ABSTRACT
Many improvement philosophies and techniques advocated in the past address only parts or aspects of a problem and have failed to be comprehensive and systematic. This chapter proposes a scientific approach to thinking through problems that combines these various philosophies and techniques in a systematic way. Various techniques have been proposed to make production more rational. These methods are classified on the basis of their characteristics. The term rationalization sometimes refers simply to making means rational rather than to making goals or ends rational. These are some of the techniques used to rationalize production that can be enhanced through the application of the scientific thinking mechanism for improvement. The chapter shows the continuing fundamental need, in aiming for rationalization, for a systematic, scientific approach to improvement. It contains specific suggestions that illustrate different aspects of that improvement process. Many plants are adopting some form of Materials requirements planning to set optimum order points and order amounts for parts and materials.
