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Finite Capacity Planning and Scheduling

Finite Capacity vs Infinite Capacity

Finite capacity planning and scheduling ensures that your resource capacity is taken into account from the moment you start to plan. It actually creates a more realistic production schedule than an infinite approach. The latter tends to schedule backwards from the order required date and if the resource or capacity is not available a number of adjustments to timings and due dates may be necessary.

Manufacturing Planning Software

As a finite capacity solution, the Scheduler forward loads and will not automatically re-schedule existing works orders without you knowing, which gives you the opportunity to see the true impact of scheduling new orders on your actual production capacity without making any changes to priorities or timings.

  • Using the scheduling rules you can take into account whether a job has a larger quantity of parts or has a longer throughput time and therefore needs to be started earlier than orders that have a shorter lead time. The theory is that the orders with longer lead times require larger gaps of availability and therefore the shorter orders can be fitted into the smaller gaps in the schedule.
  • Analysis allows you to see a graphical representation of deviations (the difference between the Delivery Date and Scheduled End date) by count or by days.
  • The Workload View provides insight into the total, used and free capacity of each individual resource. The largest gap of free capacity between operations is also highlighted so you can easily see where jobs that are not currently scheduled could be fit in.
  • Any adjustments to capacity (workspeed factors, overtime, sending for subcontract) are all what-if until saved. So you can try different scenarios to see the impact of changes and/or identify capacity bottlenecks where you may need to consider additional resource.

Finite Capacity Planning and Scheduling – Creating a Realistic Model

Seiki Scheduler allows you to create a realistic model of your capacity by defining the key factors such as resources, individual workplace efficiency, weekplans and company calendars. It helps you to work leaner.

  • Stock levels are reduced as materials are only ordered when required, improving cash flow.
  • Operations are only scheduled when resources are available, reducing work in progress and avoiding bottlenecks in production.
  • The resulting efficiency and productivity improvements also mean you can avoid unnecessary subcontracting.

Your available capacity can be dynamically updated within the planning board. Reducing or increasing the number of available hours of each resource directly on the plan allows you to immediately see the impact of the change, which is essential when reacting to unexpected events, such as machine breakdowns or staff absence. With critical delivery dates to be met, this extra time to problem solve can be a significant advantage. It also means you can maintain a positive, open line of communication with your customer regarding the current status of their job.

It can help to identify and justify opportunities for increasing capacity by:

  • Offering overtime
  • Subcontracting work
  • Splitting batches
  • Avoiding bottlenecks

It can help you to visualise and account for events that can cause reductions in capacity such as:

  • Machine breakdowns
  • Operator absence
  • Scrap or re-work
  • Excessive changeover times

 

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Finite doesn’t mean you’re restricted to a short term view. The advantage of having a dynamic system combined with a comprehensive capacity model provides a more reliable view of future availability. This has company wide benefits as it supports strategic business planning and forecasting. As a decision support tool Seiki Core Scheduler can help you maintain the balance between demand and capacity.

With the Seiki Scheduler you can be confident that you are always working with the latest information.

Planning and scheduling resources

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