There are real business benefits to be gained by integrating QEI Exec with manufacturing systems, most significantly in the make to order environment. Interfaced to an MRP system, QEI Exec can provide comprehensive visualisation and what-if analysis of all aspects of the manufacturing process via a series of linked models.
In the diagram above, a standard template model has been constructed for each product. This holds details of the sequence of high level assembly/manufacturing operations, including associated costs and/or resource requirements.
When a potential order is to be considered, a standard template model can be used as the basis of the work plan, modifications being made to customise the plan to the specific order. The model for this order is then merged into both the financial and plant capacity models to enable judgements to be made on the timing and profitability of the order. This enables decisions to be made regarding the order prior to contract agreement.
Once the order is firm the model can be baselined to record the agreed schedule and financial basis exactly. This baseline is then used throughout the life of the order to measure financial and schedule performance. The agreed dates for the order are also fed into the master schedule model. The requirement dates produced feed the MRP system, which then generates low level operations, material orders and so on.
An essential part of the overall process is to update the models with progress and financial information. The exact method will vary from one organisation to another but typically will include information on activity progress, booked hours and actual costs. This data then enables QEI Exec to perform cost and schedule performance analysis for all orders within the overall model. Any revisions or schedule adjustments resulting from this analysis can then be fed back into the necessary systems.
At a corporate level, summarised information on the status of all firm and provisional orders is readily available with "traffic lighting" to highlight areas of potential concern. From these views drilldown techniques are available to the user to rapidly establish the cause of a problem.
Information can be summarised on the basis of the Work Breakdown Structure and any other additional structures required, for example an Organisation Breakdown Structure or a Chart of Accounts.
At all times the loading of key resources and facilities can be viewed, so that potential problems caused by either over- or under-utilisation can be spotted and corrective action taken in a timely manner. This type of visualisation can easily be performed using BoxCharts™.
Summary
Integrated with an MRP system, QEI Exec can provide:
- Full impact analysis of new orders.
- Justification for order acceptance
- Visibility and control at all levels.
- Production of requirement dates.
- Rough cut capacity planning
- What-if capabilities at all levels.
- Visibility and control of key resources.
- Full control of both cost and schedule.
Further Information
- QEI Exec product overview
- Product features matrix
- QEI Exec product data sheet
- QEI Exec brochure
- Download an evaluation copy of QEI Exec
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Contact us now to arrange a product demonstration or for details of our no-risk proof of concept service. If you are not based in the UK, we can deliver live demonstrations to your desktop over the web, with toll-free international conference call facilities. |
