Integration of Information Systems in Manufacturing

The integration of information systems within manufacturing, and between manufacturing and other functions, is a growing concern. A survey of 560 manufacturing companies in Europe, North America and Japan reveals that management is paying increasing attention to this issue, though it is given slightly less priority in Japan. European respondents appear to favour a top‐down approach to the integration of the various information sub‐systems, while North American and Japanese respondents support the bottom‐up approach. North Americans are more concerned with control of materials flow when developing systems, the Europeans with demand management, and the Japanese with technical and engineering issues.