Magenta Technology, the company behind the Maxoptra route planning and scheduling software, has recruited Paul Creaney.
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.
Maxoptra helps Mercedes-Benz dealership make parts deliveries smart
Aug 02, 2017
Maxoptra's dynamic multi-drop route planning software is helping Sandown Mercedes-Benz plan and complete deliveries of spare parts to garages across the south of England.
Supply Chain Management Strategies Summit
Aug 01, 2017
27 – 29 November 2017 | Berlin, Germany
The latest technologies & strategies for visibility, flexibility and speed
The SCMS Summit covers a number of key areas pivotal to improving the power of your supply chain.
Retail Pro International Launches Merchandise Planning Software for Retail Pro POS
Jul 19, 2017
Retail Pro International, the developer of retail management platform software, has announced the availability of Retail Pro Planning, its best of breed sales forecasting, inventory planning, and open to buy software and expert consulting services.
Maxoptra helps keep Ten Mile Menu food deliveries 'lean and green'
Jul 12, 2017
Online ethical food retailer, Ten Mile Menu, is using Maxoptra dynamic route planning and scheduling software to help keep its delivery operations 'lean and green'.
Managing the demand curve - Demand Forecasting/Planning/S&OP Technology report
Jul 05, 2017
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with a number of experts from the vendor and analyst communities about recent developments and key discussion points within the Demand Forecasting/Planning/S&OP space – including those concerning planning unification, best of breed, integration, Cloud/SaaS and Big Data.
From Sales & Operations Planning to Integrated Business Leadership
Jun 29, 2017
By Richard Watkins, managing director, Delos Partnership.
I was talking to a planning manager from a company the other day, who said to me "We have an SOP process, but I have read all these articles about Integrated Business Planning, and was wondering what the difference was, and should we be doing something different?"
Aviall signs multi-year consumables and expendables parts supply chain programme agreement with Etihad Airways Engineering
Jun 21, 2017
Boeing has announced, through its subsidiary Aviall, a multi-year consumables and expendables aircraft parts supply chain programme agreement with Etihad Airways Engineering.
Maxoptra partners TomTom at new commercial vehicle event
Jun 21, 2017
Route planning and scheduling software specialist, Maxoptra, is one of a small number of specially selected partners joining forces with TomTom Telematics at the newly launched 'Let's Explore: LCV Fleet 2017' event, which takes place on the 4th July at The Vox, Resorts World, Birmingham.
Supply chain solution provider FuturMaster appoints new sales execs in Europe
Jun 21, 2017
FuturMaster, the supply chain solution provider that helps a number of major food, retail and manufacturing companies with demand forecasting and streamlining production and supply, continues its international expansion with the opening of a new Northern Europe operation, located in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
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.
