Hey, you should definitely read this article:

http://www.atzonline.de/Artikel/3/13660/Optimierung-der-Montageplanung.html (German)

http://www.atzonline.com/index.php;do=show/site=a4e/sid=a8b9fdc0ec692d1d358308da9aeeaae9/alloc=3/id=13661 (English)

Mr. Gerth describes in detail how they have introduced a new consistent planning system at Daimler passenger cars, and what the benefits are for them.

It does not happen very often that a customer discloses so much about their internal planning processes!