The selection and application of material planning methods

TLDR: In this paper, the authors examined which material planning methods companies are using, to what extent these methods are perceived as efficiently supporting the operation, how the various methods are applied, and how the satisfied users apply the methods.

Abstract: Methods for planning and control of the flow of material in the manufacturing enterprise are more or less appropriate to use in a specific situation, mainly depending on the existing planning environment. How well they contribute to an effective material flow is also depending on how they are applied. This paper examines which material planning methods companies are using, to what extent these methods are perceived as efficiently supporting the operation, how the various methods are applied, and how the satisfied users apply the methods. The findings are based on a survey study carried out in 84 manufacturing companies in Sweden in 2000. From the results some conclusions concerning state-of-the-art application of material planning methods in the manufacturing industry are presented. A comparison with a similar study on the same population from 1993 is also conducted. The findings show that material requirements planning is generally the most used method. The most common ways to determine planning paramete...