An analysis of the information handling system at TFM Industries

Abstract

TFM specialises in the import, manufacturing, supply and support of specialist truck bodies for the transport, construction, forestry, cargo body, waste and environmental transport industries. The company consists of six separate facilities in the Olifantsfontein area. The project will focus specifically on the Main Plant facility. TFM recently realized that the company's current production and planning systems were outdated and ineffective, and that steps needed to be taken to improve this. The company decided that reassessing the current enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and bringing in new technologies would be the best course of action. Newer technologies and more modern views of production planning have all contributed globally to better product and process management techniques. The aim of this project is to investigate the methods and technologies that will enable TFM industries to have in time, in sequence, and accurate manufacturing progress information readily available. In the first stages of the project the main goal was to define the project problem statement, aim and scope. The next step was to identify what technologies would be best suited to the project and research each option extensively. The chosen technology was then researched further to determine the technical specifications. The next stage was to identify the available methods, tools, and techniques required to analyse the problem feasibility and requirements. Material and information flow diagrams, feasibility studies and requirements analysis techniques were identified as the most appropriate tools and were used to define and evaluate the current and proposed information handling system. The material and information flow diagram shed some light on the complexity of the system and aided in identifying the key areas that require improvement. The requirements analysis aided in discovering TFM's needs and will be used to explain these needs to the system developers. The feasibility study was formulated in a feasibility matrix that proved that the proposed system would be a viable solution. The final step was to determine how the system should be implemented and to develop clear instructions and procedures for employees to follow once the system is operational.