ABSTRACT
For many years management of manufacturing companies has been presented with proposals for new computers and allied systems. Potential savings for their installation have been based on future improvements of systems, operations, inventory, and other segments of the business. The savings have been couched in terms difficult to measure, and also include intangible benefits. If management can instinctively understand these potentials, the proposals may be sufficient to obtain approval for initiating the projects. Often, however, those who develop such proposals for new systems or other changes are not those who operate the present system. Data processing management has been the leader in developing proposals for new systems, but they, unfortunately, are not directly involved in day-to-day operations, and, in fact, may have relatively little knowledge of it. Thus the proposals prepared may not have a ring of reality to potential users.
