3D Analyzer Software Woodworking Tip: Production and operations control in woodworking

Every woodworking company should produce a hierarchy of plans to enable it to fulfill its corporate purpose. These plans differ from each other in the level of detail at which they operate. Detail is in itself a reflection of the time-span covered by the plan. The largest time span is exhibited by the overall company policy. Consistent with this but spanning a shorter period of time is the marketing forecast which identifies and quantifies the products or services to be provided over the foreseeable future.

The group within the organisation responsible for examining the resource implications of this forecast is normally the production or operations control department (POCD). From the forecast, this department prepares a production plan or schedule which in turn generates a workload which is finally translated into action by first line management. The preparation of a set of plans is an iterative process since an inability to achieve planned results at one level may cause a change in the plans at higher levels. Equally plans must interlock and be acceptable to all those who are involved and affected by it. For instance a sales forecast must be compatible with the production/operations department’s abilities.

The POCD is one of the planning departments within the woodworking organisation and comprises the control functions of Planning, Publishing, Measuring, Comparing, Reporting and Correcting. In essence, the POCD should be able at all times to answer two basic and apparently simple questions:

- Can a particular set of woodworking tasks be undertaken?
- How far have the tasks proceeded?

In attempting to provide these answers POCD must attempt to organise the most effective use of human resources, materials and equipment. A major responsibility of POCD is likely to include detailed written instructions, and as a result it is often considered to be the paperwork-producing department. This is particularly true for woodworking organisations. It is frequently perceived as being a low-level clerical responsibility, indeed one that can be largely handled by a computer.  As such it is much maligned and its duties misunderstood. This misunderstanding is as frequently found at high as well as low levels, with the result that appropriate staff status and facilities are not provided, duties consequently being ill-performed. 

The qualities required of those responsible for production/operations control are no less exacting than those required of a cost accountant or chief designer, yet it is often found that the staff employed in this area are not adequately trained or experienced to carry out the duties satisfactorily. Working in this area needs a clear brain capable of dealing with a large number of problems simultaneously, a thorough knowledge of processes, procedures and efficient organisation techniques, an appreciation of controlling costs, an awareness of the scope and limitations of using computers, and an understanding of  mathematical methods and more important mathematical reasoning.

Many of the weaknesses of organisations, such as excessive material stocks, failure to achieve processing targets or idle time can be directly attributable to inferior or non existent production/operations control. On the other hand effective production control can achieve increases in output and efficiency far more spectacular and at a far lower cost than any other management technique. In any plan for improving efficiency or reducing losses throughout a woodworking enterprise, the organisation of a really efficient POCD must come very high in priority; certainly no incentive scheme will work without an effective POCD.

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For more information on how 3D Analyzer Software can help improve your company please have a look at our website www.3danalyzersoftware.com

3D Analyzer Software was created by woodworkers with a lifetime of experience in the woodworking industry.

Close to the top of every woodworkers wish list is the seamless transition from solid model to CNC program.  3D Analyzer has made this goal a reality. With the ability to import solid models from CAD programs such as AutoCAD, 3D Pytha and Solidworks, 3D Analyzer is ideally suited to help any woodworker.

3D Analyzer Software is a customized woodworking software program that has been evolving since 2000, to enable woodworkers to produce and deliver individual pieces with dramatic time savings and near perfect accuracy. The Idea for the software program began as the owners sought practical solutions for their own woodworking manufacturing problems, needing software that would translate 3D images into specific manufacturing data.

We are proud to say that our software is now being used across the woodworking industry by:

- Architectural joinery companies
- Custom furniture manufactures
- Office fit-out suppliers
- Store fixture companies
- Exhibition companies
- Suppliers of display cabinets and
- High-end kitchen cabinet manufactures

Our Company is based in Sydney, Australia and has customers in Australia, and around the world in New Zealand, Europe / UK and the USA.