MRP II (material requirements planning): one year later.

Area of Science:

• Operations Management
• Industrial Engineering
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Materiel Requirements Planning II (MRP II) implementation is a complex process.
• Sustaining the benefits of MRP II requires addressing the human element long after initial rollout.
• The Pantex Plant, a nuclear weapons facility, faced challenges in post-implementation change management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the necessity of continuous behavior change management post-MRP II implementation.
• To identify and present solutions for behavior change challenges in a government-owned, contractor-operated facility.
• To demonstrate the use of performance metrics in managing ongoing improvements.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of MRP II implementation at Mason & Hanger, Pantex Plant.
• Documentation of education, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Utilization of performance measurements (e.g., cost variance, shop floor accomplishments) to identify improvement areas.

Main Results:

• Behavior change management remains critical one year after MRP II class A certification.
• Education, training, and continuous improvement programs are effective in managing change.
• Performance measurements serve as vital tools for identifying and addressing behavioral issues.

Conclusions:

• Effective MRP II integration necessitates a sustained focus on behavior change.
• Proactive management of human factors is essential for realizing the full potential of enterprise resource planning systems.
• The Pantex Plant case illustrates a successful model for managing long-term change in critical industries.