Kinaxis Inc., the supply chain management software provider, and LevaData, the company that delivers applied AI to transform strategic sourcing and procurement, have entered into a new partnership to enable manufacturers to gain deeper insight into supplier risk and build greater supply chain resiliency.
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.
Digital transformation: Daimler opts for Software AG IT management solution
May 25, 2021
The German auto maker is driving its digital transformation with the help of Software AG. The company recently signed a new three-year global usage agreement for Software AG’s Alfabet IT portfolio management solution.
Plea to retail and hospitality to avoid panic planning, in the face of chaotic demand as lockdown restrictions ease
May 13, 2021
While the easing of lockdown restrictions across England on Monday 12 April received nationwide fanfare, cash-strapped industry leaders in the retail and hospitality sectors could be facing even greater losses, if they fail to adopt new technologies.
Avanos Medical, Inc. successfully implements Integrated Business Planning with OMP on SAP S/4HANA
Mar 10, 2021
Avanos Medical, Inc., the medical devices company, started using OMP’s Unison Planning with SAP S/4HANA as of October 2020.
Inefficient scheduling could be costing businesses up to 40% of income, international report finds
Mar 03, 2021
Introducing an AI-driven workforce management solution into business operations could recover up to 40% of much-needed lost income for cash-strapped UK companies, one international study has shown.
Blue Yonder expands relationship with Heineken to plan volatile demand in fast-changing world
Feb 23, 2021
With demand rapidly changing during the COVID-19 pandemic, beverage producers need more accurate forecasting capabilities to stay ahead of the thirsty consumer.
o9 Solutions Doubles Its Annual Revenue Bookings in 2020
Jan 25, 2021
o9 Solutions Inc., a leading provider of Integrated Business Planning platforms for the digital transformation of enterprise-wide planning and decision-making capabilities, announced significant bookings growth during 2020.
The best is yet to come
Jan 20, 2021
Given that the concepts behind Materials Requirement Planning are now around fifty years old, you might think that Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and its siblings would now count as ‘mature’. But in fact ERP/MRP is only just getting started, and the best is yet to come.
Iptor and HARMAN expand strategic partnership
Jan 20, 2021
Iptor, provider of enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, planning and logistics software and services, has expanded its strategic partnership with HARMAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. focused on connected technologies for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets.
Unimasters chooses eLogii, the next generation Delivery Management platform, to introduce interactive, dynamic planning and route optimisation in the first and last mile
Dec 02, 2020
Unimasters has chosen eLogii, the next generation Delivery Management and Route Optimisation solution, to replace static with dynamic delivery tour planning. The result will be in significantly reduced tour numbers in their first and last mile operations and greatly enhanced efficiency.
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.
