Identification, characterization and visualization of indicators and reports for targeted decision support in manufacturing companies

Abstract

As the title suggests already, the following thesis is about -Identification, characterization and visualization of indicators and reports for targeted decision support in manufacturing companies-. The structure and the sequence of this thesis hold strictly to the assignment of tasks, which can be seen in the title. Firstly, it is dealt with the question, why a reasonable structured information system is of immense importance of a modern manufacturing company. Furthermore, indicators are examined in more detail and the difference between the different types of indicators is illustrated. By this derivation important key figures or indicators are identified. In the next section metrics are characterized. Indicators differ significantly among themselves in their use and composition. For this reason, -Performance Measurement Systems- are briefly discussed, which are composed of individual metrics and combined to form a kind of -head-indicator-. The so called -Key Performance Indicator-. At this point, a kind of criteria catalog is introduced, with which it is able to characterize and classify specific indicators or performance measurement systems. The next paragraph of this work is to determine the appropriate visualization of these indicators or performance measurement systems. Especially at the level of the shop floors and superior hierarchy level an appropriate visualization is of utmost importance. Here, the dashboard plays an important role. With the help of a dashboard the visualization is primarily done in the shop floor. In the visualization there are a few rules that must be followed. In this connection, for example, play the correct selection of graphs and images, as well as the contrast, font size, font and color an important role. Furthermore, this thesis deals with the superior hierarchy level of the shop floor. In this level, the manufacturing execution system finds its use. In this case, this system will be briefly explained. In addition, it is explained shortly by using a practical example. In the last chapter, well-known figures are taken up again. They are identified and characterized with the previously introduced criteria catalog. In addition, a possible visualization is shown. In the beginning of this work, there was a lot of literature, which could be used. This was especially the case with the key ratios and indicators. However, German and English literature differs in some definitions of different types of indicators. The large amount of literature was no longer available in the second part (Visualization) of the work. There are only a handful of authors who have dealt with this topic. Also it can be seen that these authors made use of each other and they often rotate "in a circle". Also the research on the -Manufacturing Execution System- turned out difficult. This system is supplied for the most part only by external companies. Often only the provided brochures could be read. The actual implementation of this system was a trade secret.

As the title suggests already, the following thesis is about -Identification, characterization and visualization of indicators and reports for targeted decision support in manufacturing companies-. The structure and the sequence of this thesis hold strictly to the assignment of tasks, which can be seen in the title. Firstly, it is dealt with the question, why a reasonable structured information system is of immense importance of a modern manufacturing company. Furthermore, indicators are examined in more detail and the difference between the different types of indicators is illustrated. By this derivation important key figures or indicators are identified. In the next section metrics are characterized. Indicators differ significantly among themselves in their use and composition. For this reason, -Performance Measurement Systems- are briefly discussed, which are composed of individual metrics and combined to form a kind of -head-indicator-. The so called -Key Performance Indicator-. At this point, a kind of criteria catalog is introduced, with which it is able to characterize and classify specific indicators or performance measurement systems. The next paragraph of this work is to determine the appropriate visualization of these indicators or performance measurement systems. Especially at the level of the shop floors and superior hierarchy level an appropriate visualization is of utmost importance. Here, the dashboard plays an important role. With the help of a dashboard the visualization is primarily done in the shop floor. In the visualization there are a few rules that must be followed. In this connection, for example, play the correct selection of graphs and images, as well as the contrast, font size, font and color an important role. Furthermore, this thesis deals with the superior hierarchy level of the shop