ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of a manufacturing specification problem in a company. In this company, a variety of components is produced on each production line, and they are produced in both high and low volume and on both a batch and a continuous production basis. There can be as many as 60 process specifications on one production line. Often, some of the specifications will be used at more than one stage of the overall process on the line. Additionally, many of them are used on more than one line; thus, there is multiple usage. A group of engineers is responsible for the techniques and processes on each line. All the specifications relating to a particular line are issued in the form of a "book." The total number of specifications was believed to be about 4500 and it was known that many were obsolete, as there were no accurate records.
