Autor: Hans-Hermann Wiendahl

Many manufacturing firms are dissatisfied with the fulfilment of their logistic objectives. Instead of investing in ever powerful software tools, it is worthwhile to start out by identifying organizational stumbling blocks and knowledge gaps among employees. For this reason, the Fraunhofer IPA analyzed the training activities in manufacturing businesses when introducing ERP or MES systems. Knowledge gaps point to the need for training the logistics skills of the production operators. This paper describes a simulation game developed for this purpose, which can be used as a building block of the logistics knowledge management of manufacturing firms.

MES are designed as a link between the ERP solution and the production process of a company. They are to support the production order handling in line with the pretended objectives. In a market study 18 MES have been checked concerning their planning and control strategies.

New Design Criteria Ensure Success The paper analyses the parameters of PPC configuration compliant to the ancillary conditions of companies. Therefore the aspect logistic production strategy (standardisation, segmentation, individualisation) as well as kind of interconnection between planning and control (characteristic mean value, mean value and tolerance, single values) as well as task assignment are set to the fore. These general considerations determine the requirements to implemented ERP and MES solutions.