Manufacturing Systems

Abstract

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution it is possible to trace three stages of development. In the first, man’s muscle power was gradually replaced by the power of new machines. Then during the last twenty to thirty years, through the advent of numerical control, man’s directional power has also been replaced by machines. Only comparatively recently has attention been paid to the third stage — the design of total manufacturing systems. The complexity of organisations makes this a large problem, so it is not surprising that our understanding of it is still somewhat elementary. Nevertheless, with the spread of cheap computers work is proceeding so that in time even the small concern will be able to afford more sophisticated control equipment. In an article on the future of manufacturing systems, B. Davies (1971) notes also the complementary management information system’s importance and the way it should be exercising control over the company’s key areas.