A first phase consisted in a requirements and feasibility analysis. Tools and system plateform were chosen in regard to their compatibility with existing computer resources. Critical requirements to the system are robustness allowing multiple users to access, search and update simultaneously, and extreme user friendliness for both update and backup, so that even a user with minimal computer literacy can immediately feel comfortable with the system. The goal of the project is to develop suitable models and methods for long and mid-range planning and to implement them in a flexible prototype instrument. Models are of the multi-level lot sizing category with additional constraints on lot sizes and cumulative production.
Methods build on so-called decisions spaces and Lagrangean relaxation techniques.
It has therefore a central position among the DSO-Managers. The Data Manager facilitates maintaining the facts basis. It also helps managing initial, perhaps evolving situations. The Scenario Manager supports the handling of situation variants and enables the treatment of uncertain information and assumptions. With the Task Manager the user defines the problem solving tasks, i.e. the problem aspects to be examined or the questions to be answered.