How do I revise and amend a process to meet business goals?

 

Learning Activity

 

  1. Read through the sample business procedure and consider the order processing and production planning process for 'Made to Order Products'. The relevant steps are described below. Assume that each step takes one day to complete.

 

            Quick Question: What is the total time taken for this process?

 

  1. Draw an activity diagram with swimlanes for the process using UML.
  2. Think about how an integrated information system could improve the process. Which of the steps could you remove?
  3. Construct another activity diagram to show your improvements.

 

 

TITLE: ORDER PROCESSING & PRODUCTION PLANNING

 

 

4.1.1        The company issues a works order which is a five part order set and is known historically as the 'A' sheets.

 

4.1.2        Three copies of the 'A' Sheets (white, pink and yellow) are received from the Administration Department by the Production Controller for all orders to be processed.

 

4.1.3        Each order is recorded by the Production Controller onto the 'A' sheet register which is used to monitor the progress of the order and is updated as appropriate, as information becomes available.

 

4.1.5        Each order is then logged onto the computer system in the production planning database. This information is used to produce management reports, order bank and manufacturing priorities by due-date spreadsheets, which are used to plan and control all manufacturing activities through the various departments.

 

4.1.7        In the case of 'made to order' type products the Production Controller delays entering the details onto the computer production planning database until he has to accumulated a weeks orders. These orders are then segregated into product types with each type being allocated with a unique batch number and logged onto the computer under this number.

 

4.1.11      For all made to order products ie.

 

·          CPD Consortium Purchasing Division,

·          CAT Catalogue Batch,

·          Lancashire Benches,

·          Library and,

·          Play Panels

 

the 'A' sheets are forwarded to the Production Controller who will prepare a 'bill of materials' utilising the Woodman computer programme or by manual processes.

 

4.1.12      Upon completion of the bill of materials the Production Controller shall create an order file which is used to initiate and control the production activities. The order file shall contain the following documents:

 

·          'A' sheets

·          Cutting sheets

·          Identification cards

·          Final inspection tickets

·          Issue sheets

·          Assembly and sub-assembly sheets