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In a high-mix low-volume production environment scheduling has a core position within the corporate planning process. Many managers and planners use Excel as a tool to schedule production, but undoubtedly it can be sufficiently helpful only at an early stage when the scheduling environment is not yet so complex and dynamic. There are 3 red flags that tell you that XLS-based scheduling is no longer effective.
In general, rising complexity in an HMLV environment goes hand in hand with the following development:
At the same time, rising dynamism in an HMLV environment goes hand in hand with the following development:
It becomes clear that from a certain level of complexity and dynamics, scheduling with XLS no longer makes sense. If this point is exceeded, the manual maintenance of using an XLS-based schedule is a time-consuming Sisyphean task. A spreadsheet simply does not offer the appropriate functionality to tackle the situation and modify the schedule easily.
Eventually, as needs change or operations grow in complexity, XLS ceases being useful and becomes even more troublesome; its maintenance starts using up important and scarce capacities without providing the benefit once intended.
There are 3 red flags that tell you if XLS-based scheduling has turned from “tool to trouble”:
I have seen that this point is reached fairly quickly with HMLV shops. Therefore, in my opinion, XLS should only be used as a temporary solution for the early phase of a business. Here, I even advise using XLS, as a spreadsheet will do the job at the least cost. Unfortunately, however, I had to learn that many companies are under the misconception that the suitability of XLS will grow with the company. But that is not the
case. On the contrary, XLS will significantly slow down growth compared to the alternative of using a suitable Automatic Finite Scheduling (AFS) system.
Automatic Finite Scheduling (AFS) is the key to success for job shops
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It includes many valuable tips on how to choose the right AFS, implement it, and also solve typical scheduling challenges of HMLV manufacturers ongoing.
just plan it is a production scheduling software plus scheduling tools & best practices to help high-mix low-volume make-to-order manufacturers gain transparency and control over their shop operations. The software plus its methodology is used by thousands of people around the globe. They consistently achieve improved on-time deliveries, shorter lead times, and better utilization of their resources.
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