AO has enlisted Relex Solutions, the supply chain solution provider, to help with its forecasting, replenishment, promotions and product life cycle management decisions within its complex supply chain as it expands into new categories and countries.
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.
AO chooses RELEX Solutions to support its continued growth with an advanced supply chain solution
May 25, 2016
Accelerate digital transformation with Ortems Agile Manufacturing Version 8.1
May 25, 2016
Ortems has released its new Version 8.1 to 'Plan Tomorrow's Factory'. In a time of digital transformation of industries, it is surprising to see companies keeping on dealing with planning and scheduling with multiple non-integrated tools such as wall planning boards or excel files.
Logility selected to deliver visibility and drive executive S&OP process for Vista Outdoor
May 25, 2016
Logility, Inc. has announced Vista Outdoor Inc. has implemented Logility Voyager Solutions to increase visibility across its global supply chain and provide the technology foundation for its sales and operations planning (S&OP) process.
JDA introduces Stratus – new out-of-the-box cloud offerings to solve complex workforce management, transportation and forecasting needs
May 04, 2016
JDA Software Group, Inc. has announced a series of new cloud service offerings that enable faster time to market, lower total cost of ownership and rapid return on investment for customers implementing JDA's supply chain and retail solutions.
Topspeed Couriers finds a faster route with Maxoptra scheduling
Apr 13, 2016
Topspeed Couriers has reduced the time taken to plan the daily work programme by up to 80 per cent, following the introduction of an advanced dynamic routing and scheduling system.
Vaillant Industrial selects DynaSys Cloud Production Planning
Apr 13, 2016
DynaSys has announced that Vaillant Industrial will implement the DynaSys Cloud Production Planning solution to improve its manufacturing planning process.
Electrium is optimising its forecasts with DynaSys
Mar 31, 2016
DynaSys, provider of demand and supply chain planning solutions, has announced that Electrium has selected the DynaSys Demand Planning solution. Electrium is one of the UK's market leaders in the electrical installation equipment sector. DynaSys is a division of QAD Inc.
PSI Metal announces new strategy for Asian markets
Feb 25, 2016
PSI subsidiary PSI Metals GmbH has announced its new strategy for growth across Asia, 12 months after the successful integration of its Broner Metals acquisition.
Research In Action names Sumerian as the rising SaaS star in Capacity Management globally
Feb 24, 2016
Sumerian has been named as "the rising SaaS star in Capacity Management," following an independent study by Research In Action, the independent information and communications technology research and consulting company.
Live Supply Chain Webinar: Scenario Planning: Managing Uncertainty
Feb 17, 2016
Thursday 17th March at 12.30pm GMT
Join DynaSys for this 30 minute webinar where we will discuss the the topic of "What If?" scenario planning in detail and also demonstrate how DynaSys Demand and Supply Chain Planning allows you to quickly and simply run your scenarios and see the impact across your end to end supply chain.
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.
