A MORE FLEXIBLE PLANNING ARCHITECTURE FOR CENTRALIZED AND DECENTRALIZED PLANNING

This paper is based on two research projects within the areas of 1) improved centralised materials- and capacity planning through an adapted information and a functional structure and 2) a new decentralised Manufacturing Management Approach based on material flow and a production unit network architecture. Furthermore the paper is based on case studies carried out in three Danish order producing companies. New conditions for manufacturing management is discussed, with focus on the paradigm of centralisation vs. decentralisation of planning/control tasks. The concept of an improved material and capacity planning model have been presented at the APMS '93 conference in Athens. Details regarding the impact of the model in relation to the different management approaches are emphasized. The overall goal is to improve the control and efficiency (such as improved utilisation of manpower, improved delivery performance, reduced lead-time and costs) of order and batch producing companies though an improved central planning model and a more flexible planning architecture.