APS and ERP: A Perfect Duo

To stay competitive and meet increasing customer requirements, manufacturers inevitably have to innovate and adapt. The solution is to optimize manufacturing operations and become more agile by getting the right tools. As you will see, such needs can be met by the perfect duo of ERP and APS—Advanced Planning and Scheduling.

Because ERP by itself is no longer enough

As a means to manage processes and centralize information, ERP quickly became a must, and rightly so. But beyond their undeniable benefits ERP systems have certain limitations that can keep you from reaching a higher level of efficiency and productivity.

ERP systems are essential to overall medium – or long-term resource planning, but when you’re preparing an optimal plan for operations, the ERP planning model is often too simplistic. It disregards many key constraints. The result? Inaccurate planning that’s hard to put into practice on the shop floor.

It’s becoming clear that ERP by itself is no longer enough to cope with manufacturers’ current needs.

What APS does that ERP doesn’t

Designs precise and doable optimized production plans

Optimizes operations in real time through advanced algorithms

Takes all the constraints into account simultaneously

Estimates delivery times accurately

Prioritizes on-time delivery at minimum cost

Considers the actual progress on the shop floor

Quickly adjusts schedules to changing circumstances

Provides visibility of production processes

Identifies production constraints and potential problems

Maximizes use of resources

Reduces setup time and downtime

Analyzes complex scenarios

Assesses the impacts of a change or a new production order

Examples of constraints taken into account

Inventory levels and planned incoming deliveries of raw materials
Skills of employees, and their work schedules
Machine speeds, temporary efficiencies
Planned maintenance
Actual status of machines
Real progress of operations
Setup time in relation to the sequence of operations

Complex routings
Alternative resources and preferences
Rest time and drying time
Overlap between routing operations
Grouping of similar operations
Imposed start date
Frozen planning period

Why APS and ERP form a perfect duo

Whereas ERP brings together information on all the processes and resources of a business, APS provides key functions for analyzing and optimizing at the operational level. Although you can use them independently of each other, they show the full extent of their power when used together.

If a manufacturing company wishes to optimize its operations, it will need real-time analysis and simulations to minimize costs and maximize efficiency. That’s why ERP by itself isn’t enough to reach a higher level of efficiency.

Ready to go to a higher level of efficiency?

Syncrun is a scheduling solution that will perfectly fit with your ERP, your SCM, your MES, or any other management system you have. Its advanced algorithm is a real engine for optimizing your operations and will help boost your productivity.

Ask For a Demonstration Today!

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