Control of the state of orders on machines

Many computer-aided production and control (PPC) systems are available on t he market and these systems have to be integrated into existing information systems. Experience has proven that commercial PPC systems do not provide the expected results because they do not have a closed production planning and control feedback loop. This article proposes that the basic PPC system model be expanded so as to include a system which enables control, co-ordin ation and management of the state of orders on machines. Detailed descripti on is given regarding the general production control procedure, which is ba sed on the Deming circle of continuous improvements, and the corresponding procedure for implementation of control of the state of orders, which wait on the treated machines during the selected interval. To implement the prac tical continuous control of the state of orders a computer software product CONTROL has been developed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.