Development and use of a Visual Interactive Planning Board within Alcan Aluminium

Systems designed to address the production control problems of assembly plants have frequently failed when applied to the process sector. Alcan has produced an industry generalised Visual Interactive Planning Board designed specifically to address process plant problems. The system calculates production schedules very rapidly and presents the results in a variety of forms. An expert user is then able to change the rules and edit the plan until satisfied. The results of applying the system have been encouraging but have highlighted the need for commitment and co-operation from all levels of the organisation.