With a focus on using artificial intelligence (AI)/ machine learning (ML) to better predict demand and improve companies operations from end-to-end, Blue Yonder Holding, Inc. (Blue Yonder), has launched its reimagined Luminate Planning portfolio. This powerful set of solutions enables boundaryless planning providing customers with integrated sales and operations execution (S&OE); limitless, always-on planning; and an intelligence engine that can predict and pivot to deliver an autonomous supply chain.
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.
Blue Yonder launches AI-Powered luminate planning solutions dedicated to optimising for the ‘new normal’
May 06, 2020
Simplified CAD models for digital factory planning
Feb 26, 2020
In digital factory environments engineers very often face the challenge of too detailed CAD models generating heavy data and therefore preventing a smooth handling in factory planning software tools.
Supply Chain Event - From Demand Planning to S&OP to IBP: Lessons from the front line
Dec 12, 2019
Tuesday 14th January 2020 - Birmingham,UK
This Supply Chain Event is a free educational morning dedicated to leading manufacturers who want to review best practices and lessons from the front line to implementing S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) and IBP (Integrated Business Planning).
QAD DynaSys Announces the Release of DSCP 2019
Dec 11, 2019
The latest demand and supply chain planning software features a new intuitive web planning experience, collaborative planning process controls and is powered by artificial intelligence and advanced supply chain analytics
Paragon launches on the Geotab marketplace to give fleet managers increased visibility and control of routing process
Dec 11, 2019
Paragon Software Systems has launched its route optimisation software on the Geotab Marketplace.
QuickStart Integrated Business Planning Webinars
Nov 29, 2019
REGISTER for Webinars - 10th & 12th December.
Businesses that manage supply chains have to be able to adapt to the changing political, economic, social and technology landscape all the time.To cope with all this change globally, companies need to put together a different business operating model, which allows them to continuously update plans in a controlled manner in the light of changing economic circumstances.
QAD DynaSys recognised as a major player in the IDC MarketScape Worldwide for Supply Chain Demand Planning 2019 vendor assessment
Nov 20, 2019
This research is a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the characteristics that explain a vendor's success in the supply chain demand planning space and helps assess its current and anticipated performance in the marketplace.
QAD DynaSys Online DSCP Days 2019
Oct 18, 2019
November 05 - 06, 2019.
QAD DynaSys is bringing two days of Demand & Supply Chain Planning thought leadership to your office. Hear manufacturers’ success stories and feedback, best practices, supply chain development narratives, and more on S&OP / IBP, Machine Learning, Advanced Analytics, DDMRP, DDS&OP, etc.
French deli brand Fleury Michon slices stock with FuturMaster technology
Oct 16, 2019
Fleury Michon, one of France’s leading food suppliers to supermarkets, healthcare facilities and airlines, has implemented forecasting technology from FuturMaster to help anticipate future demand and the daily production requirements for its cold meats, ready meals and snacks.
Paragon launches Polish language interface to meet demand for local language routing and scheduling software
Oct 02, 2019
Paragon has further enhanced its capabilities within Eastern Europe by launching a Polish language option of its routing and scheduling software.
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.
