1st Edition
Information Technology for Manufacturing Reducing Costs and Expanding Capabilities
The rate of change in manufacturing today is faster than ever. Retailers and consumers demand flexibility and responsiveness, regulatory oversight is on the rise, and increasing consolidations require companies to demonstrate cost and efficiency improvements.
Information Technology for Manufacturing describes how IT can help manufacturers effectively respond to all of these changes. By reviewing common strategic errors and pitfalls as well as success stories, the book outlines how manufacturing companies can use IT to their advantage in two fundamental ways: to cut costs and to add valuable new capabilities. Citing examples from their work in the field, the authors recount how savvy companies use IT to improve manufacturing processes, and subsequently save millions of dollars, become more competitive, and avoid fines from regulatory agencies.
The book takes a comprehensive look at five major areas where IT systems can play a pivotal role in improving any company's manufacturing processes. Going beyond theory, the authors show how to ensure that IT investments bring a real payback to manufacturing companies.
Textiles
Steel
Automotive
Pulp and Paper
Food and Beverage
The Big Picture
The Future Role of IT
MANUFACTURING IT FROM THE BEGINNING
The Development of Corporate IT
The First Engineering Applications of Computer Technology
"Lights Out Manufacturing"
Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
The Gulf between Engineering and IT
The Emergence of Personal Computers and Networks
The Aftermath of the Turf Wars
The Rise of ERP
The Invisible Computers
What Engineering Achieved
Y2K
The Dot-Com Boom and Bust
Conclusion
THE STATE OF MANUFACTURING IT TODAY
The Cavalry to the Rescue
ERP in the Plant
The Reasons behind ERPs Shortcomings
The Legacy of the Gulf between Corporate IT and Plant Engineering
AMR Research Report, February 2000
Unfulfilled Promises
"Bring on the Data Entry Clerks"
The Need for - and Lack of - IT Support
Filling in the Gaps
Was ERP Worth the Price?
Technology Mania
Buying on Faith
IT Budgets - Past and Present
The New Order - Hard Justification
Conclusion
WAYS TO CUT COSTS AND ADD CAPABILITIES
The Value of Focusing on the Supply Chain
Manufacturing's Place in the Supply Chain
Manufacturing's Role Gets Overlooked
How Manufacturing Systems Can Achieve Real Payback
Reducing Waste and Loss
How to attack the Waste Streams
Informed Decision Making
Reducing Waste through Supplier Integration
Reducing Waste through Management of Quality
Providing New Capabilities
Supporting Regulatory Compliance
Conclusion
THE PORTFOLIO
The Integration Chasm
Building a Bridge between ERP and the Plant
The Portfolio
Conclusion
ACHIEVING PAYBACK WITH THE PORTFOLIO
Snapshots of success
Examples of Real Payback
Conclusion
HOW TO MAKE IT SOLUTIONS A REALITY
Why the Process is Difficult
The Project Lifecycle
Conclusion
STRATEGY
Why Requirements Matter
General Guidelines for Creating a List of Requirements
Benefits of Requirements
The Requirements Document
Using Requirements to sketch Out Broad Solutions
Various Approaches to IT Architecture
Involving the End Users and the Stakeholders
Conclusion
FRAMEWORK
Design
Guidelines for Technology Evaluation and Selection
The Value of Standards and Models
Standards
Models
Justifying the Capital Expense for IT Projects
The Three Main Ways to Justify Projects
The Importance of Business Strategies
Conclusion
IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT
Implementation
Support
Conclusion
PITFALLS
The 10 Most Common Pitfalls
An Even Longer List of Pitfalls
Dodging Pitfalls
A List of Why Projects Succeed
Climbing Out of Pitfalls in Five Steps
Seven Habits of Highly Effective Manufacturers
Conclusion
CONCLUSION
APPENDICES
INDEX
Biography
Kevin Ake, John Clemons, Mark Cubine, Bruce Lilly
