Better production - optimized planning.
iTAC APS Service - the optimization-based detailed planning tool

Definition
Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) systems facilitate integrated production process planning and scheduling based on available materials, human resources and production capacity. In the production process, the APS determines sequence and capacity planning. Generally, APS systems use the production orders which are generated by the ERP system to schedule and optimize the sequence in which production orders are executed. The APS service then allocates production orders to work stations, taking existing resources and production capacities into account.

Preferred applications for APS
APS systems are often used when a range of different products are manufactured in one single facility, in capital-intensive production processes where only limited production capacities are available and for the production of goods with numerous individual parts or production processes which often have to be spontaneously changed. iTAC's APS service is a planning tool which optimizes order execution in accordance with existing resources and capacities while taking deadlines and budget requirements into account. In addition to the detailed scheduling of production orders, it also graphically displays the results on a control unit.

The structure and functions of the iTAC APS service are geared to customer-specific requirements in various sectors and planning models. It enables the user to considerably reduce planning expenditure (costs and time). The integrated production order sequence optimization function, which is based on an intelligent planning algorithm, can minimize pre-production costs and throughput times while achieving additional substantial cost savings of between 15% and 20%.

Integration
The iTAC APS service is the result of a fully integrated OEM component from Dualis GmbH (GANTTPLAN). Its integration in the iTAC.MES.Suite extends the range of available functions, thereby providing additional efficiency, transparency and information value throughout the scheduling process. The iTAC APS service takes advantage of existing ERP and machine interfaces to the iTAC.MES.Suite.

Production optimization

• Order execution optimization through the non-linear, multi-criteria planning algorithm based on ISSOP optimization technology
• Resource scheduling time savings
• Increase of machine capacity and resource utilization, optimization of throughput times, production costs etc.
• Fast response times following production malfunctions
• Minimization of total cost of ownership (TCO)

Scheduling options

• Innovative multi-resource scheduling (machine park, human resources, production aids)
• Incorporation of maximum priority orders in the planning process
• Improved visibility of free capacity for additional orders
• Assessment of stoppages and malfunctions
• "What if" scenarios can be run prior to new scheduling operations and investment decisions
• Bottleneck management

Quality assurance

• Precise information about order completion dates
• Analysis of production bottlenecks
• Order processing security and production quality assurance
• Accurate order status information

Graphical analyses

• Scheduling results are displayed on the graphical control unit
• Overview of current resource deployment and capacity utilization
• Efficiency and transparency in production scheduling

Further iTAC services

• Traceability (TR)
• Production Management (PM)
• Computer-Aided Quality (CAQ)
• Material & logistics (ML)