QUERY Production Systems Diagramming (SD6503)

[SDMAIL Ralf Lippold]

Posted by  Ralf Lippold <ralf_lippold at web.de>

Hello everybody,

as I am trying to get off with my first causal loop diagram I am 
wondering whether there are general models around (on the internet?), 
that I can have a look at. Especially everything around production 
would be the kind of thing I am looking for.

A company producing widgets (hand-stiched bags (similar to Freitag 
Bags), built also to customer specifications) to customer order (not 
to stock) is analysed. Production control is planning the orders due 
to the information of sales and marketing (it's via online-ordering + 
small amount of standard specification). There are currently 
improvement initiatives under way and the following is good to know:

1. production output (to a given planned number of widgets) should be 
95-100% (order fullfilment, done on the day order is planned)

2. Despite the global market talk the company is producing in a high-
wage area (such as Northern America or Europe)

3. There are two concurrent production goals:

a. production should equal a given daily production goal (number of 
widgets produced)

b. the number of widgets planned for a given day should be higher t
han 95% (as stated under 1.)

4. Reasons for not reaching the goals can be quite different, from 
lacking material, scrap, missing and/or overworked employees, etc. etc.

I would be happy for your help on that.

..and there is another question: how do you bring the results (reasons 
for not reaching the goal, appropriate countermeasures) up to middle 
and high management (causal loops)?

Looking forward to getting a few new ideas and insights on bringing SD 
inside the business world via an easy to understand model

Ralf

PS.: I have already my first diagram but it became more of a "golden 
pony", too many influences -of cause all are true- and not to be handled 
any longer (cut back is necessary).
-- 
Posted by  Ralf Lippold <ralf_lippold at web.de>
posting date  Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:29:45 +0200