Master Production Scheduling

Heuristic and LP based master production scheduling with familiar excel based interface.

Area of expertise
Operational Excellence
Core strength
Operational optimization
Interaction type
Operational excellence
Optimization software
Data science & analytics
Business process modelling & driver analysis

The challenge

Create an easy-to-use, easy-to-interpret excel based planning tool to support the master production scheduling process. 

The tool should import demand, inventory, product families and production capacities directly from the source ERP system and allow users to fix production on aggregate and/or part level, override capacities and, in short, play around with all boundary constraints.

Approach

An efficient Linear Programming (LP) solver is used as a subroutine to optimize the master production schedule on aggregate level and component level.

Additionally, an internal company decision heuristic was adapted as an initial approach as a proof of concept and increasing user acceptance through familiarity. This then served as an excellent benchmark for showcasing the quality of the LP solver solutions.

Why does the PEX approach fit so well in this scenario ?

Grounded in research but with a focus to get to actionable results fast, we iterate quickly with the client on these kinds of problems to get the use case correctly defined, data requirements and limitations scoped early and initial results evaluated for their practical implementation potential.

We meet the client where he needs support. In this case, an excel-based tool gets the job done. Then, we deliver and do not push for tools with features that won't get used and only adds to the complexity where advanced manufacturing environments suffer from.

 

Results

Planning tool that optimizes an MPS in seconds. 

Now, one interactive meeting with relevant stakeholders to brainstorm alternative scenarios with near-immediate impact assessment eliminating hours of tedious calculations and back and forth communication over scenarios.  

Get in touch!

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out. Our team is always here to assist you. Contact us today and let’s get things moving!

Minderbroedersstraat 36
3300 Tienen
Belgium
People Exponential logo
© 2024 People Exponential.
 All rights reserved.
Minderbroedersstraat 36
3300 Tienen
Belgium
© 2024 People Exponential.
 All rights reserved.

Get in touch!

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out. Our team is always here to assist you. Contact us today and let’s get things moving!

Minderbroedersstraat 36
3300 Tienen
Belgium