In easy-to-read plain jargon-free English, Why Systems Fail is a "must read" for company executives, implementation team members, department heads, and prospective users of broad-based information management software suites. Appendices provide a brief overview of manufacturing software suites, some trends and projections, and a discussion of I/T's role in systems selection and implementation.

From there, the discussions turns to applicability of these basic techniques to differing manufacturing situations (make-to-order, ship-from-stock), government contracting, and process manufacturing. Additional topics include activity-based costing, integration with CAD/CAM and process control systems, software selection and implementation, and how software suites are extended and adapted to fit industry-specific needs. Includes an index and glossary of terms. Provides a solid background in how these systems work and how they fit in various industry situations.
ISBN 0-8311-3046-6. 172 pages. Index. Glossary. Hard-cover.
Industrial Press, 1993

Chapters cover Computer-Aided Design and Engineering (CAD, CAE), Computer-Assisted Manufacturing (CAM), networks and protocols, Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP), data collection, process automation, work cells, robotics, material handling, quality, distribution, electronic data interchange (EDI), office and general applications, and implementation. Includes an index, glossary, and review questions at the end of each chapter. Good for a general overview in non-technical language.

MAPICS Planning is written as a guidebook with hints and tips, practical advice, and "how-to" information not found in the reference manuals.
Excerpt: Planning systems have been around for a number of years and are installed in literally thousands of companies, but they seem to have a kind mystery about them. There is a perception in the market place that computerized planning systems are essential to the operation of an efficient manufacturing business. Yet only about 11% of manufacturing companies have such systems installed.

Included is an explanation of the Product Data Management's role, and advice on handling outside operations, "tricks of the trade" and special features like milestones, overlapping operations, and rework. Chapters address work center analysis, Capacity Requirements Planning (CRP), and Repetitive Production Management (RPM). An appendix explains features-and-options for assemble-to-order situations, another discusses tailoring options, and a third explains exponential smoothing.