Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

5-31-1978

Degree Name

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

Department

Industrial and Management Engineering

First Advisor

Daniel S. Walsh

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to acquaint the reader with the intricacies of introducing a computerized production control system into a small manufacturing company. To do this a hypothetical company was described as it existed with a manual production control system. The information flow of the manual system was described in detail.

Potential computerized production control systems with a shop data collection system were then investigated. A computerized system would expedite information flow, allow rapid assembly tracking, take accurate data and reveal the actual cost (including labor cost) of an assembly. This was done first by examining technical publications. Once the data base requirements were established and a sample program was run to demonstrate the system's potential, vendors were contacted to evaluate potential systems in more detail. The two systems which were investigated were an IBM System 34 with a shop data collection system and a Perkin-Elmer (Interdata) system for which the shop data collection system would have to be custom made. It was concluded that the customized Perkin-Elmer system would provide the greatest capability for expansion while best suiting the shop data collection requirements.

The thesis also pointed out the need to consider employee morale when introducing a new system. Fears of being displaced by a computerized system, having to compete with a computerized system or being spied upon by a computer could cause morale problems which would interfere with production efficiency. To prevent this it was recommended that an employee education plan be incorporated into the overall plan for introducing the computerized production control system.

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