Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

5-31-1984

Degree Name

Master of Science in Management Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Industrial and Management Engineering

First Advisor

Howard Gage

Abstract

This thesis surveys the potential for introducing significant organizational change into a manufacturing environment which is undergoing large scale capital improvement.

The first portion describes both the organizational and technological barriers present at a specific manufacturing facility. The capabilities of a computer based process control system are detailed along with its ability to fulfill the employer's particular business needs.

The next portion details the work necessary to train both management and production operators, not only on how to use this computer based equipment, but also how they themselves must change their personal modes of thinking in order to carry out cost effective manufacturing in the 1980's and beyond. Information used to support these concepts and ideas were compared with similar changes made in various industries over the past decade.

The final phase summarizes the accomplishments made at this particular plant in the areas of energy and materials savings, as well as increased productivity. One finding worthy of emphasis is the fact that by far the largest portion of the dollar savings which the company realized resulted from changes in both management's and workers' modes of operation as supported by state-of-the-art equipment.

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