Modelling and Decision Support Tools - Index

This index lists modelling and decision support tools:

1. Information Control - gathering, storage, retrieval, and organisation of data, information and knowledge.

2. Modelling

a) Paradigm Models - paradigms, frameworks or perspectives that help one `get a handle' on the situation.

b) Simulation Model - models that enable answers to "What if?" questions.

3. Ways of Choosing - techniques or tools that analyse or help to narrow the field of choice.

4. Representation Aids - tools and techniques that aid visualisation of the data or problem space.

5. Processes - these are not in themselves tools, rather, they are management techniques or philosophies. Their primary aims are to control or 'run' some part of a manufacturing operation. They may also provide, or be based on, particular perpectives rather like the paradigm models above.

1. Information Control

• Brainstorming
• Clustering Processes
• Customer Surveys and Interviews
• Data Sources
• Quality Function Deployment (QFD)
• Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA)
• Soft Systems Methodology
• Spreadsheets and databases
• Statistical Process Control
• Statistical Software

2a. Paradigm Models

• 4 Ps of marketing
• Balanced Scorecard (Kaplan and Norton)
• Boston Plot (see also Product life cycle model below)
• Product Life Cycle (See Boston Plot above)
• Capability and Maturity - Hayes and Wheelwright's Four Stages
• Capabilities and Competences
• Corporate Strategy
• Flexibility Framework
• Innovation Funnel
• Manufacturing Decision Areas
• Mintzberg's 5 Ps for Strategy
• Porter's 5 Forces
• Porter's Generic Competitive Strategies (ways of competing)
• Porter's Value Chain
• Quality Framework
• Quality, Time, Cost & Flexibility
• SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
• Time Framework
• Trade-off Models

2b. Simulation Models

• Cost / Benefit / Risk Analysis
• Robustness Analysis
• Sensitivity Analysis

Top

3. Ways of Choosing

• Analytical Hierarchy Process
• Conflict Analysis
• Gap Analysis
• Importance / Performance Matrix
• Quantitative Decision Making
• Criteria Rating Form, Weighted Ranking
• Strategic Assessment Model
• Strategic Assumptions Surfacing and Testing
• Strategic Choice Approach

4. Representation Aids

• Affinity Charting
• 2x2 matrix
• Decision Trees
• Drawing Packages
• Force field Analysis
• From/to Chart
• Graphs, Gantt, Histograms and Bar charts
• Matrices
• Media for Communication
• Polar charts, Radar charts
• TQM Tools
• Pareto Principle
• Hewlett-Packard Return Map
• Scatter Plots
• Control Charts
• Flow Charts
• Cause and Effect Diagram, Fishbone, Ishikawa Diagram
• Histogram or Bar Graph
• Check Sheets and Check Lists

5. Processes

• Benchmarking
• Deming's 14 points
• Finite Capacity Scheduling
• JIT (Just-In-Time)
• Kanban
• Materials Requirements Planning (MRP)
• Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRPII)
• Deming Cycle (Plan, do, check, act)