Manufacturing, Planning and Control

Preface

The purpose of this book is to convey a complete description of the subject area of manufacturing planning and control, and to supplement traditional ways to look at different planning processes, methods and theories in terms of their characteristics and applicability, both on a conceptual and methodological level and with respect to the planning environment in which they will be applied.

The book is written for university courses in technical and business programmes, for the APICS (the Association for Operations Management) CPIM certification programme, and for people in industry working with manufacturing planning and control. Focus is on the design and use of manufacturing planning and control processes and methods. The aim has been to take perspectives and cover issues which are of important practical relevance for manufacturing companies when designing and using approaches, processes and methods for manufacturing planning and control. Therefore, some issues of more academic interest are not emphasised and covered to the same extent.

The book is divided into four parts and 18 chapters. Parts 1 and 2 describe the starting points and preconditions for manufacturing planning and control. Parts 3 and 4 cover the design and use of manufacturing planning and control processes and methods on different hierarchical levels, starting with forecasting and long-term planning and ending with materials planning, execution and control. Each chapter starts with learning objectives and ends with key terms lists and discussion tasks. Definitions of the key concepts are available in the Glossary. Chapters including quantitative planning methods also end with quantitative problems with full solutions in the Appendix. In order to give practical illustrations, cases with discussion questions are included in the 11 chapters focusing on planning processes and methods. All cases are based on real-life companies but some are made anonymous.

APICS has defined much of the vocabulary and concepts in manufacturing planning and control. The ambition has been to use the APICS language when applicable. Detailed instructions of how the book supports and can be used in the APICS CPIM certification programme is available on the OLC.