Title: The planning and control of manufacturing SMEs

Authors: Shahin Rahimifard, Stephen T. Newman

Addresses: Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, UK. Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, UK

Abstract: This paper describes a production planning and control structure specifically tailored for the needs of small to medium manufacturing enterprises. It identifies the deficiencies with the existing hierarchical production planning and control systems in meeting the challenges of such enterprises and specifies the major requirements for their effective planning and control. Based on these requirements, a novel distributed real-time planning and control structure, is presented. This planning and control structure is built upon the use of ||team based manufacturing|| concepts which aim to reinforce the autonomous and cooperative attributes of various production entities, providing greater flexibility and agility within modern human centred small to medium manufacturing companies.

Keywords: distributed planning and control; team based manufacturing; heterarchical systems; interactive and reactive planning; SMEs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2001.001426

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2001 Vol.3 No.4/5, pp.496-515

Published online: 03 Jul 2003 *

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