What is Schedule Optimization?
According to Merriam Webster dictionary online, to optimize is “to make as perfect, effective, or functional as possible”. To Optimize the production schedule is to determine how to sequence the jobs on each resource to maximize capacity, meet quality standards, and achieve on time delivery of orders. First you must know how to sequence the […]
What Advantage does PlanetTogether’s MRP Have?
One feature that makes PlanetTogether unique from other advanced planning and scheduling software solution with the ability to run MRP. Even if you’re ERP runs MRP there may be benefits to using PlanetTogether’s MRP in addition to your current ERP’s MRP. The key differentiator between your ERP scheduling integration and PlanetTogether’s MRP process is that […]
Understanding Scheduling Decisions at a Glance
Have you ever thought about the complexity of your business, especially when it comes to sequencing processes in the most efficient manner possible? The ramifications of one sequencing decisions can make the difference between one job going late or twenty jobs going late. Recognizing the consequences of a sequencing decision before it plays out is […]
Advanced Planning and Scheduling, Is it Right for You?
If you are considering investing in an Advanced Planning and Scheduling software (APS), you are on the road of improvement in operational efficiency, enhanced communication, and improved customer service. APS systems allow planners and schedulers to quickly determine the best sequence of operations per resource, drives communication between the shop floor, schedulers, and management. It […]
80/20 Rule of Thumb – 80% Automatic Scheduling, 20% Managing Exceptions
In every production scheduling scenario the scheduler encounters, there are multiple decision points that must be made in order to meet and achieve company objectives. Understanding the potential outcome of these decision points can seem obvious on a small scale. However, as the number of variables increase (such as increased number of orders, operations, limitations […]
What can manufacturers learn from Amazon?
The answer is: Companies that can ship the quickest and deliver product “on time” will win the business. If you miss your first promise date you better make sure you don’t miss the second. In addition, you need to notify the customer before you miss the date not after. Once the customer loses confidence in […]
Production Scheduling: Art or Science?
Does production scheduling require scientific and creative decision-making skills? From the outside looking in, it may appear that production scheduling is more art that science. Ask an experienced scheduler a sequencing question, and they will tell you why Job B should run before Job A with high confidence. In reality, production scheduling involves complex mathematical […]
The Domino Effect and “What If” Scenarios
Jeremy Wiegman Do you ever find yourself wondering what the ramifications are of seemingly small and simple changes to the production schedule? Any change that is made has repercussions or what I like to refer to as a domino effect. When dominoes are lined up next to each other from point A to point B, […]
Differences between Production Planning and Scheduling
While the production planning and scheduling are two activities that are commonly referred to as the same task, there is an important distinction between them. It is important to define this distinction because manufacturing constraints affect scheduling and not planning. Planning is the process of identifying how much of an item that needs produced. Planning […]
Planning and Scheduling Operational Excellence
Chris Koyianis Lean Manufacturing, Total Quality Management, Kaizen, 5s or 6s, Toyota Production System, Six Sigma . . . These are methodologies for improving manufacturing processes. Have you thought about applying the same methodologies used for your manufacturing processes to your production planning and scheduling processes? Planning and scheduling processes must work very closely with […]