In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, staying ahead of the curve is not just a goal—it's a necessity. Companies, maybe yours as well, face mounting pressures to meet customer demands, optimise production processes, and manage supply chain disruptions.
For the planning, often static tools like ERP systems and Excel spreadsheets are used by manufacturing companies. While they were once sufficient, these tools lead to inefficiencies when companies grow and the planning gets more complex. It becomes very difficult to balance resources, meet deadlines, and synchronise workshops. A sign to enter Advanced Planning Solutions (APS), the game-changer for modern manufacturing.
The modern manufacturing dilemma: juggling complexity
Imagine a production planner's daily routine. The constant balancing act involves managing finite capacities, ensuring material availability, and synchronising the manufacturing processes. Now throw in unexpected supply chain disruptions or a sudden surge in demand, and the challenges multiply.
Yet, despite these complexities, research shows that a staggering 80% of organisations still rely on outdated planning methods in static ERP systems and Excel spreadsheets. For the other 20%, real-time analysis of production processes remains a pipe dream, with less than 16% having achieved this capability.
The reality is, these traditional tools fall short in providing the agility and responsiveness that modern manufacturing demands. They can't simulate scenarios, struggle with finite capacity planning, and are often disconnected from other critical systems. As a result, planners are left scrambling to make decisions with incomplete data, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. Let go if a plan requires that multiple planners work on the same planning, which is hardly impossible in these static environments.
The advantages of advanced planning solutions: smarter, faster, and more agile
So, when you start exploring Google for solutions that will help you to overcome the challenges that you face with your static planning solution, you come across many names of solutions like for example ‘Supply Chain Planning’, ‘Integrated Business Planning’ and, ‘Smart Manufacturing Solutions’.
Here, we’ll stick to AI powered Advanced Planning Solutions (APS), a sub-component of supply chain planning, contextually describing manufacturing planning and scheduling. APS integrates and synchronises data across all aspects of production, enabling real-time analysis and KPI based decision-making. With APS, production planners can easily simulate different scenarios to see how changes in one area might impact another, ensuring that they can anticipate issues before they become problems.
For instance, imagine being able to simulate a sudden spike in demand and instantly see how it would affect your material availability and workshop schedules. Or being able to plan around finite capacity limits without having to manually juggle spreadsheets. APS makes this possible.
Another significant benefit of APS is its ability to synchronise processes in your factory and check material availability in real time. This not only ensures that production runs smoothly, but also increases overall supply chain resilience. When disruptions occur — whether due to a supplier issue or an unforeseen production disturbance — APS can help you quickly re-plan and minimise downtime, keeping your operations running as efficiently as possible.
Also, instead of a dizzying amount of data represented in multiple database- or spreadsheet tables, an APS simplifies the planning with a graphical representation. Visualisation often says more than what can be expressed in many words.
How to can transform your planning processes
We understand the intricacies of manufacturing and the unique challenges that production planners face. Sopra Steria’s ambition is to elevate planning and scheduling processes to the next level. By implementing our proposed advanced planning solution, we help companies move away from outdated methods and embrace a more agile, smart, and resilient approach.
Our planning solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems, ensuring that all data is synchronised and accessible in real time. This not only enhances decision-making but also streamlines operations, reducing the time and effort required to manage complex and error-prone production schedules.
Embrace the future of manufacturing with advanced planning and scheduling
In conclusion, the business landscape is evolving, and so must your planning processes. Advanced Planning Solutions offer a powerful way to overcome the limitations of traditional tools, giving you the agility and resilience needed to thrive in today's market.
With the right APS by your side, you can transform your planning and scheduling processes, ensuring that you're always one step ahead—no matter what business challenges come your way.