This thesis is intended to provide the management of small to medium sized job shop companies with a written plan to implement a formal computerized manufacturing planning and control system. The research stemmed from a case study performed at a typical job shop where growth of production activities was complicating the informal control system being used. A review of the literature and a survey of job shops provided the necessary foundation for this implementation. Research indicated that typical material requirements planning (MRP) systems do not provide the type of shop floor control that most job shops require. This thesis suggests alternatives that not only provide the type of shop floor control required by a typical job shop, but software that can be managed effectively by current employees with minimal changes to the education and training of these employees. The plan contains ten steps that are designed to be used by a job shop wishing to implement a formal computerized control system. A decision making heuristic is used in the first step that provides a method for estimating the benefits that might result from implementation. Sample criteria for evaluating current shop floor control software, development of an implementation timeline, cost considerations, educational requirements for employees, and suggested methods for measuring project performance are also included. Examples of the type of improvement that can be expected for each of the business activities is also discussed. The overall goal is to provide a comprehensive plan that will guide managers through the steps necessary to implement a computerized shop floor control system and to inform managers of the benefits which can accrue from such a system. / Graduation date: 1999