Product and Technology Management - Essay Example

Product and Technology Management Affiliation: Technological advancement has characterized most sectors of the economy in many countries around the world. The manufacturing sector is a leading example in this regard. This sector has embraced and integrated modern technologies that are tailored towards making the manufacturing industry effective and efficient enough to meet the rising demand of manufactured products. Specifically, MRP, CRP and ERP have necessitated the need to adopt contemporary technologies in a bid to ensure that the sector remains competitive in local and international markets (Gill & Krar, 2003).

The primary focus has been integrating relevant manufacturing applications in manufacturing companies in order to minimize costs of operation maximize revenue and profitability and capture a larger share of new and existing markets. PPQ Parts manufacturing company has not been left behind. A number of MRP, CRP and ERP software packages are evaluated and recommended for use in this company to perform MRP, CRP and ERP functions. Six software packages are considered and presented below: Manufacturing Work Orders The order of manufacturing products is essential to the operation and performance of the company.

This software aids the creation of such orders. Where a finished manufactured product is considered, a number of bills of material (BOM) for every finished product are supported by the software (Gill & Krar, 2003). The processing order system allows users to customize the BOM, thus enhancing the ease with which customer and consumer needs are met. The software allows for several interconnections based on a principle access point, such that current systems are conformed with thus compatibility with already established systems in the company is not a problem.

The capacity of the company is a fundamental determinant of how well the company adjusts its costs. This application enables material availability drilling such that costs of operation are minimized by the integration process through the accommodation of a number of processes in the same package. The application is not sophisticated, making it simple to use and end user friendly. However, the cost of initial installation, lack of proper skills and technological knowhow of using this package constitute the primary cons of the software.

MRP Software This software integrates all the manufacturing procedures, from obtaining raw materials to the sale of finished goods. It is also used to make future projections in regard to the expected trends of operation and performance in the company (Gill & Krar, 2003). The specific criterion of business adopted by the company is crucial in determining the specific performance of this software package in the operations of the company. Its basic achievement for the use is that it enables the evaluation of every stage of the manufacturing process.

The materials needed, purchases made and manufacturing orders placed can be easily monitored. Cost-spreads across the manufacturing system merged making manufacturing costs lower. However, this package is sophisticated and quite unfriendly to the end user. Difficulties of compatibility with current work flow systems may be experienced. Its functionality is dynamic, but it fully integration into the company’s operations may be challenging. Shop Floor Control This is a software package that allows the use of both RF and hand held scanners for the purposes of data collection through its numerous functions in that functionality (Gill & Krar, 2003).

Manufacturing activities are undertaken and monitored without timer delays. This operation is instant, meaning that its functionality is based on real time monitoring of the specific actions it is developed for. Departmental capacities in the manufacturing company are easily determined. On the same note, the package is capable of evaluating and assessing productivity of workers given the results yielded prior to those desired. Cost and standard variations in the different materials used for manufacturing activities can be compared using the Shop Floor Control software package.

Numerous interfaces suit every department within the company, thus compatibility without difficulties. Hand held devices are attached to this package, making easier to handle and friendly to the end user. However, installation costs are high. Product Quality Software The end product marks a completion point in manufacturing a product. There are targeted markets that demand the manufactured products. In this regard, ensuring that the consumer gets the best quality of a manufactured product is essential.

One way of doing so is by the use of product quality software in the manufacturing process. This software allows users to track recognized tests across the manufacturing process, track yielded results prior to those desired and identify item(s) disposition at every stage of the manufacturing process (Gill & Krar, 2003). The fundamental aspect here is to ensure quality control at all levels of the manufacturing process. Disadvantages associated with this software package include: incorrect reflection of the expected results, inconsistency of product quality from time to time, labor intensive and expensive to operationalize.

CRP Software This software package evaluates the ability of the company to satisfy manufacturing demand in the industry. It is allows for numerous combination of factors of production prior to pursuing the competitive strategy of the company. Rival companies may find it difficult to compete with a company that uses this software, since resource factor combination prior to the desired output level is automated. Capacity requirements however pose significant challenges to the application of this software in company operations.

The company’s capabilities are required to be extensive and long-term in nature, something that many manufacturing companies may find hard to establish. This use of this package is therefore limited to those companies that meet its criteria of operationalization. Finite Scheduling Software Finite capacity schedules are created using this software and integral programs (Gill & Krar, 2003). Planning for the available resources is important since manufacturing activities are fixed to time lines.

All the plans may not be realized, given the capacity of the company at different time intervals. However, the finite scheduler aims at reducing uncertainty, so that the planned capacity is closely monitored through the relevant centers, departments and machine (Gill & Krar, 2003). Efficiencies associated with this package are high, thereby leading to maximization of resource capacity in the company. Making this software work along the established systems and work flow processes is a difficulty that the company should be prepared to face, alongside high costs ensuring effective functionality and creation of end user awareness.

Up to six software packages have been considered, assessed and evaluated for both positives and negatives in terms of their applicability in PPQ Parts manufacturing company. A number of disadvantages have been identified for the six packages, but their advantages and benefits to the company cannot be disputed. They are recommended for PPQ Parts manufacturing company in the light of their applicability in the activities undertaken by the company. Due to current trends in technological advancements around the world, putting these software packages into place only keeps the company at par with contemporary technologies (Gill & Krar, 2003).

Despite the identified challenges and negativities in their use, the company will achieve immense desired results from using them in its manufacturing processes. Reference Gill, A. & Krar, S. (2003). Exploring advanced manufacturing technologies. New York: Industrial Press Inc.