After careful consideration, the company decided that SCM Demand Planning from Infor, with its proven record of success, would be best placed to drive efficiencies and support business growth.
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.
Tecnica cranks up simulation power
Feb 04, 2009
Tecnica UK is using a new High Performance Compute system (HPC system) to reduce processing time of its complex 3D computer simulations
Preactor User Group the most successful ever
Jan 27, 2009
Highest attendance figures demonstrate ongoing interest in and benefits from production planning and scheduling software.
Serov plant selects Broner Metals Solutions to streamline its production processes
Jan 19, 2009
Broner Metals Solutions has been awarded a contract to supply an advanced production management and optimisation solution to Metallurgical plant in Russia.
Coca-Cola Enterprises taps JDA Software
Jan 16, 2009
Coca-Cola Enterprises has deployed several applications in JDA's Space & Category Management solution suite.
Tarkett selects OM Partners for optimising its eight business units in Europe
Jan 15, 2009
Tarket has gone live with OM Partners software in its business unit homogeneous vinyl. It is the first of eight business units in which OMP Plus will be used for forecasting and planning.
Sage ERP X3 is broadening the functional scope of its Supply Chain Management solution by integrating MES and APS tools
Dec 08, 2008
Sage has announced "job" alliances on the supply chain market, thus broadening Sage ERP X3's workshop management functions with the Osys solution and payment orders thanks to the Preactor module
Microsoft Dynamics in Manufacturing online demonstration
Dec 01, 2008
Syscom PLC will be holding an online demonstration of Microsoft Dynamics GP on Thursday 11th December for businesses who would like to find out more about what this popular business application can do for them
Descartes puts Relyon's routing and planning worries to bed
Dec 01, 2008
In 2005, after a period of rapid growth, Relyon set out to overhaul its delivery fleet to bring it in line with the companys multi-purpose needs
QAD, PTC to intergrate ERP and PLM solutions for the automotive, high tech, industrial equipment and life sciences industries
Dec 01, 2008
QAD Inc. has announced that as a member of the PTC Channel Advantage Programme, QAD will now offer the PTC product suite to customers throughout Europe
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.
