by James Daniels, freelance writer.
There are multiple benefits to creating a more efficient supply chain in your business, you’ll be able to cut unnecessary costs from your spending and respond more quickly to market changes, supply irregularities and fluctuating demand.
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.
How To Make Your Supply Chain More Efficient
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HFX continues to reinforce its position as a leader in workforce management solutions in Logistics and Distribution
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HFX, the provider of Cloud Workforce Management Solutions, has signed two new clients, Dormole and DX Networks in quick succession, as its market share in Logistics and Distribution goes from strength to strength. These contracts continue HFX’s strong performance in 2019, after a record first quarter where the company closed nearly £1m in new business.
Haribo’s sweet supply chain success
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Haribo, the European manufacturer of sweets including jelly babies, gum bears and liquorice, has 19 production sites and 10 distribution centres around the world.
QAD DynaSys recognised as a challenger in Gartner 2019 Magic Quadrant for Sales and Operations Planning Systems of Differentiation
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QAD DynaSys, provider of demand and supply chain planning solutions, has announced that Gartner, Inc. has named QAD DynaSys a Challenger in Gartner’s May 2019 Magic Quadrant for Sales and Operations Planning Systems of Differentiation. QAD DynaSys is a division of QAD Inc.
European canned veg supplier harvests supply chain forecasting
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Bonduelle, the supplier in Europe for canned vegetables and second largest for frozen veg, is close to completion of a supply chain transformation project that has helped the manufacturer reduce wastage and predict with pinpoint accuracy what’s most likely to sell in different parts of the world, following the implementation of demand forecasting software through FuturMaster.
The supply and demand dynamic - Demand Forecasting & Planning, S&OP Technology Report
Jul 02, 2019
Demand Forecasting & Planning, S&OP Technology Report
Manufacturing & Logistics spoke with leading industry spokespeople from the analyst and vendor community about how modern Demand Forecasting & Planning/Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) solutions and other planning-related technology can help to facilitate better supply chain, manufacturing and distribution practice.
Stein Mart boosts omnichannel growth with Oracle Cloud
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Stein Mart, a national specialty off-price retailer, has gained a holistic view of its inventory and a more streamlined approach to merchandise planning with Oracle Cloud.
ArrowXL invests in advanced transport planning solution from Paragon
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ArrowXL, the UK two-person home delivery specialist, is partnering with Paragon to fully automate and streamline its distribution operation.
QAD DynaSys DSCP chosen to plan and optimise Maroquinerie Thomas's end-to-end supply chain
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QAD DynaSys, provider of demand and supply chain planning (DSCP) solutions, has announced that Maroquinerie Thomas, the leather goods manufacture operating in the European luxury goods market, selected QAD DynaSys Cloud Production Planning, Procurement Planning and Advanced Analytics to optimise its supply chain. QAD DynaSys is a division of QAD Inc.
DynaSys rebrands as QAD DynaSys
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DynaSys, a leading provider of demand and supply chain planning solutions, has announced that the company will now be known as QAD DynaSys. QAD DynaSys is a division of QAD Inc.
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.
