An often quoted saying, “there is more than one way to do things” is relevant when considering how companies process orders through their facilities. This idea can be applied to sister companies and to those within the same industry. These companies may share many of the same customers, products, vendors and even follow the same regulations. However, the systems and procedural methods each organization uses to produce their products may vary significantly. When it comes to planning and scheduling, it is important to be able to schedule according to these specific needs.
Planet Together, an Advanced Planning and Scheduling software company, understands this need. One way that Planet Together software customizes the user experience is by creating a schedule based on user identified parameters called attributes and product rules. Combined, these functions work together to provide a framework that allows Planet Together’s logic to sequence jobs based on setup times, part characteristics, individual resource capabilities, costs, and resource efficiencies.
Attributes
“The operation attributes are user-defined characteristics of the operations of a job and can provide additional flexibility in calculating the setup times and cost.” Operation Attributes (planettogether.com) The following is an example of how an attribute table may be setup.
| Attribute Name | |||
| Color | |||
| Previous Op Attribute | Next Op Attribute | Setup Minutes | Setup Cost |
| Red | Red | 0 | 0 |
| Red | Blue | 60 | $100 |
| Blue | Blue | 0 | 0 |
| Blue | Red | 30 | $50 |
In this example, the user can identify an optimization rule that tells Planet Together to sequence jobs based on the minimum setup time. PT would then attempt to keep similar colors together as much as possible to reduce the amount of setup time. The same logic could be applied toward costs.
Attributes could be identified as colors, part types, numeric codes etc. These attributes are then linked to specific resources so whenever PT recognizes the combined attribute and resource, it will apply the appropriate sequencing logic.
Product Rules
“Product Rules can be used to define varying production rates, yields, and preferences for items produced as products. These product rules ……override the standard values….and provide additional flexibility for companies with varying production planning values.” Product Rules (planettogether.com)
An example of the need for a product rule may be when there are multiple resources that share the same capability, but one of the resources is significantly slower running a specific part number than the other resources. In this case, the part number and slower resource would be identified, then alternate run rates could be applied. PT would then recognize that every time the specific part number is scheduled to the slower machine that it would automatically schedule it to take longer. PT would also take this into consideration when determining which resource to schedule the part number to.
Attributes and product rules are powerful tools users can access when using Planet Togethers functionality. Each company has its own nuances and ways of doing things. Having the ability to work with an advanced planning and scheduling system that is designed to allow the user to customize their use to meet their individual needs is critical in today’s competitive environment.
Planet Together
One of the leading APS systems in the market today is a system called Planet Together with clients all over the world. Those clients include midsized and fortune 500 companies. Planet Together has been used in diverse industries such as food and beverage, electronics, automotive medical, pharmaceutical, chemical and many others.
Planet Together, can be a key player in helping you grow and improve by providing the information you need to help navigate your business. Planet Together utilizes the information available, whether from an ERP system or from spreadsheets, then schedules it is using predefined rules and algorithms. The schedule is then presented in a graphical display that allows the user to see where jobs are at, to see early, on-time and late orders, material shortages, labor calendars, and what if scenarios. The software also calculates metrics based on desired KPI’s.
Scheduling Solutions
Scheduling Solutions has partnered with Planet Together to assist companies implement the Planet Together solution. Scheduling Solutions adds value by getting your data to work within the Planet Together framework and by providing the training and coaching required to successfully implement Planet Together.
As technologies have improved, the role of the helmsman remains a vital part of navigating the seas. Planning and scheduling will continue to be a critical role for manufacturers around the world. The improved technology of planning and scheduling will make the difference in getting ahead of the competition and delivering product on-time, every time.
About Us
LIS Scheduling Solutions is uniquely positioned to bring you the finest APS technology with the most experienced APS implementation team in North America.
Most Manufacturers recognize that, to compete in today’s fast changing world, they need an APS solution that addresses their unique needs. They also recognize that most APS solutions on the market do not work, cannot work, and will never work.
APS is all we do, and our team can proudly claim that we have implemented successful APS solutions in over 150 manufacturing sites in North America.
Contact Us
Head Office – 5454 Lena Road, Suite 105 Bradenton, FL 34211, USA
Phone: 941-259-4434
Email: info@lsi-scheduling.com Website: https://www.lsi-scheduling.com/