Information and Knowledge Management using ArcGIS ModelBuilder

Denisa Ferenčíková
3. Correctly identifying the type of production process as a key factor for
successfully implementing planning software
Before starting the implementation process, it is absolutely necessary to properly characterize the
type of production concerned and the methodology according to which production should be planned.
Following this initial analysis, a company can start choosing the appropriate software support so that
the latter is able to match set conditions according to the firm’s preferences (Laudon 2007). System
integrators sometimes claim that their software adapts to any manufacturing environment and, after
initiating implementation, businesses find out that the system is incapable of meeting all their
requirements. Therefore, a thorough analysis is an inevitable step of any implementation project for
every type of information system (not only production planning applications).
In the following parts of the paper, two models have been selected and presented for production
process classification. For each type of production the most important requirements are discussed for
planning systems, those which result from the basic characteristics of each kind of production.
Admittedly, there are other appropriate forms of production system classification, but due to the
complex nature of their contents only two are investigated.
However, it must be pointed out that in practice one often faces situations that are not in accord with
any of the following examples of production process classification. It is often impossible to precisely
place a defined production system in one category because individual types of production often
merge with others. In spite of this, each company has to make clear which type of production system
is dominant and the requirements for information systems arising from it, before announcing a tender
and discussing the matter with potential suppliers.
4. Types of production process according to production continuity and
software support
The most common way of production classification for use in information systems is delineation
according to production continuity. The manufacturing process can be split into these types (Vollmann
2005):
Discrete (discontinuous) manufacturing. This is characterized by a break in time in the
production process (e.g. tool change, work-piece or tool clamping etc.). The eventual product is
generally based on a bill of material (BOM). Typically, such sectors are engineering and the
electronic industry.
Process (continuous) manufacturing. Unlike discrete manufacturing, this proceeds without any
interruption in time and is frequently linked to quality management. The sectors that normally
utilize process manufacturing are the pharmaceutical, food and chemical industries.
Repetitive line flow manufacturing. Generally consisting of several small and closed
manufacturing cells with continuous one-way material flow and no buffer stock, it is typical for
assembly lines or for producing components for the automotive industry.
4.1 Requirements relating to planning software for discrete manufacturing
Discrete manufacturing is very complicated for optimum production scheduling due to its limited
capacities. Therefore, any planning software should facilitate flexible preparation with capacity
selection and the possibility of alteration. The system must be able to reschedule production in
entirety should it be necessary to suddenly prepare a prioritized job request for inclusion within a
previously scheduled production plan. In so doing, manufacturing capacities have to be utilized to the
maximum, and the time of the process must be kept as short as possible. Another very important
factor is active stock management, which is supported by efficiently linking the planning system with
the purchasing process. Discrete manufacturing is also quite cost-intensive, so the ability of the
information system to continually monitor, evaluate and eventually simulate the costs of a produced
item for different variants of production plans is highly valued as well (Sodomka 2011, Vollmann
2005).
4.2 Requirements relating to planning software for process manufacturing
One distinction of process manufacturing is high automation, which increases demands on linking the
information system with the actual manufacturing process, for example, through the use of MES
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