The application of production-related information technology architecture to improve on visual management systems within the manufacturing industry

Date
2017-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the relationship between technology advancements and the effects thereof in manufacturing industry in relation to the complexity of the production lines, resource efficiency and time management. Specifically, the study focuses on the use of Production-Related Information Technology Architecture (PRITA) to improve data sourcing, processing and communication within the manufacturing environment in order to improve the use of Visual Management System (VMS) capabilities. Current technologic advancements, and therefore the manufacturing paradigm by extension, have advanced enough to make VMS a possibility. Case studies were developed and implemented with the aim of identifying the elements of VMS that facilitate data sourcing and processing in order to yield production-related information after which the information was displayed digitally. These case studies were implemented within the academic manufacturing environment that replicates typical small medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. The results revealed that the VMS was considered an important value-adding element to the manufacturing industry with 77% of the expert interview participants agreeing. VMS provided the functionalities of trend analytics that could provide information regarding the operational condition of production and making conservative predictions of the production cycle analysis. VMS can provide the solution to understanding and relating the information to improve on the traditional flow of information. This new method will involve an increased amount of data collection on lower operation levels from which the information can flow up through managerial levels to produce action items and information flowing down the model again. The study concluded with an effect and benefit summery of the PRITA and VMS model, a cost and labour analysis and a discussion of research limitations.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek die verwantskap tussen tegnologiese vooruitgang en die gevolge daarvan in die vervaardiging industrie en fokus op die kompleksiteit van die produksie lyne, doeltreffendheid hulpbron- en tydsbestuur. Die studie fokus spesifiek op die gebruik van Produksieverwante Inligtingstegnologie Argitektuur (PVITA) sisteme om data van die bron te kry, te verwerk en kommunikasie van inligting te verbeter binne die vervaardiging omgewing deur gebruik te maak van Visuele Bestuur Sisteem (VBS). Die vooruitgang van huidiglike tegnologie en dus die vervaardiging paradigma by uitbreiding, het genoeg ontwikkel die laaste tyd om VBS 'n moontlikheid te maak. Data versameling en verwerking wat deur elemente van die VBS gefasiliteer en evalueer word, wat produksieverwante inligting digitaal vertoon, is deur middel van die ontwikkeling van gevallestudies gedoen. Die gevallestudies is geïmplementeer in die akademiese vervaardigingsomgewing wat tipiese klein medium ondernemings (KMO) in Suid-Afrika verteenwoordig. Die gevolgtrekking van die navorsing is dat VBS ʼn belangrike waardetoevoeging element van die vervaardigingsbedryf is, waarvan 77% van die deskundige onderhoude deelnemers saamstem. VBS kon tendens analise wat inligting met betrekking tot die operasionele toestand van die produksie kondisie en maak konserwatiewe voorspellings van die produksiesiklus ontleding voorsien. VBS kan die oplossing bied vir die verstaan en interpretasie van inligting asook beter kommunikasie verbeter tussen organisasie vlakke. Die tradisionele inligting vloei kan verbeter word deur 'n groot data hoeveelheid insameling op laer operasie vlakke. Die moderne metode behels die vloei van inligting opwaarts deur bestuursvlakke. Die voorlaaste deel van die navorsingstudie bepreek die effek en voordele opsomming van die PVITA en VBS model, ʼn koste en arbeid ontleding en is gevolg deur beperkings wat deur die verloop van die studie ervaar is.
Description
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2017.
Keywords
Visual management system, Manufacturing industries -- Technological innovations, Internet of things, Smart materials in design, UCTD
Citation