality sector. This study examines the impact of six contextual factors at one time to determine the importance of each factor on the design of MCS. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based upon data collected through a survey sent to “star” hotels in Central Java, Indonesia. Using Chenhall (2003) design, a regression equation is run to examine the relationship between MCS and the contextual variables of environment, technology, structure, size, strategy and culture. Findings – The paper finds that higher levels of the contextual variables of technology, structure, and culture are related to more sophisticated MCS while size is related to more traditional MCS. Research limitations/implications –These findings are related to the hospitality industry in Indonesia. Future research could examine different settings (i.e. country, industry, etc) and investigate the effect of each contextual variable on the relationships between MCS and firm performance. Originality/value – The present study extends the scope of MCS system in accounting literature by testing Chenhall (2003) works on the relationship between contextual variables and MCS. It attempts to fill the gap in contingency-based studies that have previously focused on one aspect of contingency by considering six contextual factors. Furthermore, this paper also contributes to a fuller understanding of MCS practices in Indonesia and the hospitality industry and helps management in determining its most effective design. Keywords Hospitality management, Management Control Systems, Indonesia, Contextual Variable

A survey on detailed production scheduling in manufacturing plants in São Paulo, Brazil

Devido à grande instabilidade dos mercados e a intensa competição entre as empresas, a Programação Detalhada da Produção (PDP) vem se tornando cada vez mais um desafio para a gestão empresarial. As empresas, na busca do aprimoramento das atividades de PCP, estão demandando ferramentas de programação finita, também conhecidas como Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS). Este artigo visa identificar as necessidades e dificuldades da programação detalhada da produção, as barreiras de implantação e os benefícios dos sistemas APS. O método utilizado foi um survey com as empresas filiadas à Fiesp. Os resultados obtidos mostram: i) a programação detalhada da produção é efetivamente uma atividade complexa para a maioria das empresas, especialmente aquelas com estratégia de produção contra pedido (MTO-make to order); ii) a maioria das empresas ainda utiliza o modelo MRP (capacidade infinita); iii) os objetivos de melhoria de desempenho na entrega poderiam ser mais facilmente alcançados com o uso de sistemas APS; iv) o investimento financeiro e falta de capacitação são ainda impedimentos para a implantação desses sistemas.Due to the instability of markets and the intense competition among companies, detailed scheduling has increasingly become a challenge to management. Companies that focus on the improvement of PPC activities demand tools to meet their needs, such as the finite capacity scheduling tool, also known as Advanced Planning and Scheduling System (APS) to improve delivery times, effective scheduling, and control of the firmed order. This paper aims to identify the needs and difficulties of the detailed production scheduling, the critical factors for implementation, and the benefits that the advanced scheduling systems (APS) can provide. The method used was a survey of companies affiliated to the Federation of Industries of São Paulo (FIESP). The results showed that the detailed production scheduling is a complex activity for most companies, especially for those that adopt make to order strategy (MTO). The majority of companies surveyed use the MRP planning model, but their goals can be more easily achieved with the use of advanced programming systems (APS). Financial costs and lack of training are still limiting factors to implementing those systems

When should advanced planning and scheduling systems be used in sales and operations planning?

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the context affects successful use of advanced planning and scheduling (APS) systems in sales and operations planning (S&OP) processes, and how individual, technological, and organizational (ITO) dimensions affect this procedure. A qualitative case study of two APS system-supported S&OP processes is conducted. The work aims to generate propositions concerning the relationships among the use of APS system, the context, ITO dimensions, and fulfillment of S&OP aims. Findings show that the use of APS systems was especially appropriate in support of S&OP processes in complex planning environments and when S&OP aims were ambitious. ITO dimensions were important influences on successful APS system use in most contexts. APS systems were not considered appropriate when having S&OP processes with ambitious aims and low individual and organizational maturities. Use of APS systems was also inappropriate when the extent of technological maturity was minimal. S&OP processes with ambitious aims, operating within a complex planning environment, are difficult if not impossible to implement without the support of APS systems. The suggestions on when APS systems should be used in different S&OP environments will be useful to companies implementing or about to implement APS systems. APS systems offer great potential if they are effectively used to support S&OP, still the use of APS system in S&OP is unexplored. The paper shows how the context and the ITO dimensions affect the successful use of APS systems in S&OP processes

Value-Driven IT Project Portfolio Management: Tool-Based Scoring, Selection, and Scheduling

Managing IT project portfolios is a challenge because of IT projects\u27 complexity, dynamics, and uncertainty. Many IT projects exceed resources or time frames and do not reach their value-driven goals. A continuous scoring, selection, and scheduling of IT project proposals is thus essential to build an optimal portfolio. It has a significant impact on value contribution, strategic direction, goal achievement, and competitive advantages. We quantify an IT project\u27s urgency, strategy, efficiency, risk, and complexity as important evaluation and scoring criteria. To support top management decision makers in the IT project portfolio management process, we outline a combination of an evaluation approach with an optimization model. We develop a prototype decision support system to automate and simplify this process and demonstrate its applicability. Our recommendations address both theory and practice, improve IT project portfolio management, support value creation, and goal achievement

Implementing total productive maintenance in Nigerian manufacturing industries

Remarkable improvements have occurred recently in the maintenance management of physical assets and productive systems, so that less wastages of energy and resources occur. The requirement for optimal preventive maintenance using, for instance, justin-time (JIT) and total quality-management (TQM) techniques has given rise to whathas been called the total productive-maintenance (TPM) approach. This study explores the ways in which Nigerian manufacturing industries can implement TPM as a strategy and culture for improving its performance and suggests self-auditing and bench-marking as desirable prerequisites before TPM implementation

Analytical Methods for Planning and Scheduling Daily Work in Inpatient Care Settings: Opportunities for Research and Practice

This article identifies current challenges in the planning and execution of daily work in inpatient care settings. Inadequate planning of the processes and resources associated with inpatient care services may negatively affect their effectiveness. It may also lead to burnout of healthcare workers when the resulting work plan is unknowingly infeasible or does not incorporate the necessary human factors considerations. This paper provides with an overview of current research on inpatient care workflow planning, as well as with directions for researchers and practitioners to advance this problem using a combination of human factors engineering and analytical methods

Adjusting to Mandatory Information Systems: Understanding Individual Adaptation to ERP Systems

Realising the benefits from information technology depends on how the systems are actually used. Although previous information systems (IS) research provides useful models for understanding individual acceptance, there is a limited understanding of the underlying adaptive process related to IS use, particularly in a mandatory context. This study argues that adaptation is a socially constructed process. Informed by the conceptual elements of coping theory, this study proposes an examination of the adaptive behaviours of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems users. The fieldwork will be conducted in three organisations – one private, one public and one multinational – operating in Thailand. The multiple-case study design allows the scrutiny of contrasting patterns in the data. By taking an interpretive grounded theory approach, this study aims at producing an emergent and substantive theory that explains both the adaptive process and the complex interplay of individual and contextual factors that influences adaptive behaviours over time

Aerospace management techniques: Commercial and governmental applications

A guidebook for managers and administrators is presented as a source of useful information on new management methods in business, industry, and government. The major topics discussed include: actual and potential applications of aerospace management techniques to commercial and governmental organizations; aerospace management techniques and their use within the aerospace sector; and the aerospace sector's application of innovative management techniques