Production Scheduling Optimization

Advanced planning and scheduling can help manufacturers improve productivity and margins and get more from their existing equipment and workforce. But balancing inventory and customer demand can be a challenge on a good day. When raw material and skilled labor are in short supply, and SKU proliferation and unscheduled break-ins continue to rise, it’s even more difficult. 

IPM consultants can help by assessing your operation and tailoring state-of-the-art scheduling software to your unique needs. With deep expertise in manufacturing and supply chain, we understand the tradeoffs you make every day between your well-thought-out production schedule and the short runs due to raw material shortages, customer-requested rush jobs, and unplanned downtime.  

Optimize your production schedule

First, we’ll work with your team, from staff on the line to senior management, to understand and map your products, processes, and priorities. Then, working with our partners at Phenix Software Inc., we’ll apply best practices to develop a product wheel that suits your specific business needs. A product wheel sequences production efficiently, optimizing run lengths and minimizing line changeovers. While the configured software provides an efficient and reliable production schedule, it also lets you run scenarios to optimize break-ins and evaluate potential long-term changes.  

IPM’s expert consultants will: 

• Join you on-site to understand your operations and work directly with stakeholders from the plant floor to the management office to learn challenges and uncover opportunities. 
• Create custom rules to drive your unique product wheel, incorporating best practices. 
• Personalize the user experience and easily integrate Phenix with existing ERP and planning systems. 
• Lead your team through testing, training, and deployment, followed by post-deployment iteration and support. 

The result: More effective changeovers and break-ins mean you’ll improve productivity and unlock capacity from your existing equipment and labor. With the ability to set and adjust inventory, you can reliably meet customer service targets. The increased throughput and lower costs, including from reduced inventory levels, will drive up margins. And with smarter, faster decision-making, you will be more resilient to better manage unexpected disruptions.