3c: A Proven Alternative to MRPII for Optimizing Supply Chain Performance

by F Xavier Gurrola-Gal, Miguel Fernández-Rañada, Enrique Lopez-Tello

The techniques found in 3C- A Proven Alternative to MRPII for Optimizing Supply Chain Performance generate immediate business benefits. Experts from Lucent Technologies discuss the the 3Cs - capacity, commonality, and consumption - and how they can revolutionize business. They cover how to: decrease overhead expense and improve shipping performance using the business capacity as the basis for materials planning, reduce investments in inventory using...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1574442716
• ISBN13: 9781574442717
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: CRC Press
• Length: 266 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Straight to the point

I strongly recommend this reading. This book proves wrong the idea of many industries and businesses that only with great amounts of money can the problem of shortages be solved. I like the simplicity of the 3C theory and will try to practice it in our business as much as we can. We certainly don't have the money to buy one of those highly expensive ERP solutions. This makes perfect sense for small businesses, like ours, that just want to have better customer service while keeping operating expenses low. Finally a solution that anyone can use to save money. I also like the easy going style of the book. It was fun to read.

The answer is in front of us !

In these days, companies struggle through costly software implementations: APS, decision support tools...The search for the "Holy Grail" in Supply Chain Management drives operations management decisions. Yet, the bottom line not always improves. This book tells you: "Keep It Simple". Use your money wisely and don't waste one more minute. The answer is right in front of your nose.Its stile reminds you of Goldratt. It is aggressive, to the point, and easy to read. But most of all it tells you how.

Theory & Application of 3C

Having experienced some of 3C first hand, I can testify that the approach is valid and useful. However, like most new things, it takes time to digest and to translate the theory to practice. One size does not fit all. The good thing is that you don't need a lot of expensive "experts" to implement. You do need people with basic factory functional competence, common sense, open minds, and management willing to "stay the course." The 3C method is a fresh and intersting approach to age-old problems. Its initial success lies in the opportunity (excuse) to challenge the old ways and assumptions, with both suppliers and customers, using common sense approaches. This usually results in resetting customer expectations (a good thing!), to which 3C provides some ready answers. However, one should be careful in not getting too wrapped up in the belief 3C is a "silver bullet" that will solve all their operting problems. In this regard, 3C is no different than the rest. Applied to a factory, without careful thought and involvement of all functional departments, 3C could be ruinous. However, this is just as if you gave a new teenage driver a book on driving, the keys to the family car, and wishing him well! 3C is powerful stuff!

VALUE WORTH OF YOUR MONEY

AS WE HAVE PASSED TO THE NEW MILLENNIUM AND OUR WOLRD IS TOO COMPLEX WE HAVE ALREADY FORGOT SIMPLY THINGS. THE OLD GOOD DRAND MAM RECEIPY CAN BE A GOOD EXAMPLE. THE SOLUTION WAS IN FRONT OF US SIMPLY WE COULD NOT SEE IT. 3C CAN BE OUR SOLUTION TO THE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT VANGLEIS RODOPOULOS LOGISTICS PRACTITIONER , EDUCATOR

Contemporary MRP alternative for supply chain optimisation

This slim volume is suitable for a wide audience including manufacturing/industrial students, MBAs as well as industrialists and consultants.The basic problem is that MRP2 at the heart of ERP implementations cannot cope with inaccurate forecasts, is unecessarily complex, does not deliver promised benefits, leaving high caliber manufacturing schedulers manually cancelling reams of wrong computer purchase orders.The solution 3C (inspired partly by kitchen operations) focusses on capacity as a constraint, commonality of BOMS, and consumption of stocks for re-order to achieve impressively supported results of doubled stockturns, slashed costs, 100% customer delivery performance and reduced WIP and inventory levels. This is despite there being a requirement for stocks for 100% production of all products.The theory, analyses, case studies, data and independent support from Stanford University lead to the conclusion that there is merit in the 3C approach to optimising supply quality charts and figures, tighter support of anecdotal arguments, more contemporary business context (e.g. the web and e-commerce, postponement and mass-customisation, globalisation, cyber manufacturing, strategic dimensions etc..), and more on how to actually implement the approach.Overall the book is topical, approachable in style, with good content likely to trigger critical thought on manufacturing operations and supply chains.