Kinaxis a leader in supply chain management software, has announced that Infineum has selected Kinaxis to drive increased efficiency and reduce waste across its supply chain with improved navigation of supply and demand in today’s increasingly volatile business environment.
Advanced Planning, APS, FCS, S&OP
Among the most popular software planning technologies is Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS). This is a type of software solution that sets out to ensure production capacity and the materials required for manufacture are optimally sourced and allocated to satisfy demand. Other related tools include Finite Capacity Scheduling. This approach sets out to understanding how much production capacity is possible within a specified timeframe. The aim is to manage workflow at an even and efficient pace throughout the production process. Finite scheduling tools differ from infinite capacity scheduling tools in that the latter are in the main more simple and unable to account for system issues/constraints that happen in real time.
MES vs ERP - What's right for your business?
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Digital Transformation experts SolutionsPT launch a campaign to show why a combined approach simplifies the value of manufacturing intelligence.
Value chain planning and decision making in times of disruption
Mar 23, 2022
By Andre Miyajima on behalf of 3DS DELMIA, part of the Dassault Systèmes Group.
During uncertain times, the ability to react and execute are imperative factors for practical results, due to the unpredictability of demand. Speed in decision-making is mandatory, while the need to adjust plans in the face of daily changes, or even to redesign the whole plan due to a new macro element, demands an agile process.
Lenovo to digitally transform supply planning and S&OP capabilities with Blue Yonder
Feb 21, 2022
The ability to forecast demand and plan inventory is crucial for today’s manufacturing supply chain. That’s why Lenovo has embarked on a digital supply chain planning transformation journey using Blue Yonder’s Luminate Planning solutions.
Blueleaf improves efficiency, safety and sustainability of deliveries to care homes with Descartes
Jan 25, 2022
Descartes Systems Group has announced that Blueleaf, the provider to the care home industry, is using Descartes’ route planner and mobile electronic proof-of-delivery (ePOD), and Descartes’ driver vehicle safety check solutions to improve delivery accuracy, efficiency and driver safety, whilst reducing the environmental impact of its fleet operations across the U.K. and Ireland.
Logility partners with Planalytics to address the impacts of weather in demand, inventory and replenishment planning
Jan 05, 2022
Logility, Inc has entered into a partnership with Planalytics, Inc. to identify, quantify and apply weather-driven demand calculations to business planning and forecasting.
Checks and balances
Nov 02, 2021
Demand Forecasting and Planning/Sales and Operations Planning Technology report.
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with leading industry spokespeople from the analyst and vendor community about how modern Demand Forecasting & Planning/Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) solutions and other planning-related technology can help to provide a more efficient supply chain, manufacturing and distribution regime.
Nulogy launches free trial of production scheduling solution
Sep 22, 2021
Nulogy has announced the free trial release of its standalone Production Scheduling Solution for all contract manufacturers and co-packers in the supply chain industry.
How Can You Diligently Manage A Manufacturing Firm
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By Dan Coleman, freelance writer
Despite the devastation that the coronavirus pandemic has wrought, the need for innovative products has never faltered. Some firms have even been crucial pillars of support in these scenarios.
Palantir, DataRobot partner to bring speed and agility to demand forecasting models
Jun 29, 2021
AI developers DataRobot and Palantir Technologies Inc have entered into a new partnership designed to create unique, agile and real-time solutions to help solve the most pressing demand forecasting problems.
Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS).
Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) refers to a manufacturing management process by which raw materials and production capacity are optimally allocated to meet demand. In manufacturing, the purpose of scheduling is to minimize the production time and costs by improving the efficiency of the operation. Scheduling is an important tool for manufacturing as it can have a major impact on the productivity of a process.
APS is especially well-suited to environments where simpler planning methods cannot adequately address complex trade-offs between competing priorities. Traditional planning and scheduling systems utilise a stepwise procedure to allocate material and production capacity. This approach is simple but cumbersome, and does not readily adapt to changes in demand, resource capacity or material availability. Materials and capacity are planned separately, and many systems do not consider limited material availability or capacity constraints. Thus, this approach often results in plans that cannot be executed. Production scheduling tools greatly outperform older manual scheduling methods.
These provide the production scheduler with powerful graphical interfaces which can be used to visually optimize real-time work-loads in various stages of production, and pattern recognition allows the software to automatically create scheduling opportunities which might not be apparent without this view into the data. Companies use backward and forward scheduling to allocate plant and machinery resources, plan human resources, plan production processes and purchase materials. Forward scheduling is planning the tasks from the date resources become available to determine the shipping date or the due date.
Backward scheduling is planning the tasks from the due date or required-by date to determine the start date and/or any changes in capacity required. Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) provides an updated forecast that leads to a sales plan, production plan, inventory plan, customer lead time (backlog) plan, new product development plan, strategic initiative plan and resulting financial plan. Variations in frequency of the plan depend on the type of manufacturing industry. Short product life cycles and high demand volatility require a tighter S&OP planning than steadily consumed products.
A properly implemented S&OP process routinely reviews customer demand and supply resources and “re-plans” quantitatively across an agreed rolling horizon. The re-planning process focuses on changes from the previously agreed sales and operations plan. While it helps the management team to understand how the company achieved its current level of performance, its primary focus is on future actions and anticipated results.
