5.27 - Operational Support Documentation

In the development, implementation and operation of cellular manufacturing organisations, it is essential that minimum, but adequate, support documentation is provided and maintained for the product unit manager and staff. This will ensure that the commissioning, training, and operational plans are effectively supported.

The Need for Documentation

Levels of Support Documentation

Documention is required to support and record decisions, actions and results at various levels

Documentation may be owned solely by one level or it may be used to generate documentation at other levels. In general the higher the level, the more rationalised the documentation. Unnecessary documentation is a form of non-value added activity and must be avoided. The list on the next table is by no means comprehensive. Specific applications require specific documents and reports. Note that Product Life-cycle Management (PLM) software can be used to incorporate metrics into performance ‘dashboards’ as well as manage the documents themselves.

Information & document flow Document ownership	Product Unit		Module		Cell
Customer Requirements
Sales Forecasts
Objectives
Financial Data
Marketing data
Communication Data
Communication System
Budget control
Cost control
Information flow charts
Performance measures
Capacity data
Supplier development
Acceptance of schedules
Personnel data
Bill of Materials
Purchasing data
Supplier data
Exception reports
Training requirements
Training plans
Implementation plans
Volume, variety frequency analysis
Runner, repeater stranger analysis

Signing off