Title: The human factor in production planning and control: considering human needs in computer aided decision-support systems

Authors: Julia C. Bendul; Mathias Knollman

Addresses: Production and Logistics Networks Workgroup, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany ' Production and Logistics Networks Workgroup, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany

Abstract: The unawareness of production planners about the interaction of key performance indicators (KPIs) in manufacturing systems and misinterpretations of system states often leads to problems when they try to improve them. Exemplary, the lead time syndrome (LTS) represents one of these counterproductive actions. While planners aim to improve due date reliability by planned lead time adjustments, the result is often an aggravation of due date reliability. This is due to human behaviour in the decision-making process, which can be biased. Despite its potential to improve the logistic performance, human needs were out of scope of recent investigations in the field of logistics. The aim of this paper is to close this research gap by means of a case study and research on human behaviour in the field of psychology. The result is the determination of guidelines to improve the logistic performance in future decision-support systems by considering human needs.

Keywords: human behaviour; cognitive bias; lead time syndrome; LTS; logistics target achievement; production planning; production control; PPC; human factors; human needs; computer aided DSS; decision support systems; key performance indicators; KPIs; manufacturing systems; due date reliability; due dates; lead times; psychology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2016.078921

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2016 Vol.30 No.5, pp.346 - 368

Received: 02 Feb 2015
Accepted: 25 Oct 2015
Published online: 05 Sep 2016 *

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