The development and implementation of a production information collection and reporting system
Name
56713872-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
7.59 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
33f342a789446ff2bc1d125366a34040
Author(s)
Liu, Haitao, 1975-
Advisor(s)
Arnold Barnett.
Date Issued
2004
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Production information, which includes production counts and line downtime information, is of great importance for automobile assembly plants to diagnose equipment problems and improve line utilization. Outdated information systems at many manufacturing plants are not capable of providing accurate production information in a timely manner. This thesis is a thorough account of an internship project conducted at Ford Motor Company's Kentucky Truck Plant (KTP) which turned a spreadsheet-based production information system into a relational database application, called PICRS. The first part of the thesis introduces the reader to the background of the internship project, focusing on the importance of accurate and timely production information and the inadequacy of the old system. The second part talks about the development of PICRS. Descriptions about system development approach, software and hardware considerations, database design, and interface design revolve around the low cost, usefulness, and ease-of-use of PICRS. The third part of the thesis recounts the implementation process of PICRS and discusses its benefits and impact on KTP's final assembly area. Lessons and observations on leadership, change management, and corporate culture, as mostly obtained in the implementation process, are also discussed in this part of the thesis.
Description
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 56).
Subjects
Sloan School of Management.
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Leaders for Manufacturing Program.
MIT Department
Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Sloan School of Management
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