Network Planning And Theory Of Constraints Based Mould Production Planning Management System

Mould production is a typical Make to Order production mode. It is characteristics of multi-varieties, small batch, low repetitive, complicated process, fluctuation of production planning. Its production management is difficult. It is required an effective Management Information System for production planning and control.In this paper, the characteristics of mould production and problems existing in production management are analyzed. On the basis of comparing and analyzing dominating production planning and control approaches, an integrated production planning approach combining Network planning and Theory of Constraints is put forward. And then, some key problems with the approach were studied, such as equipment resources assigned, bottleneck identified, selection of the operation priority rules, and optimization algorithm base on Theory of Constraints. Furthermore,after analyzing business process and function requirement for mould production planning management, a system framework and some function modules are designed. At last, a production planning and management system prototype is developed based on the above approach. Its primary functions include orders management, project management, material data management, production planning and management,NC program management and so on.