Towards integrated manufacturing planning with common tool and informationsets

The performance of manufacturing systems needs to be continuously reviewed in response to increasingly evolving market conditions. In recent years, a large volume of research has concentrated on improving manufacturing perfor mance. Some research has been directed at senior management emphasising the strategic need for change and how, to initiate change; other research has been directed at shop floor level and the provision of tools for continuous improvement; whilst more recent research has focused on business process r e-engineering and supporting methodologies. However, there is a very limite d set of tooth available for middle managers to encapsulate the aspirations of senior management (e.g. the strategic objectives of a company) and tran slate these into shop floor actions. This Paper proposes a methodology to s upport management of the introduction of new processes, products and system s and to improve the performance of manufacturing systems. The paper presen ts a east, and methodology, for an integrated system for strategic, tactica l, operational and project planning. The proposed methodology is based on s tructured systems analysis and simulation of a manufacturing plant. Feasibi lity of the approach is demonstrated through application to two small to me dium-sized enterprises.