Formerly, the production control functions had been considered as foreman's jobs in production workshop. In recent yers, they have been extended to broad functions involevd work improvement, job design, new production systems development and creative management strategy and so on. The processes of development of production managment are as follows : One is the idea generation which satisfies practical needs in production fields. Others are the development of theories and technologies which solve problems in the production management, and useful application of their results in production fields. In this paper, the backgrunds and characteristics of some original ideas, unique researches, studies and production sysmts which were created and developed in produciton management, will be reviewed. And some intersting probelms which should not be left, but should be solved, also will be discussed.

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This report classifies the layout types for machine shop into four types, of which three types are introduced here. They are named as follows : Type I, product base line layout; Type II, mixied product line layout; Type III, functional layout. The authors introduce a quantitative method of selecting the lasyout types using data which can easily be gathered. Products are sorted into the layout types I, II and III by four factors which consist of machine load (PL_i, GL) and similar process route (S_<ij>, D_<ij>). They also make clear the relation between selecting the layout types and layout design process, and attempt to determine some decision coefficients from which can be obtained the result of selecting the layout types that are useful for the layout design process. The effectiveness of the computational algorithm developed was proven by solving sample numerical examples.

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A matchematical model is constructed to analyze the optimum process planning and scheduling for a multifunctional production system, such as a machining center, under the minimum-time criterion. The main purpose of this paper is to determine the optimum sequence of operations as a primary objective, and also the optimum cutting conditions as a secondary objective, and to develop a computational algorithm in practical use. A numerical example is given to show the practical applicabitty of this algorithm.

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The puropose of this paper is to find a chue to select the proper occupation for the physically handicapped, and therefore to study the components of MODAPTS Assessment by factor analysis and joint funciton analysis. The analysis of the upper extermity joint activities wave based on the classification of ROM (Range of Motion), and six prehension patterns were used in the evaluation of hand funcitons. THe subjects under the present study were 40 right-handed male students and 35 physically handicapped (Spastic). The results of this study can be summarized as follows; (1) Five factors were extracted from the factor analysis and a new criterion was obtained for the future evaluation. (2) It is pointed out that cerebral palsy is sometimes hard to carry out the motions mainly using shoulder and elbow joints but is easy for normal group.

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In this paper, the rating method using a CRT display and a micro-computer is reduce or diminish the rating errors. On the CRT display, two growing lines are displayed and the growing speeds of lines are controlled by the analyst using the micro-computer. One growing speed is controlled to show "the normal performance" and the other to show "the performance of operator." So, by this method he can observe two performances as growing lines, and the process to quantitatively evaluate the performance of operator is doen with the micro-computer. The errors using this method are studied on the models and experiments.

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A system design process as the "process" of deisgn system is suggested here by the concepts of "basic process" and "basic cycle", in the assumptions of "a system description model" and of relationships between producitonsystem, work system designed and design system. Thereby, a systematic logical analysis is applied for the puropose of probation and comparison of given proposiions in pioneer work's system design methods.

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In this paper, we treat the traveling problem in the case where several articles which are dispersed at given palces are moved to specified desitinations respectively, and present an optimal route selection based upon the minimization of running distance or tardiness cost. We apply the idea of Cut Set in graph theory in order to find a feasible route, and estabish a first solution and the limit value associated with it. Then an algorithm to find an optimal route including two criteria is proposed, and its effectiveness is verified by some numerical examples.

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In order to deisgn or improve amaterial handling system, the selection of equipment is of importance. In this, economy is of primary concen which must be determined on the basis of equpment, as well as its use. To make this determination, the author has developed a method of using a collinear diagram with the cost of maintenance and the cost of operation of equipment on one axis and the time needed for handling work (cost of labor) on the other. By plotting each procedure of handling work on this diagram, the cost of handling can be obtained. The author collected the data and used a coolinear diagram showing the time spent for different work methods. He also has illustrated the use of this diagram.

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Interpersonal relation factors are a hygienic factor according to Herzberg's M-H theory. But for Japanese workers, interpersoanl relatin factors are rather a motivator. Motivating factors of Japanese workers are very complicated. japanese are motived by the job content and interpersonal relatins. This paepr examines these factors emprically in comparison with Herzerg's latest data (1976).

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In the case of buying and selling commodieties succesively such as newspaper-boy problem, the risk of insolbvency is not necessarily reduced by buying commodities in a small quantity. The less commodities we buy for the first round, the smaller risk of insolvency will reuslt, but on the contrary, this risk may be kept high for the successieve rounds because of the smaller savings obtained. Therefore, the optimum policy to reduce the risk of insolvency in the short-tem is not always the same as that in the long-term. This paper proposes a method to determine the optimum policy to minimize the risk insolvency onthe long-term point of view.

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