2 research outputs found
A soft systems approach to the formulation of a manufacturing strategy
Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/2767 on 14.02.2017 by CS (TIS)This work investigated the understanding and use of current manufacturing strategy methods within the
UK aerospace industry. Several key issues were identified which suggested a need to rethink the
process of manufacturing strategy formulation. The set of issues included: the lack of explicit
manufacturing strategies by several case organisations, a lack of the general use of developed
manufacturing strategy tools and techniques, and a general evolution of organisations from
functionally based to a business process focus. These issues suggested that the current approaches to
manufacturing strategy were not reaching their target audience practitioners, and that further
development of the manufacturing strategy formulation process was necessary to improve the usability
and subsequent use of manufacturing strategy concepts.
Taking these issues into account, the research used three cycles of learning using the soft systems
methodology to develop a greater understanding of the domain of manufacturing strategy. Cycle One
identified the process of manufacturing strategy formulation as a problem situation and used systems
concepts and soft systems methods to develop three manufacturing strategy archetypes. These
included a customer focussed / market led approach, a best practice approach and a knowledge-based
approach to manufacturing strategy. Each archetype was developed using systems concepts by
defining a root definition and developing conceptual models in order to make the thinking explicit,
systemic, and useful to practitioners. Cycle Two explored the manufacturing strategy formulation
processes of aerospace organisations and provided a sound base to identify appropriate changes to
current manufacturing strategy methods based on both functionally orientated and business process
focussed organisations.
The third cycle developed a modified approach to the formulation of a manufacturing strategy using
soft systems concepts, which was incorporated into a workbook format in order to test out the changes
identified and learning experienced in the previous cycles. The format and use of the approach were
validated using several case organisations, using the criteria that research results should be useful to
practitioners within the production and operations management domain.
The contribution of the work comes from the critical evaluation of existing manufacturing strategy
methods and techniques, the development of three manufacturing strategy making systems and the
development of a modified approach for developing a manufacturing strategy. The evaluation
determined that the above were not well enough developed for the evolving aerospace industry.
Opportunities for improvement were identified which were incorporated into an improved method for
formulating a manufacturing strategy. The method makes use of three manufacturing strategy
archetypes, developed using systems theory to ensure the thinking surrounding manufacturing strategy
is made explicit and systemic. The approach is based around Checklands' (1990) soft systems
methodology and each iteration of the methodology should be seen as a cycle of learning.British Aerospace PL
A MODEL BASED APPROACH TO THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPUTER AIDED PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
This work investigated the use of generic models in the early stages of the design and
implementation of computer aided production management (CAPM) systems. A set of
issues that affect the success of such CAPM systems was identified, using information
obtained from literature and observations made by the author during an in-depth case study
of the design and implementation of a CAPM system. The set of issues included the failure
of many manufacturing companies to take a systemic perspective of CAPM and the
importance of developing a thorough understanding of existing systems and how these
systems are currently integrated. Requirements were proposed for an improved approach
to the design and implementation of CAPM systems.
Taking the requirements into consideration the concepts underlying the use of and types of
models were explored. In particular, the use of generic models and how generic models
could help manufacturing companies were considered. The work also investigated the use
of soft systems thinking and the concept of a business process to encourage a systemic
perspective to be taken. A genetic process model was proposed as a means of meeting the
requirements of an improved approach. A generic model of an "order fulfilment" process
in a manufacturing company was developed and a way of using it which embodies soft
systems principles was proposed.
The model and its use was validated using five key needs of practitioners. The validation
involved a review of the model by practitioners and the use of the model in a local
company as part of a project to design and implement a CAPM system.
The originality of this work lies in the development by the author of a generic model
which can be used as part of an improved model based approach to the design and
implementation of CAPM systems. This should provide clear advantages over existing
approaches