Integrated shop floor control in automotive supplier industries - prerequisite for lean production

This paper puts into focus the relevance of the use of integrated shop floor management tools, supported by a real-time information link between the plant floor and the management level, within the scope of a Lean Production strategy. First, the new challenges posed to supplier companies in lean environments are emphasised and a new approach to technology transfer is outlined. While this results in the need for improved shop floor information management, available systems feature a number of limitations and deficiencies which are highlighted. The way Esprit Project 5478 SHOP-CONTROL, which received considerable attention from end-users in the automotive supplier industry, has addressed these requirements is then presented, as well as some results from its pilot installation.