Discrete Solutions, Advanced Planning and Scheduling

Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) is a sophisticated, computer-based, optimization model that allows manufacturing companies to better manage planning in complex situations. The entire process of production at a typical manufacturing company begins with forecasts and orders coming from an ERP or Supply Chain planning system that's not a part of plant scheduling. Those forecasts and orders affect demand planning, which is the basis for plant scheduling, and inventory planning. Rough scheduling and capacity planning take the given demand, fit it into the company's capacity constraints, and draw up a rough plan for making the product. Finite scheduling then takes the rough plan and works out all of the specific details. As production proceeds, there are feedback loops to finite scheduling, rough scheduling and capacity planning. The process of sending real-time information back up the planning path is critical, because production rarely proceeds exactly as planned. Without the ability to adjust and revise plans, the schedules already produced become meaningless.

With the right APS model, manufacturing companies can realize huge savings both through reductions in material and labor waste, and through increases in production and distribution efficiency. APS creates better delivery performance through the ability to meet forecast schedules. Because scheduling is based on reality, the planning tool offers capabilities for real time corrections, so that planners are better able to measure and monitor progress against the schedule, identify and respond to problems and trends in real time, make informed decisions with current and complete data, and realize long term improvements through planning based on realistic constraint models. Additionally, machines, lines and other assets can start being used strategically rather than just tactically.

We help our clients use APS to attack common waste streams of labor and capacity utilization, improve their plant performance and ROIC, and leverage their upcoming ERP investments to make them more effective.

Learn More - For additional information on Advanced Planning and Scheduling, read EnteGreat's book, Information Technology for Manufacturing: Reducing Costs & Expanding Capabilities.