Finite Capacity Scheduling : Management, Selection, and Implementation (Oliver Wight Manufacturing)

Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading at top business schools.
Review: 1-5? definitely a five star book

Should you buy and read the book Finite Capacity Scheduling?

Yes, and they should require it at Havard Business School, Manchester School of Business, Havard, Columbia, Wharton and Stanford Business School as required reading. Additionally the theories, which are now being proven in many industries will soon hit the service industry markets.

It is a wonder how we can keep up the smaller and smaller margins in the manufacturing sector and still do everything the old way? If you really want to win the game and understand how to maximize every resource in the manufacturing process, you have to read this book. Buy a highlighter. There is so much great information, you will definitely need it.

Rating:
Summary: Finite Capacity Scheduling - Predictability at Last
Review: Anyone who has been trying to run a factory with traditionally infeasible production schedules will find this book hard to believe. We have been using infinite capacity backward pass scheduling and rough cut capacity planning for so many decades that it has become a dogma among those concerned with materials management. We have used these unreliable scheduling tools for so long that the idea of a feasible and current production schedule may seem absurd. The more vested we are in dispatch lists, expediting, excess inventory, frustration, and overtime; the more difficult it will be to switch our allegiance to finite capacity scheduling. For some it may be as difficult as denouncing their deity.

This timely book helps us realize that the technology for finite capacity scheduling has matured during the last two decades of continual application and improvement. The information it presents should help management understand why they can finally have feasible schedules for whatever resources are important to their business. The core problem in production management has been solved. Rejoice! We can continue to plan in units of production, but we can now schedule in units of time.

Rating:
Summary: FCS - an advocacy book
Review: Finite Capacity Scheduling is an advocacy book, unusually high in philosophical content and subjectivity. It is not a technical text and provides only the briefest unsatisfying explanations of Finite Capacity Scheduling basics. Much, if not most, of the content is only peripherally related to modern scheduling techniques. Oddly, the primary purpose of the book seems to be to denegrate users and advocates of traditional systems incorporated within *RP systems. "This book will take the futuristic step of overcoming the inertial of the long-term use of infinite capacity backward pass scheduling methods and replace them with FCS. This will require in-depth management changes. The traditional infinite capacity scheduling method used by MRP and MRP II systems are self-defeating, yield unfeasible results, and waste resources, not only shop floor resources but resources throughout the organization."

The difficult issues in FCS are related to the underlying structure and assumptions used to set up a system for a specific application; then to the care and feeding of the system. Purchase and implementation is a serious commitment and managers need a framework to understand the full range of benefits, risks and costs. This book is the equivalent of a poorly written vendor promotional white paper. I am disappointed in the content, editor, publisher and Oliver Wight indorsement.

Rating:
Summary: Finite Capacity Scheduling
Review: Finite Capacity Scheduling provides a management-level explanation of why infinite capacity backward pass scheduling methods used in traditional MRP, MRPII and ERP systems rarely produces feasible shop schedules, resulting in significantly increased WIP and expediting costs. It goes on to describe how finite capacity scheduling methods vary and how they may be integrated with the traditional methods to improve the efficiency of your organization and facilities. It also provides insight on how to choose an appropriate FCS method for your type of operation and managemnet style.

The book is not a technical "How to Manual". It is a introductory manual for top and middle managers to understand why FCS is needed and how it works which is exactly what the authors state in the first and most important step in the implementation of a successufl FCS system: managemnet understanding.

I would recommend the book to everyone who depends on an MRP-based scheduling system for their production schedules and anyone who is considering implementing an FCS in their operations.

Rating:
Summary: Finite Capacity Scheduling: Management, Selection, and Imple
Review: For more than 20 years, I have been looking for someone to easily explain the basic principles and practices of FCS. Here's a book that takes the complexity out of the subject and makes it simple to understand with examples and antedotes that clearly illustrate the subject details. Rarely have I been able to pick up a book on a techical subject and find myself "getting into it" because the style and content is so interesting.

There are few experts on the subject of FCS. Bill Kirchmier and his associate have, both, demonstrated their expertise and writing skill to put across a difficult subject in such easy to understand laymans language.

I commend this book to anyone who has the idea of evaluating and/or implementing Finite Capacity Scheduling as a process for improving their current or future manufactuirng production throughput.

Rating:
Summary: great disappointment
Review: It seems that the aim of the writers is to sell FCS systems instead of explaining how they work. They always compare FCS systems with other systems (such as MRP systems); but how can you compare systems that are supposed to do quite different things? After reading the whole book i can say, my knowledge of the matter is the same as before. I could have used my time (and money) better.

Rating:
Summary: Clarity in an unclear marketspace
Review: The authors have done the FCS community a service by providing a unified treatment with a taxonomy that can clear the air in a market filled with meaningless jargon and narrow agendas. While not a "how to" (and never pretends to be so this is not a criticism), there is useful broad advice in how to select a package to insure that the business needs will be addressed with a FCS system. The one area lacking is for all the authors' efforts to tackle the top-level issues in FCS, they missed a golden opportunity to remind the readers to not be distracted by the glitz in APS because at the heart of every APS is the need to address a real world FCS problem. The importance of a quality FCS engine, reinforced by the book, cannot be overstated for any business considering some form of scheduling technology.

Rating:
Summary: Required Reading
Review: This book was written for manufacturing management at all levels interested in increasing productivity, thus profits. It is non-technical in nature and easily understood by all that will be positively affected by its well constructed contents.

One must remember that MRP was created in the early days by hardware vendors intent upon selling iron. It was an algorithm designed for purchasing material needed for production based upon a nebulous forecast that ran backwards in an infinite mode. To make a point, think about infinity in a backward mode before you go to sleep tonight-go to bed early.

Unfortunately, the computer power at the time was insufficient to solve the real problem on shop floor-planning and scheduling of very finite capacities to consume the material that MRP recommended. The obvious result: bloated inventories.

MRP soon became a creed not to be violated no matter that the better half of the problem of shop floor control was still unsolved by expensive automation.

This book should be made required reading by all manufacturing management staff. The result will be a very pleasant surprise for all involved.

Rating:
Summary: Required Reading
Review: This book was written for manufacturing management at all levels interested in increasing productivity, thus profits. It is non-technical in nature and easily understood by all that will be positively affected by its well constructed contents.

One must remember that MRP was created in the early days by hardware vendors intent upon selling iron. It was an algorithm designed for purchasing material needed for production based upon a nebulous forecast that ran backwards in an infinite mode. To make a point, think about infinity in a backward mode before you go to sleep tonight-go to bed early.

Unfortunately, the computer power at the time was insufficient to solve the real problem on shop floor-planning and scheduling of very finite capacities to consume the material that MRP recommended. The obvious result: bloated inventories.

MRP soon became a creed not to be violated no matter that the better half of the problem of shop floor control was still unsolved by expensive automation.

This book should be made required reading by all manufacturing management staff. The result will be a very pleasant surprise for all involved.