Gene Thomas – Founder Emeritus
Gene Thomas has been an independent consultant and developer of Product Management Objects. He was formerly with IBM for 15 years in manufacturing software development and marketing activities, including Sales Manager, Milwaukee, and Branch Manager, Baltimore, where he supported development of the pioneering Black & Decker multi-plant, net-change, automatic engineering change inventory balancing MRP system in ’67.
Gene invented IBM’s “Bill-of-Material Processor” (BOMP) package in ’61; initiated the first two MRP software packages, “LAMP” in ’64 and “PICS” in ’66; implemented IBM’s first on-line “Dock to Stock” and Central-Dispatching systems at it’s Rochester plant in ’60; and directed the first installation of IBM’s U.S. “Kraus/CLASS/CAPOSS” series of finite capacity scheduling systems in ’68.
Beginning in 1969 he founded predecessors (MRM & Friedman) of TLA, (Thomas-Laguban & Assoc.), a Milwaukee manufacturing systems consulting and tailored software firm, that grew to over 100 professionals prior to acquisition. His firm developed the trend setting interactive shop floor graphical load display in ’78; a real-time multi-level MPS-ATP module in ’80; and the world’s first completely CASE-based fully integrated manufacturing/tracking system, which was implemented for Steve Jobs at NeXT in 1987.
In 1991, Gene joined Logia as a Principal, developing the unique “Bottom-Up/Rules-Based Structuring” (BURBS) approach to Product Configuration. Upon maturation and general acceptance of the unique flattened seek-engine concept in the marketplace, and a consolidation with Logia’s VAR (Frontline Systems) in ‘96 to form Configuration Systems & Consulting LLC, he was Founder-Emeritus of newly named “Configuration Solutions LLC” (subsequently acquired by Consona MRP Inc-M2M) oriented to development and customization of unique solutions for “To-Order” Lean mass-customization Focused-Factory FLOW companies.
Gene holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University, and is listed in the 1981 edition of Marquis Who’s-Who in Finance & Industry. He has been a frequent AMS, AIEE, SME, Kalthoff, FLOW and APICS National Conference speaker, including past president of the Baltimore-APICS chapter.
Copyright Gene Thomas 2007 All Rights Reserved
FOCUSED-SIMPLIFICATION PRESENTATIONS:
By Gene Thomas
Rev: 02/2012
ORLICKY'S MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS PLANNING Third Edition 2011
Appendix D: "To my best Recollection: The Eras of Material Requirements Planning, with Packaged Software"
ORLICKY'S MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS PLANNING Third Edition 2011
Appendix A: "Joseph Orlicky's Contributions to Material Requirements Planning"
PERSONAL BLOG: "ERAS of MRP - to -> LEAN" w/Bio
http://mrp-to-lean.blogspot.com/ Aug/2007
SUPERFACTORY BLOG, “MRP Versus Lean”, 27 May 2006, w/Bill Waddell
http://www.evolvingexcellence.com/blog/2006/05/index.html (27 May 2006)
IW Forums: “MRP – 9 Lives And Counting” 5/06 http://forums.industryweek.com/showthread.php?t=158
“History of MRP” 5/06 http://forums.industryweek.com/showthread.php?t=196
NW LEAN “To Backflush or not to Backflush….That is the Question” 7/2-6/06
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/NWLEAN/msearch?query=gthomas5555&charset=windows-1252
ACCENTURE Lab ”Telematic Maintenance Work Order, CS-Configurator Engine Demo Synopsis”
Chicago 7/04
APICS--THE PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE
“From Make-Sell to Sell-Make, Using product configurators to make it happen”
International monthly magazine, Aug 2001
Fall FLOW MANUFACTURING FORUM 2000
“Driving FLOW Configured Option Demands from Quotes to Orders, thru Constraints, to Vendors"
Dallas 9/2000
MIDRANGE ERP, Penton Publications “The Web CONTINUUM of Product Configuration"
August 2000
FLOW MANUFACTURING FORUM 2000
“Integration FLOW Technology into a legacy MRP Mixed-Model Infrastructure”
Dallas 3/2000
LEVERAGING ERP ’99 MIDRANGE ERP EXPO
“Configuration”--Capturing customer specifications is only the beginning”
Chicago 11/99
e-ERM ‘99 CONFERENCE “To-Order Configuration connects the e-Front and Back-Ends”
New Orleans 11/99
KALTHOFF ENGINEERING “Inject Flexibility & Speed Through FLOW Manufacturing”
Los Angeles 10/99
APICS NATIONAL “Configured “To-Order” Mass Customization”
New Orleans 10/99
MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS MAGAZINE
“One Technique, Many Options -- There’s more to FLOW than meets the eye!”
8/99 Article Quotes
FLOW FORUM ’99 “Demand-Flow Techniques have been Replacing MRP Functions”
(Case Studies where this pattern has been forming) Atlanta 5/99
KALTHOFF ENGINEERING “Configurator Integration with MRP & Bi-Directional CAD/CNC”
Pittsburgh 5/99
FLOW FORUM ’98 “Replacing MRP Functions with Demand-Flow Techniques”
Denver 11/98
KALTHOFF ENGINEERING “The Continuum of Product Configuration”
Orlando 9/98
MIDRANGE ERP “Simplify with Configurator-to-Production Approach”
(Coauthored with Dale Colosky, CS&C)
IIE MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE
“Executing Solutions” --- “Product Configuration for “To-Order” Industries”
Sunnyvale, CA 3/96
IIE SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE, “Product Configuration for “To-Order” Industries”
3/96
DOVER CORP. CORPORATE EXECUTIVE AND GROUP PRESIDENTS
“ERP Update – Practical System Selection Strategies”
Chicago 3/96 in conjunction w/Dale Colosky
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING Magazine
“The Future of MRP: Headed for the Scrapheap or Rising from the Ashes?”
(Co-authored with Woody Chamberlain, CSC) 7/95
INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING Newsletter “Agile Tools” -- The Configurators
(Co-authored with Bob Turek, Visibility) 6/95
APICS NATIONAL “Product Configuration Integrated With CAD”
San Diego 1994
APICS NATIONAL
“A New Way to Configure Products: Bottom-Up/Rules-Based Structuring (BURBS)”
Montreal ‘92
APICS NATIONAL “How Will MRP Systems Adjust to: Simplification, JIT & Focused Factories?”
Abstract, Seattle 10/91
APICS-REMANUFACTURING SEMINAR “Configured Bills and Routings for Remanufacturing” Minneapolis 9/91
APICS P & I M Article “The Impact of Systems Integration on CIM”
Magazine 7/91
APICS PRINCIPLES “How Will MRP Systems Adjust To: Simplification, JIT & Focused Factories?”
Abstract, San Diego 7/91
APICS NATIONAL ’91 “Immediate Backflushing to Support Batchless Traceability”
Abstract. San Diego 7/91
APICS PROCESS SEMINAR “Immediate Backflushing to Support Batchless Traceability”
Philadelphia 6/91
APICS WORLD CONGRESS “How Will Simplification & JIT Change MRP Systems?”
Ireland 6/91 (Seminar Canceled)
CPA SOCIETY “Where Are Manufacturing Systems Going?”
Chicago 5/91
AMS CHICAGO “Laborless Costing in CIM Focused Factories”
Chicago 4/91
APICS PRINCIPLES “How Will MRP Systems Adjust To: Simplification, JIT, and Focused Factories?” Orlando 4/91
APICS NATIONAL “Workstation Rules-Based Configuration”
New Orleans 10/90
APICS SEMINAR-ONE “How Will Simplification and JIT Change MRP Systems?”
Boston 9/90
GARTNER GROUP “CASE First—then Platforms!”
Chicago 6/90
APICS Chapter “Simplification & The Focused Factory”
Fox River 6/90
APICS PRINCIPLES “Simplification & The Focused Factory”
Las Vegas 5/90
APICS Chapter “Smokestack CASE”
Milwaukee 5/90
MANAGING AUTOMATION Article “JIT in a CIM Environment”
5/90
APICS Chapter “Simplification & The Focused Factory”
Wausau 3/90
APICS Chapter “Laborless Costing in the CIM Focused Factory”
Chicago 2/90
APICS Chapter “Simplification & The Focused Factory”
Milwaukee 2/90
BPCS WORLD Article “Creating SI Path is Start of Achieving CIM”
10/89
AMS-Chicago “Seamless CIM at NeXT”
4/89
UNIV-WISCONSIN “Competitive Manufacturing for the 1990’s”
Milwaukee 5/88
APICS NATIONAL “Integrated” -- Pivotal Criterions for CIM
St. Louis Abstract 10/87
ENGINEERING & INDUSTRIAL SOFTWARE/CONFERENCE -- Roundtable
Chicago 5/87
WAM APPAREL INDUSTRY CONFERENCE -- Roundtable
Los Angeles 4/87
APICS Chapter “Shop Floor Communication: Migration through Intelligent Terminals”
Santa Clara 2/87
APICS Chapter “Shop Floor Communications – Intelligent Terminals”
Oshkosh 12/86
SYSTEMS USER MAGAZINE “Syncopation On The Shop Floor”
10/86
APICS Chapter “Real-Time MPS”
Columbus 6/86
APICS Chapter “Real Time Rough-Cut MPS Iterating”
Monadnock 3/86
APICS & IIE Chapter “How-To” Manufacturing Practices
Fox Valley 3/86
APICS Chapter “Shop ‘Paperwork’ Communications using a PC”
Wausau 2/86
APICS Chapter “MRP Overview”
Milwaukee 1/86
APICS Chapter “Shop Floor Communications”
Milwaukee 9/85
APICS NATIONAL “Shop Paperwork Architecture – Prerequisite To Successful MRP”
Las Vegas 10/84
APICS Chapter “Ideal Start to a Closed-Loop System”
Chicago South 10/83
APICS P & I M Article “Ideal Start To A Closed-Loop System”
8/83
APICS Chapter “Real-Time Behind-Schedule Replanning”
Fox Valley 11/82
APICS National “Real-Time Behind-Schedule Replanning”
Chicago 10/82
APICS P & I M Article “Real-Time Behind Schedule Replanning”
4/82 w/ Kevin Thomas
APICS Chapter “How to Manage with an On-Line System”
Dayton & Miami Valley 9/81
APICS Workshop “The Organizational Impact of 100% On-Line MRP Support Systems”
Chicago Workshop @ Western Electric, Lisle, IL 5/81
APICS Seminar “Inventory – Who Needs It!!! How Much -- When and Why”
Madison Chapter 5/81
APICS Seminar ”The Organizational Impact of 100% On-Line MRP Support Systems”
Fox River Chapter 3/81
APICS Chapter “Organizational Impact of 100% On-Line MRP Support Systems”
Chicago-South Branch 2/81
APICS Mid-America Seminar & Technical Exhibit “Systems Design”
Chicago Chapter, Rosemont O’Hare w/ Linda Smith of Rath & Strong
AIIE Conference “Computers in Manufacturing “Organizational Impact of On-Line MRP”
Chicago 9/80
Small Systems World MAGAZINE “Considering Distributed Processing in Manufacturing”
Article w/ Dick Bourke & Gene Laguban (Thomas, Friedman, Laguban & Associates) 2/80
APICS Executive “Conversion From Batch to On-Line, Real-Time Manufacturing Systems in the 80’s”
Fox River Chapter 6/80 w/ Fred Shiele III, RTE, Milwaukee “Yes, You Can Justify Them”
APICS Winter Seminar “Exhibitor of On-Line MRP Systems”
Fox River Chapter 2/80
AIIE Conference “Distributed vs. Centralized Data Processing to Support MRP in Multi-Plants”
Chicago 6/79
APICS Chapter Grand Opening “Order Control – Not Locked Stockrooms”
Chicago-South Branch 4/79
APICS Seminar “What We Are Learning About On-Line Integrated Manufacturing Computer Systems”
Fox River Chapter 3/79
APICS Chapter “Organizational Impact of 100% On-Line MRP Support Systems”
Peoria Chapter w/ Charlie Dirst-MIS, Caterpillar 11/78
APICS National “Organizational Impact of 100% On-Line MRP Support Systems”
Hollywood Florida 10/78
APICS Chapter “What We are Learning About On-Line Integrated Interactive Manufacturing Systems”
Fox River Chapter 9/78
Small Systems World “E-TAPS & EPICS” RPG & Cobol Event-Driven Interactive MRP Systems”
Article w/ Dick Bourke & Thomas, Friedman & Associates 8/78
AIIE Conference “Interactive Problem Solving”
Chicago 7/78
APICS Spring Conference “Interactive Shop Floor Control Tracking in the Distributive Mode”
Chicago Chapter 4/78
APICS Conference “The Organizational Impact of 100% On-Line MRP Support Systems”
Wisconsin Conference 3/78
AMMS (American Materials Management) “The Organizational Impact of 100% On-Line MRP” Elmhurst, IL 3/78
AIIE Conference “The Newest in Interactive On-line Production Control Systems”
Chicago Chapter 12/77
APICS Chapter “A New Generation of Interactive Manufacturing Software Support”
Rock Valley Chapter 11/77
APICS NEWS “Manufacturing Planning – Operational Level Files and Databases”
Automatic Data Processing Handbook w/ editing by The Diebold Group in 7/77
Univ-Wisconsin “Advanced Production and Material Control -- Advisory Committee Program”
Madison 6/77
AIIE Conference “Material Requirements Planning”
Chicago 6/77
APICS Conference “Measuring the Implementation of MRP”
Springfield, IL Chapter 5/77
APICS Chapter “A New Generation of Interactive Manufacturing Software Support”
Chicago-North Chapter 5/77 w/ Gene Laguban (Thomas, Friedman &Associates)
APICS Chapter “Distributive Processing in an On-Line Environment”
Chicago Chapter 2/77 w/ Gene Laguban (Thomas, Friedman & Associates)
APICS Chapter “MRP Presentation”
Springfield, IL Chapter 12/76
APICS Chapter “Capacity Planning”
Kalamazoo 11/76
APICS Chapter “Measuring the Implementation of MRP”
Chicago Chapter 10/76
AIIE Conference “Material Requirements Planning”
Chicago 6/76
APICS Chapter “Measuring the Implementation of MRP”
Milwaukee Chapter 5/76
APICS Chapter “Building a Professional”
Milwaukee Practitioner/Spouse Technical Session 4/76
APICS Chapter “Getting Control Through MRP”
Milwaukee Chapter 3/76 w/ Monte Craig, VP-Operations, Skil
APICS Chapter “Writing and Tracking the Factory Order”
Milwaukee Chapter 12/75
Univ-Wisconsin “Capacity Planning and Control Workshop”
Madison 11/75
APICS National “Poli-Technical Structuring of Bills and Routings”
Chicago 11/74
Univ-Wisconsin “Capacity Planning and Control”
Madison 2/74
APICS Chapter “Netting Factors, the ‘Achilles Heel’ of Material Requirements Planning”
Chicago Chapter 6/72
APICS Chapter “Netting Factors, the ‘Achilles Heel’ of Material Requirements Planning”
North Jersey Chapter 5/72
Univ-Wisconsin “Advanced Techniques for Production and Inventory Control”
Madison 5/71
APICS Chapter “Scrap and Substitution – Its Effect on the Manufacturing Plan”
Chicago Chapter 3/71 w/ Herb Friedman (Thomas, Friedman & Associates)
APICS “Time-Series Planning -- How To Get There from Order-Point”
Wisconsin Fall Seminar 11/70
Univ-Wisconsin “Making the Computer Work For You in Manufacturing”
Madison 10/70
IBM- European Manufacturing Sales Management sponsored visitation
Baltimore (Black & Decker Visitation) for Multi-plant and Net-change Effectivity Processing; along with CAPOSS Finite Scheduling functional review at Koppers 12/68
IBM “PICS” (Production Information and Control System) MRP Packaged Program Release
1967 First Edition “RPS (Requirements Planning System) second packaged MRP system” w/BOMP
IBM “LAMP” (Labor & Material Planning) MRP Packaged Program Milwaukee Release
10/65 Punched card & 1440 CPU “First packaged MRP system utilizing BOMP software”
IBM World Trade Training “RAMAC ‘BOMP’ Bill-of-Material/Where-Used Software Package”
London, Stockholm, Paris, Stuttgart, Milan (1440 CPU-RPG Training Demo) 12/64
IBM “Bill-of-Material Generator” Advanced Application Development Project TIE Paper Abstract
10/16/61 Internal IBM publication from Rochester, Mn which became the specifications for ‘BOMP’
Gene Thomas – Extended Bio
1949
· Barrington, IL High School Graduate
1954
· BS Industrial Engineering, Iowa State University
· USAF Machine Accounting Officer-SAC, Ellsworth AFB, SD [B-36 Aircraft Maintenance & Repair Systems] On leave from IBM
· IBM SE & Sales territory in Des Moines Branch. Customers included John Deere
plants, Maytag, Morrell meat packing, Rath Packing, Dubuque Packing, Oscar Meyer,
Pella Rolscreen, Vermeer Ag, Fisher Controls, & garment cut/sew mfg
1959
· Meat Packing Special Repr, IBM-Midwestern Region
· Implemented IBM's first in-line/feedback order processing system @ Morrell on the 650 RAMAC with on-line 407 printer and punch card label feedbacks
1960
· Mfg Special Repr & Salesman to IBM Rochester, Mn. Plant:
· Invented "BOMP" Bill-of-Material Processor (Published 10/61)
· Developed Centralized Dispatching using Data Collection feedbacks
· Developed On-Line "Dock-to-Stock" Receiving system
· Managed IBM Industry support for Joe Orlicky's first Net-Change MRP system implemented at J.I. Case, Racine, Wisc
1963
· Marketing Mgr/Mfg IBM-Milwaukee Branch - Customers included:J.I. Case, Allis Chalmers, Allen-Bradley, AO Smith, Cutler Hammer, Eaton, Square-D, Twin Disc, Rexnord, K&T, Vollrath, Giddings & Lewis, Harley-Davidson, Briggs & Stratton, Badger Meter, Bradley WashFountain, Johnson Wax, Johnson Controls, Milwaukee Faucets, etc.
· Developed "LAMP" Package (Labor & Material Planning), the first MRP package pilot with Milwaukee customers utilizing BOMP data base
1965
· Mfg Industry Mgr IBM-MW & Western Regions
· Initiated IBM's "PICS-RPS", the first packaged MRP system marketing program
1967
· Branch Mgr IBM-Baltimore M&D
· Supported development of Black & Decker's Net-Change multi-plant system
· Implemented the first US installation of the Kraus/CLASS/CAPOSS finite scheduling systems at Koppers (w/Central Dispatching for Piston Rings)
1969
· Industry Marketing Coordinator of IBM's Centralized Plant Mfg System with Joe Orlicky
1970
· Founder & Principal of MRM (Manufacturing Resource Mgmt), Milwaukee
· Development of the "PACS" RPG MRP System (Subsequently sold to Andersen Consulting as basis for MAC-PAC, RPG)
1971
· Founder of TFA, Thomas-Friedman & Assoc., Deerfield, Il.
· Development of RPG MRP, Dist & Fin systems including the first Configuration system using "rules" carried in the B/M product structures. (Mc Quay Air-Conditioning, Minneapolis)
1980
· Founder & CEO Thomas-Laguban & Assoc. (TLA), MRP Systems
· Brought together the Milwaukee contingent of MRP professionals from Allen-Bradley & Allis Chalmers who implemented the first BOMP systems, provided the architecture for IBM's COPICS, and developed the basis of Comserv's AMAPS-D, which was later, again, sold to Andersen Consulting
· Implemented several hundred integrated manufacturing systems including Configuration Systems Modules at: Hobart, Beech Aircraft, Markem, Apollo Computers, Codex Div Motorola, NeXT, & Trane
· Implemented first fully CASE-based Real-Time planning/tracking Mfg/Dist/Fin ERP System for Steve Jobs at NeXT in ‘87
· TLA related clients included:
NeXT Computer, NALCO Chemical, Broan Mfg, LTV-AMG Div, Coleman, Firestone, Mack Truck, JT Baker Chemical, Davis+Geck, Codex & Motorola , Libbey Glass, Apollo Computers, Whirlpool, Markem, Sheaffer-Eaton, Borg-Warner, Williams International, Newell, GE-Semiconductor, Philips, Progress Lighting, Putnam Publ, Del-Mar Blinds, Graco, NEC, Sundstrand, Deere, Caterpillar, Oshkosh Truck, Navistar, Cummins Engine, Warner Cosmetics, Tennant Sweepers, Trane Air-Conditioning, Hoechst Chemical, Culligan, Amana, American Cyanamid, Cooper Energy, Kellwood, RCA-Semiconductor, Winsmith, SKF Bearings, National Supply, Sparton Electronics, Hollister, Badger Meter, Joy Mfg, Linden Chemical, Falcon Jet, Haworth Furniture, Henkel Chemical, Hunter Fans, Rosemount Engr, Beech Aircraft, Omark Sawchain, Saginaw Machine Tool, MacGregor Golf, RTE-Cooper, Warner Brake, Woods-Hesston, Elgin Sweeper, Western Gear, Sciaky Welders, Pioneer Screw, Mc Quay Air-Conditioning, Koss Stereo, Elkay Sinks, Grayhill Switches, Tuthill Pump
1988
· TLA licensing was acquired by CTG & Tandem
· Mfg Industry Consultant with Cap Gemini America - Milwaukee
1989
· Industry Marketing Mgr for SSA, Chicago (BPCS)
· Sponsored confidential development of LOGIA's Configurator with pilot sites including: ITT-Bell & Gossett Pumps, plus ITT-Engr'd Valves, Grove Crane, and Navistar AmTran Bus Div. utilizing its proprietary “BURBS” architecture
1991
· Joined LOGIA, Inc. as Principal & Founder to build software firm as developer and marketer of Configurator Product Definition Objects thru MRP vendor and independent Distributor/Consultant channels
1994
· Transferred to Frontline Systems & Consultancy VAR to develop additional marketing channels for LOGIA, and to merge as Configuration Systems & Consulting, representing multiple configuration software offerings
2002-2008
· Rebranded firm to Configuration Solutions LLC as Founder Emeritus (which was subsequently acquired by Consona MRP Inc-M2M)
2008
- Slowly retired while participating in consulting engagements as THOMAS & ASSOCIATES, Barrington, IL 847-382-0680, and gthomas55@comcast.net
