[Alexander]

My company is looking to install an MES with computer screens at each workstation to display what they are supposed to work on. We haven't even purchased it, and already I'm getting into debates with other managers about how much the screens should display. I say that the screens should show the current order plus a look-ahead to the next 3 or 4 orders, so the guys at the workstations can start to think about what they need to do, look around to confirm they have the parts they'll need, etc. Some people agree with me, but my manager says that the screens should show only the current order, because otherwise the first-shift guys will cherry-pick the upcoming orders that they WANT to work on and leave the tough stuff for the second shift.

Who's right? I'm sure we're not the first people to have this debate, so how does it play out?