Period batch control and group technology

Group technology has been in use in Yugoslavia for a number of years, and considerable experience has been gained in its use in different types of engineering factory. Significant gains have been made by converting to group technology (GT), in productivity, in flexibility, and in the reduction of throughput time and of WIP. The reduction of total stock and the increase in the rate of stock turnover, however, have not been satisfactory, partly due to the high rate of inflation but mainly to the choice of inappropriate methods of production control. We see a need to move towards JIT methods of production control, and have selected period batch control (PBC) as a possible method. This paper describes the existing production control methods in the factories where we are proposing to test the change. It describes the new methods we are proposing to introduce, and it outlines the progressive stage by stage approach which we are planning to use to introduce the change.