For quite a long time I do not posted another post in this blog. As I keep my adventure in the world of manufacturing goes on and on, my curiosity has led me to abyss of manufacturing reflection. I am telling my mind to write right now so I can have a moment of insanity check of myself. Writing and figuring out how far I have reach and is it the right path of learning.
My University has a current research focus in the world of Manufacturing Execution System ( MES ) while on the other hand I personally is an agent of Lean in the production planning and control. My attention in the world of MRP I and II, Theory of Constraints (TOC) in factory and the Lean Manufacturing have never shut down.
Due to the research direction of my University, I have to read lots of papers and several books about MES ( Manufacturing Execution System ) and additionally HMES ( Holonic Manufacturing System – found and developed in KU Leuven). Two of several books about MES that I have read are written by Kletti and Meyer. Both have an essential perspective which are complementary.
The new experience in the world of MES has brought plenty of questions in me. Factory Physics is a fundamental book for me and the the first book that introduce me to the world of manufacturing management. Lots topics that introduce me to manufacturing I get from it. I have read through all the chapters and additionally seek for other resources to strengthen my understanding regarding factory management.
The MRP II can’t be excluded from the important knowledge of manufacturing. I went to library and found a book written by Khalid Sheik about Manufacturing Resource Planning ( MRP II ). I love this book as it points out little MRP with more comprehensive view than Factory Physics. It is also elaborate many about each fundamental function of MRP II and how they working together to create a manufacturing harmony. Not forgetting the inventor of little MRP ( Joseph Orlicky ) and the genius Oliver Wight that extend the concept into MRP II, he kept mentioning them in his book.
Relating little MRP, MRP II and Lean Manufacturing has been a fun adventure. Besides enhancing my lean knowledge through Toyota books ( Toyota Production System Field book, Toyota Production System – the 14 principles of Management, and the famous The hitch hiker lean), I have found mind blowing and eye opening books in the field of Lean Manufacturing from Lean.org. From Learning to See, Making the Flow, Continuous Flow, until Creating Level Pull have been a collection of my library.
I have already have understanding about how to relate the concept of Lean Manufacturing to the MRP II framework and combining the world of pull and push ( at least I do understand it more than I understand MES). Moreover, as I recently indirectly introduced to the world of MES, I wonder if MES could be suited with the framework of MRP II and Pull System developed using the concept tough by lean.org.
Paperless Manufacturing seem desirable as MRP is obviously not a green manufacturing. However, I still have great doubt about implementing MES with MRP and pull. I thought that in some point there will be a collision among the systems. I still do not know how much, but there should be many modification. I hope I could understand more and able to integrate the Execution System with the Planning side to complete my curiosity of Manufacturing Planning.
Ok, I think it is enough for now.
I am going to dig deeper.
Go Lean.
