Research Project – Decision Support Systems and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

Research Project – Decision Support Systems and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

Introduction

The application of information technology to complete various organizational tasks is a common trend being embraced by organizations in different sectors. The main reason behind the widespread use of information technology is to enhance productivity and improve overall organizational performance. Organizations have also embraced information technology to improve relationships with their competitors, suppliers, and customers. Technologies such as Decision Support Systems are also essential in increasing competitiveness and reducing the amount of time taken to make important organizational decisions. Therefore, the driving force in adopting technology in modern-day organizations is the need for enhanced competitiveness and improved organizational performance.

Decision Support Systems

According to Turban et al. (2018), decision support systems are shared computer-based information structures with a structured collection of models, individuals, software, processes, telecommunication, databases, and gadgets that assist decision-makers in finding solutions for different types of business issues. The system includes various subsystems such as data management, knowledge-based management, model management, and user interface subsystems. The data management configuration consists of a database with appropriate data for an existing circumstance and is managed using software referred to as the database management system. The configuration can be intersected with the business data warehouse, which is a storehouse for data pertinent to corporate decision-making. The knowledge-based management configuration supports any of the other configurations and may also act independently. It offers intelligence to support the decisions of a decision-maker. It can be interlined with an organization’s knowledge repository, referred to as the organizational knowledge base. The model management subsystem offers decision-makers access to different simulations and assists them in making decisions. It can incorporate a prototypical base management software coordinating the use of prototypes in decision support systems. It can also be connected to external data storage. The user interface configuration is also referred to as the dialog management center that allows users to interact with the decision support system to acquire information. It requires two competencies which are the action language that informs the decision support system of what is needed and passes the information to the decision support system and the demonstration language transferring and presents the user results. The decision support system generator serves as a buffer between the other components of the decision support system and the user interacting with the user interface, prototype base, and database.

One of the advantages of using decision support systems in an organization is enhancing cost advantage by offering many benefits such as reducing the need to transfer staff, improving personal efficiency, increasing organizational control, and advancing problem-solving. Managers intending to develop a cost advantage look for circumstances where decision processes appear tedious and slow and where issues occur often or solutions are unsatisfactory or delayed (Roberts, 2021). Decision Support Systems can also minimize costs where decision-makers have high intentions to leave, and training is hectic and slow, and in instances where departments, tasks, and projects are poorly managed. The second advantage is creating a cost advantage by enhancing competence or eradicating the activities in a value chain. The third benefit is enhancing differentiation advantage. Offering a decision support system to customers can distinguish a product and probably offer a new service (Roberts, 2021). Differentiation enhances productivity when the price clients have to pay is more than any added expenditures linked to realizing the differentiation. Effective differentiation implies that an organization can charge an exceptional price or sell more products and enhance customer loyalty for repeat acquisitions. The fourth advantage is improving the focus on definite customer segments and thus gaining an advantage in meeting the fragment’s needs. For instance, decision support systems may help track customers, thus enabling an organization to offer exclusive services to a specialized group of customers requiring special services.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing

According to Wang (2018), computer-integrated manufacturing is a system with software covering a wide range of business processes that include the incorporation of automated tasks and factory floor repair through material handling software and machines. It covers the planning modules in an organization’s manufacturing system, such as purchasing, design, inventory, cost accounting, and customer order management. Computer Computer-integrated manufacturing may also be defined as a system incorporating a common database that uses communication technologies to integrate manufacturing, design, and various business functions combining automated segments in a manufacturing facility or factory by reducing the human element in manufacturing, thus relieving the process of its expensive, slow and vulnerable component.

The implementation of Customer Integrated Manufacturing includes three steps. The first step includes assessing the manufacturing company to determine its strengths and weaknesses. The second step is simplifying the entire process to determine and probably eliminate all the common waste in the manufacturing process and the application and purchase of software and hardware for the production system. All the functions within a manufacturing plant, including the distribution of manufactured items, can be automated via Computer Integrated Manufacturing. The integration includes carefully monitoring every process in the manufacturing and supply chain to ensure maximum productivity throughout the manufacturing process. Successful integration also requires proper strategic planning. According to Okpala et al. (2020), proper strategic planning includes addressing an organization’s strategic needs and planning the technical components and training to create a better understanding of the technology, determining appropriate infrastructure to support the application of CIM, and appropriately matching technology to an organization’s strengths and weaknesses. Support from management is also required to ensure that all resources required for CIM implementation are available.

One of the benefits of using Computer Integrated Manufacturing is reducing cost. The system enhances the effectiveness of using resources, reducing the cost of production and waste generated in the manufacturing process. The second benefit is an increase in throughput due to reduced product development cycles and lead time and improved utilization of staff resources and capital. The third benefit is improved quality.CIM focuses on exceeding customer expectations hence improving the quality of products manufactured. The fourth benefit is reduced inventory by improving the level of flexibility and integration. The fifth benefit is integration.CIM offers a level of integration, enabling the speed, flexibility, and error reduction needed to lead and compete in competitive markets by integrating the operations in the factory with enterprise software that enables employees to perform higher-value functions (Okpala et al.,2020). The sixth benefit is error reduction which arises from performing actions with minimal human involvement and automatically reporting results. The seventh benefit is enhanced manufacturing speed.CIM reduces the time taken to perform manufacturing activities and assemble manufactured products hence allowing faster flow of products to customers and increasing capacity. The eighth benefit is enhanced flexibility.CIM systems rely on online records hence eliminating barriers to operational changes. Therefore, organizations can speedily respond to market conditions and then return to the former operational routine when the market conditions return to normal.

References

Okpala, C. C., Ezeanyim, O. C., & Ogbodo, I. F. (2020). Computer Integrated Manufacturing Implementation: Benefits and Challenges. International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science, 9(3).

Roberts, F. J. (2021). Decision support systems: Types, advantages, and disadvantages. Nova Science Publishers.

Turban, E., Pollard, C., & Wood, G. (2018). Information technology for management: On-demand strategies for performance, growth, and sustainability. John Wiley & Sons.

Wang, L. (2018). Robotics and computer-integrated manufacturing. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 51, ii. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcim.2018.02.001

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Decision Support Systems and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

Summary of Steps

Research the first two IS-related solutions that you listed in your document during Module 3.
Edit your research paper document based on the feedback you received in Module 3.
Using the same document, follow the instructions below to write the introduction to your paper, the first two IS-related solutions, and your references for those sections.
Submit your document for grading.
Suggestions

Some suggestions on the types of data that you might include to build your paper are as follows:

Describe how the information systems will benefit your company.
Provide details and examples of applications and solutions offered by retail vendors.
Describe the framework for each solution that the internal staff of your company might develop and implement.
Present an account of the strengths, weaknesses, and cost considerations for those solutions.
Identify and describe how a solution can provide a competitive advantage, influence strategy, affect organizational performance, and increase operational efficiency.
Detailed instructions for this assignment are below and in the Detailed Instructions and Research Project Requirements sections, which describe the complete project.

Overview

In your role as an employee at a medium-to-large aviation-related business, it’s time to drill down to the specifics for two of the Management Information Systems you selected. As you perform research and compose your data, remember that you are in a mid-to-upper level management position and have significant decision-making influence with your company.