production planning and control

Today, the logistics performance especially of manufacturing companies is becoming a distinctive success factor in the marketplace. Perceiving this development Siemens’ Electronics Manufacturing plant in Amberg (EWA) implemented a comprehensive logistics KPI system supporting the controlling of production processes. The tools used, however, fall short of considering the interdependencies between different logistics KPIs. The article reports on a project conducted in cooperation between EWA and the Institute for Production Systems and Logistics of Leibniz University at Hannover. Presenting the project’s approach, conclusions and resulting experiences, the theoretical background as well as the fundamental impact production operating curves can offer for the competitiveness of a manufacturing company are outlined.

„Gentelligence“ is a neologism and describes the property of parts to save, store and process data (intelligence) and further to pass information on to following generations of parts (genetic). Unlike existing technologies the gentelligent technology is able to store information without the physical separation of part and information. The present article highlights the potentials of gentelligent parts in assembly control and factory structuring.

Flexible work times are a new opportunity to enhance the competitiveness of producing companies. To exploit this opportunity it must be considered during production planning and control. Available PPC and ERP systems do not sufficiently support the matching of required staff capacity and available (and paid) capacity. In this contribution we present the support of this matching process by the software OOPUS WEB.

The strategically appropriate dimensioning of inventory in the process chain is of utmost importance for companies. In this context inventory is utilized to counterbalance variations of the behaviour of customers as well as delivery date or quantity deviations caused by suppliers. It is a huge challenge to dimension the inventory as to realize a high level of security but also low stocks. This article demonstrates the methodical approach, the outcome of the Logistic Stock Analysis, and the validation of planning methods showcased for a project at the electronic factory of Siemens, Amberg.

Production logistics has seen the introduction of autonomous control strategies, which had been implemented with different modelling methods. Additionally a standardising body of tools for the evaluation of autonomous control strategies has been set up. This article presents a framework, which helps to identify the appropriate autonomous control strategy together with the corresponding modelling approach for given production logistics scenarios.

The presented survey results aim to show an overview about the existing demand volatility and capacity flexibility in German manufacturing companies of the machining industry. Besides the consideration of logistical aspects regarding flexible capacities, cost aspects for accounting impacts of capacity options were taken into account. The result of the survey clarifies that the capacity options in companies seem to be sufficient. The cause of logistical problems due to demand volatility is located in insufficient methods for production monitoring.

Today, excellence in production planning and control (PPC) is not only critical for the success of enterprises it is rather a strategic factor of competitiveness. Particularly in job shop manufacturing lot sizing is a vitally important function of PPC, due to its influence on the necessary positioning between manufacturing efficiency on the one hand and flexibility on the other hand. The article shows by example of a project of the IFA and the proIng GbR in cooperation with an automotive components supplier, that the development of a concept for effective an efficient lot sizing requires in addition to the selection of the suitable method a logistical analysis and classification of the products.