Capacity management: get the level of detail right

The objective of this article is to outline the three main stages of manufacturing planning where capacity analysis is employed and to highlight the differences in approach and level of detail required for capacity analysis at each stage. Capacity management is not a single discipline or function. Rather, the term takes on meaning within the context of the planning job it is supporting. There are significant differences between the objectives and output of each planning stage and consequently, there is a need to adjust the approach and level of detail employed in capacity analysis and scheduling depending on the stage. In effect, the typical manufacturing company doesn't have one planning or capacity management challenge; it has several. Thus, when seeking solutions to planning or capacity problems, a company must first decide which problem it wants to attack and then select the peopl/tool combination best suited to handle the level of detail involved.