<p>Logistics and Information System Development are hot topics in today’s business world. Although many studies have been conducted on these two areas, information about logistics costs is still lacking in many companies. Information Systems are tools that, if properly developed, aid organizations in processing data and providing information with speed, accuracy and quality to its intended users. A lacking in the relation between the business world and the Information System’s world was apparent in a studied company’s self-developed Enterprise Resource Planning system, where information about logistics costs was neglected. A case study made in this same studied company, show the importance of seven different logistics costs types and its related information. Using the analysis of the material gathered from both literary work and this case study, it was determined what information about logistics costs is neglected by the manufacturing organization’s self-developed ERP-system. Finally, it was concluded what information on these logistics costs that should be considered by manufacturing organizations for facilitating the understanding of total product cost of specific products and which may not be supported by these systems.</p>

The purpose of this empirical study is to examine the usage of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPS) in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). Recently, rapid growth in information technology services compels developing countries to emerge as an information-based society. This emergence corresponds with the calls of researchers to address ERPS (Abbas, 2011). However, there is a scarcity of efforts by researchers to identify the factors contributing to the usage of ERPS at the organisational, departmental and end-user layer in HEIs. To fill this gap, this research develops a Multi-Layer Usage Model (MLUM) to determine the factors of ERPS usage across the organisational, departmental and individual levels of HEIs. The theoretical foundation of this study is adapted from unified theory of acceptance and use of technology developed by Venkatesh et al (2003). The study is unique in many respects. Firstly, it offers a newly developed multi-level conceptual model that is tested empirically using three distinct questionnaires; one for each layer. A large primary dataset, 1317 responses, is collected through three questionnaire from 18 higher education institutions in Pakistan; 86 responses from the organisational layer, 143 from the departmental layer and 1088 from the end-user layer. Structural equation modelling is used to analyse the effect of factors at three layers contributing to the usage of ERPS. Furthermore, the models are refined by applying extensions of structural equation modelling. Results suggest that at the organisational layer human resource availability, tolerance for risks and conflicts, collegial support and collaboration and decision making and control are significant and contributed towards ERPS usage while at the end-user layer behavioural intentions and motivation were insignificant and were therefore, removed from the model. This study contributes to theory development regarding usage of innovations in the under-researched context of HEIs. It also provides indigenous manifestations of ERPS usage that may be used by policy-makers.

Logistics and Information System Development are hot topics in today’s business world. Although many studies have been conducted on these two areas, information about logistics costs is still lacking in many companies. Information Systems are tools that, if properly developed, aid organizations in processing data and providing information with speed, accuracy and quality to its intended users. A lacking in the relation between the business world and the Information System’s world was apparent in a studied company’s self-developed Enterprise Resource Planning system, where information about logistics costs was neglected. A case study made in this same studied company, show the importance of seven different logistics costs types and its related information. Using the analysis of the material gathered from both literary work and this case study, it was determined what information about logistics costs is neglected by the manufacturing organization’s self-developed ERP-system. Finally, it was concluded what information on these logistics costs that should be considered by manufacturing organizations for facilitating the understanding of total product cost of specific products and which may not be supported by these systems.

Thesis (MAcc (Accountancy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The successful implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System can help an organisation to redefine its business processes and enhance its competitive advantage. An ERP System Implementation is a transformation project, which changes the way an organisation thinks and acts about its business. An ERP System implementation is also a complex endeavour, and as such, it requires rigorous risk management. The understanding and management of risks relevant to ERP System Implementation Projects are critical in order to ensure that the project delivers on its objectives within the specified budget and timelines, and eventually realises the envisaged business benefits. The purpose of this study is to discuss how key risks relevant to ERP System Implementation Projects could be addressed by applying project management disciplines derived from the PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environment) project management methodology. This methodology was developed by the Office of Government Commerce in the United Kingdom. This study also provides a framework that could be applied at the outset and during an ERP System Implementation Project by business management, to understand the risks (“what could go wrong?”) and project management disciplines that should be applied to address these risks (“what must go right?”). This framework was derived by: • Identifying key risks relevant to ERP System Implementation Projects; • Mapping these key risks onto SAP Implementation phases to highlight where these risks could materialise in the SAP Implementation process; • Then mapping these key risks across PRINCE2 project management processes and SAP Implementation phases by creating the SAP Implementation Key Risks Map; and finally • Providing a detailed description of how to apply PRINCE2 project management disciplines to address each risk in the SAP Implementation Key Risks Map.

Em um mercado global, tem sido observada a tendência para a dispersão geográfica das fabricas. Esta dispersão e motivada pela oportunidade de explorar as vantagens locais, sob diferentes pontos de vista. Essa estrutura também permite a interação mais intensa entre plantas de diferentes empresas produtivas. Neste sentido, o conceito de Empresa Virtual (EV) e fundamental para explorar novas estratégias de negócios, tais como foco nas competências essenciais, orientação máxima para o cliente e produção distribuída. No entanto, nesta nova estrutura produtiva, há novos requisitos para o planejamento e para o estabelecimento da data de entrega dos pedidos. Um sistema de Planejamento e Controle da Produção (PCP) convencional utiliza uma arquitetura hierárquica, o que não atende o requisito de autonomia das empresas parceiras. Para atender a essas novas exigências, este trabalho apresenta uma arquitetura de sistemas de planejamento e controle da produção no contexto de EV. Na proposta são utilizados os conceitos de janelas de tempo em conjunto com propagação de restrições para atender os requisitos de prazo de entrega de produtos. Estes dois conceitos tem sido amplamente utilizados na literatura relacionada a sistemas de planejamento convencionais, no entanto, não no contexto de EV. Nesta abordagem, as janelas de tempo delimitam o intervalo de alocação das tarefas nos sistemas de produção envolvidos, enquanto as restrição de capacidade identificam janelas de tempo factíveis considerando a importância da data de vencimento do pedido. E apresentado um exemplo da utilização da arquitetura e um exemplo de implementação. Este trabalho engloba EVs com empresas parceiras de diversos tipos de produção (produção em lotes e produção discreta). E utilizado o Production Flow Schema (PFS) para modelagem dos processos produtivos segundo uma abordagem hierárquica, com base em sucessivos renamentos para construir o modelo de forma progressiva e estruturada onde as propriedades do modelo ficam asseguradas por construção. Este refinamento gera sub-grafos em Rede de Petri, que são utilizados para a analise e o controle do processo produtivo. / In a global market, the trend for geographical dispersion of manufacturing plants has been observed. This dispersion is motivated by the opportunity to exploit local advantages under dierent viewpoints. This structure also allows for more intense interaction between plants of dierent productive enterprises. In this sense, the concept of Virtual Enterprise (VE) is fundamental to explore new business strategies such asfocus on core competencies,maximal customer orientationanddistributed production. However, in this new productive structure, there are new requirements for planning and for establishing the delivery date of the orders. A conventional Production Planning and Control system (PPC) uses a hierarchical architecture, which does not meet the requirement of autonomy of the partners companies. To address these new requirements, this work introduces a Production Planning and Control System Architecture in EV context. In the proposal are used the concepts oftime windowsandconstraint propagationto meet the deadline requirements of product delivery. These two concepts have been widely used in the literature relating to conventional planning systems, however, not in the EV context. In this approach, thetime windowsdelimit the allocation range of tasks in production systems involved, while the capacity constraint identify the feasible time window considering the importance of the ordes due date. An example of using the architecture and an implementation is presented. This work includes EVs with partner companies of various types of production (production batch and discrete manufacturing). Production Flow Schema (PFS) is used for modeling the processes according to a hierarchical approach based on successive renements to construct progressive and structured model where the properties of model are ensured by construction. This renement generates sub-graphs in Petri Net, which are used for the analysis and control of the production process.

A proposta de um procedimento de programação da produção, estruturado a partir das particularidades do fluxo de produção de um sistema de manufatura celular, descrita neste trabalho, é resultado do processo de investigação da relação do uso de ferramentas computacionais, especialistas em programação da produção, envolvendo práticas de controle de estoque no abastecimento de um sistema de manufatura celular. Deste modo, o conteúdo deste trabalho trata das principais restrições inerentes a relação entre os diferentes parâmetros e variáveis do processo de fabricação deste tipo de sistema, os quais interferem diretamente na eficácia e eficiência de um sistema de programação da produção, além de enfatizar os resultados efetivos que podem ser alcançados com o uso de um software APS, assim como uma lógica de programação, com ênfase na minimização do Lead Time Offsetting. Neste contexto, além do resultado efetivo que este trabalho demonstra, a partir do uso de um sistema de programação da produção em um ambiente de manufatura celular, há, inerentemente, o destaque à relevância do tema de pesquisa, estudado na literatura, devido ao crescente aumento da complexidade dos sistemas produtivos e, consequentemente, da dificuldade de análises mais precisas do impacto que as variáveis de fluxo, como por exemplo, tempos de abastecimento e movimentação, tempos de setup e os respectivos roteiros de fabricação, podem causar no desempenho dos processos no chão de fábrica. Quanto ao método de pesquisa o estudo aborda o tema, quanto à aplicação de um modelo de programação da produção estruturado, com base no escopo da proposta, através de um estudo de caso de uma empresa fornecedora de componentes do setor de automotivo, envolvendo pesquisa de campo com acesso a documentos do processo de fabricação e da estrutura de materiais do mix de produtos relacionados, além do contato direto com os atores do processo de fabricação a partir de reuniões periódicas durante o processo de concepção do procedimento. A partir da construção do modelo de programação, cenários são gerados de modo a comparar a performance dos mesmos em um ambiente produtivo real, sendo realizadas alterações de variáveis no fluxo produtivo, a fim de obter resultados interessantes e satisfatórios, utilizando-se de parâmetros como tamanho de lote e makespan como indicadores de performance. / The proposal of a production programming procedure, built from the particularities of a cellular manufacturing system\'s production flow, described in this work, is the result of a investigation process about the relation of using computational tools, specialized in production programming, involving practices of inventory control in a supply system of a manufacturing cell. Thus, the content of this work deals with the main constraints inherent in the relationship between different parameters and variables of the manufacturing process, regarding this type of production system, that directly interferes in the efficiency of a production scheduling system, emphasizing the effective results that can be achieved through the use of an APS software and programming logic, with emphasis on minimizing Lead Time Offsett. Thereby, in addition to the effective result that this work demonstrates about the use of a production programming system, in a cellular manufacturing environment, we should also emphasize the topic reserchead, and studied, in this work due to the increasing complexity of manufacturing systems and environments as well as the difficulty of more precise analyzes regarding the impact of production flow variables, such as supply and movement times, setup times and the variability offered by manufacturing routes, which can cause underperformance of production processes in a factory. About the research method, this study approaches the subject, regarding the application of a programming model, based on the scope of the initial proposal, through a case study of a company that supplies automotive componentes, in the brazilian automobile sector. This study encompasses field research with access to documents of the manufacturing process as well as the bill of materials of related products, also, direct contact with the actors of the manufacturing process through periodic meetings during the procedure design process. Regarding the results achieved by this work, it is important to highlight the creation of different cenarios and comparisons that were made, regarding the use of different parameters and variables, such as makespan and lot sizing, so that the optimal experience could be achived, through the use of a customized programming model developed, exclusively, for this research.

[pt] O presente trabalho tem como objetivo principal apresentar uma análise sobre as funcionalidades existentes nos aplicativos de planejamento avançado, os chamados Advanced Planning Systems (APS) e os ganhos obtidos pelas empresas com a implementação desses aplicativos. Para realizar tal análise foi feita uma revisão bibliográfica visando estudar e apresentar os conceitos dos aplicativos para o gerenciamento da cadeia de suprimentos e dos aplicativos de planejamento avançado, bem como apresentar o mercado atual para esses aplicativos. O sistema APO (Advanced Planner and Optimizer), da empresa alemã SAP, foi o escolhido para a exemplificação de aplicativos de planejamento avançado. Por meio da realização de entrevistas em duas empresas que utilizam o APO e com o auxílio de um questionário semi-estruturado foi possível uma análise de como essas empresas estão utilizando esse sistema. Foi possível observar o que levou as empresas a implementarem um aplicativo de planejamento avançado, as mudanças ocorridas nos diversos processos e os ganhos obtidos com a implementação. / [en] The purpose of this document is presenting the existing functionalities of the advanced planning software, the so called Advanced Planning Systems (APS) and the benefits obtained by the companies with the implementation of these systems. In order to accomplish such analysis, a bibliographic research was made to study and present the concepts of the supply chain management applications and advanced planning systems, as well as present the current market for these applications. The APO (Advanced Planner and Optimizer) system of the German company SAP was chosen for the exemplification of the advanced planning systems. Based on interviews performed at two companies, which made use of the APO and with the aid of a semi-structured form it was possible to understand how these companies are utilizing this system. It was also possible to observe what led the companies to implement an advanced planning system, the changes that occurred in the various processes and the benefits obtained with the implementation.

[pt] Esta dissertação se propõe a fazer uma análise dos níveis de inventário de uma empresa distribuidora de combustíveis brasileira. Trata da busca contínua pelo estado-da-arte em termos de modelagem logística e como lidar com os diversos trade-offs existentes na cadeia de suprimentos. O objetivo principal é apresentar como este modelo foi criado utilizando um Sistema de Planejamento Avançado, como isso ajudou no dimensionamento dos estoques de segurança e, finalmente, que ações foram necessárias para garantir um processo de melhoria contínua que agregasse valor à companhia pudesse ser desenvolvido. Trata ainda sobre o ganho de importância dos softwares de gerenciamento da cadeia de suprimentos e como o uso destas tecnologias pode ser útil no tratamento de problemas relacionados a análise de inventário utilizando uma abordagem de pesquisa-ação. Este trabalho trouxe percepções valiosas para o negócio, como a realocação dos estoques de segurança a partir dos tempos de transporte e perfil da demanda, a economia potencial que uma previsão de vendas mais assertiva pode trazer para a companhia e ainda como os investimentos em infraestrutura podem ser direcionados pela compreensão da dinâmica do inventário. A nova solução proposta implicou em uma redução de 17,8 porcento nos níveis de inventário. / [en] This dissertation addresses the initiatives in the inventory analysis of a fuel distribution company in Brazil. It tells about the continuous search for the stateof-art in terms of logistics modeling and how to deal with several of trade-offs existing in the supply chain. The main objective is to present how this model was created using an Advanced Planning System, how it helped to dimension the safety stocks and finally, what actions need to be taken in order to ensure that a ripening process that adds value to the company can be developed. It still addresses the growing importance of Supply Chain Management software and how the use of these technologies can be useful to tackle inventory analysis problems using an action research approach. This work provided powerful insights like the reallocation of safety stocks according to the transportation times and demand profiles, the potential economy that a more accurate demand forecast can bring to the company and even how investments in infrastructure can be driven by the new comprehension of the inventory dynamics. The new solution proposed implies a reduction of 17.8 percent in the inventory levels.

A proposta de um procedimento de programação da produção, estruturado a partir das particularidades do fluxo de produção de um sistema de manufatura celular, descrita neste trabalho, é resultado do processo de investigação da relação do uso de ferramentas computacionais, especialistas em programação da produção, envolvendo práticas de controle de estoque no abastecimento de um sistema de manufatura celular. Deste modo, o conteúdo deste trabalho trata das principais restrições inerentes a relação entre os diferentes parâmetros e variáveis do processo de fabricação deste tipo de sistema, os quais interferem diretamente na eficácia e eficiência de um sistema de programação da produção, além de enfatizar os resultados efetivos que podem ser alcançados com o uso de um software APS, assim como uma lógica de programação, com ênfase na minimização do Lead Time Offsetting. Neste contexto, além do resultado efetivo que este trabalho demonstra, a partir do uso de um sistema de programação da produção em um ambiente de manufatura celular, há, inerentemente, o destaque à relevância do tema de pesquisa, estudado na literatura, devido ao crescente aumento da complexidade dos sistemas produtivos e, consequentemente, da dificuldade de análises mais precisas do impacto que as variáveis de fluxo, como por exemplo, tempos de abastecimento e movimentação, tempos de setup e os respectivos roteiros de fabricação, podem causar no desempenho dos processos no chão de fábrica. Quanto ao método de pesquisa o estudo aborda o tema, quanto à aplicação de um modelo de programação da produção estruturado, com base no escopo da proposta, através de um estudo de caso de uma empresa fornecedora de componentes do setor de automotivo, envolvendo pesquisa de campo com acesso a documentos do processo de fabricação e da estrutura de materiais do mix de produtos relacionados, além do contato direto com os atores do processo de fabricação a partir de reuniões periódicas durante o processo de concepção do procedimento. A partir da construção do modelo de programação, cenários são gerados de modo a comparar a performance dos mesmos em um ambiente produtivo real, sendo realizadas alterações de variáveis no fluxo produtivo, a fim de obter resultados interessantes e satisfatórios, utilizando-se de parâmetros como tamanho de lote e makespan como indicadores de performance. / The proposal of a production programming procedure, built from the particularities of a cellular manufacturing system\'s production flow, described in this work, is the result of a investigation process about the relation of using computational tools, specialized in production programming, involving practices of inventory control in a supply system of a manufacturing cell. Thus, the content of this work deals with the main constraints inherent in the relationship between different parameters and variables of the manufacturing process, regarding this type of production system, that directly interferes in the efficiency of a production scheduling system, emphasizing the effective results that can be achieved through the use of an APS software and programming logic, with emphasis on minimizing Lead Time Offsett. Thereby, in addition to the effective result that this work demonstrates about the use of a production programming system, in a cellular manufacturing environment, we should also emphasize the topic reserchead, and studied, in this work due to the increasing complexity of manufacturing systems and environments as well as the difficulty of more precise analyzes regarding the impact of production flow variables, such as supply and movement times, setup times and the variability offered by manufacturing routes, which can cause underperformance of production processes in a factory. About the research method, this study approaches the subject, regarding the application of a programming model, based on the scope of the initial proposal, through a case study of a company that supplies automotive componentes, in the brazilian automobile sector. This study encompasses field research with access to documents of the manufacturing process as well as the bill of materials of related products, also, direct contact with the actors of the manufacturing process through periodic meetings during the procedure design process. Regarding the results achieved by this work, it is important to highlight the creation of different cenarios and comparisons that were made, regarding the use of different parameters and variables, such as makespan and lot sizing, so that the optimal experience could be achived, through the use of a customized programming model developed, exclusively, for this research.

Organizations experience challenges despite efforts to increase productivity through implementing large-scale enterprise systems. Leaders of local government institutions do not understand how to achieve expected and desired benefits from the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Lack of alignment between social and technical elements in ERP implementation depresses organizational productivity. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine whether social and technical elements increase use and productivity in ERP implementation. The research questions addressed the relationship between ERP and organizational efficiency, cross-functional communication, information sharing, ease of ERP use, and ERP usefulness. Sociotechnical systems theory provided the theoretical basis for the study. Data were collected from online surveys completed by 61 ERP users and analyzed using Wilcoxon matched pairs statistics and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Findings indicated a positive significant relationship between ERP and information sharing, a positive significant relationship between ERP system quality and ease of ERP use, and a positive significant relationship between ERP system quality and organizational productivity. Findings may be used by local government leaders, technology managers, and chief information officers to ensure ERP sustainability and increase productivity.