Demand Management and Master Production Scheduling (Business Excellence)

Master scheduling or master production scheduling (MPS) is not only the best way for a manufacturing company to manage customer demand but it can dramatically improve customer service and also increase stability in manufacturing; it can even reduce stock levels at the same time. But good master scheduling does not evolve naturally it is a specific way of operating and has to be learnt.

Master scheduling is not quick or easy to learn but once learnt it will allow everyone to do a better job and lead to a higher level of satisfaction all round, from suppliers right through the whole supply chain to customers. This book is a practical down to earth description of the processes and how to apply them to your business.

Contents :
Introduction to master scheduling and business excellence principles
The basic master scheduling process
Firm planned orders
Available to promise
Time fences
Managing customer demand
Distribution resource planning
Features and options
Configurators
Passing down the forecast
Rough cut capacity planning
Software functionality required
The master scheduler
Conclusion

Phil joined Knowles Electronics as their Production Manager. Over the 10 years period whilst he was the project leader in their Business Excellence programme, Knowles had achieved class "A" in MRPII, reduced lead times from 8 weeks to next day delivery for the majority of products, reduced inventories by one third, achieved a better than 99.5% on-time delivery record and reduced customer returns to less than 300 parts per million. The starting point was Master Scheduling.

After leaving Knowles Phil worked with MRP Ltd and also set up his own consultancy BPIC to help companies also achieve Business Excellence.