Q$1$ A

Define the term DBMS and briefly explain role of DBMS technology in the

context of modern manufacturing information and ERP systems.

Marks

$5$

Q$1$ B

The manager of a local Engineer to order $($ETO$)$ firm has requested you to

assist him in preparing a Design and Manufacturing System Strategy for

managing his direct production operations. The firm employs $35$ people in

the production of precision engineering products. These products are divided

into product styles $($families$)$ and each product has a specific size. The

production processes are based upon $3$D printing: and Packaging. Each

manufacturing order is produced in response to a specific customer designed

order and shipped within five $(5)$ business days. These product sales orders

are typically $3$D printed from between five and ten components or raw

materials. At present the firm does not have any formal information on the

process steps required for each work order and relies on the skill and

judgement of the operators. The manager of the firm is anxious about the

profitability and economic performance of the firm. Another consultant has

advised that they should simply use a Value Stream Mapping approach and

to avoid investments in $$complicated computer systems$.$ The firm has

minimal computing resources at present.

Prepare a report dealing with the following points and justifying your

answers:

$1.$ What are the most critical decision stages and performance metrics

that the firm has to achieve if it is to meet its commitments to its

customers and stakeholders?

$2.$ What design and information will be required in order to compute the

amount of direct manufacturing resources required to produce each

product? Give an equivalent example that you have recently worked

on as part of the module course work.

$3.$ What Process Planning and Computer Aided Process Planning

$($CAPP$)$ support is needed for $3$D printing. Explain the benefits and

costs of adopting this approach.

$4.$ The manager has been advised that he can do without this

information within a formal system and simply use a paper based

Value Stream Map approach. Make a recommendation to the

manager as to which approach he should adopt with the appropriate

justification.