An Evaluation of the Applications of Quantitative Techniques (QTs) to Production Planning and Control in Manufacturing Industries

Abstract

This study examined the factors that affect applications of Quantitative Techniques (QTs) to production planning and control in selected Nigerian manufacturing industries. Data were collected using questionnaire administered on 160 staff of 20 companies randomly chosen from each of the 8 purposively selected Nigerian Small-Scale Industries. Analysis of data was done descriptively and quantitatively using cross tabulations, percentages and inferential statistical tools respectively. Specifically, student t test was used to test the significance of the number of companies that apply QTs, The results showed that the types of QTs commonly in use include: Graphical and Charting Techniques, Control Charts, Forecasting Techniques (Simple Regression and Time Series Analyses), Inventory Model, Range, Variance and Standard Deviation, Capacity Utilization Model, and Acceptance Sampling. Control Charts topped the list with 14 (35 %). Also, 40 companies (25 %) of the 160 surveyed actually apply QTs. This number was significant at 0.05 level with t= 8.819. Metal Works industry led others in the applications of QTs with 8 (40 %) of the 20 companies surveyed in each selected industry; it also recorded 8 (20 %) of the 40 companies from all the selected industries. The study concluded that certain QTs are being applied to production planning and control by a significant number of companies from the selected Nigerian small-scale industries. Lack of adequate financial resources was the most important of all the assessed factors.

Keywords: Product planning and control, Operations research models, resources utilization decision making