Enterprise manufacturing software for small business is a set of modules that can be easily integrated into the small business operations and are pre-integrated with each other to meet the requirements and needs of a manufacturing business. There is no finding, purchasing, maintaining and deploying software products by the user which makes use of enterprise manufacturing software for small business cost-effective.
Choose the type of manufacturing software that suits you and your needs best. We have compiled a list of the most popular software packages to help you decide which one is right for you. Get in touch today and our trained consultants can design an affordable solution built for your manufacturing business.
What is Production Scheduling?
Production Scheduling is the planning and controlling of the manufacturing process through the effective allocation of resources (human and machinery), raw materials, as well as concurrent and incident processes.
The most important components of this process are as follows –
- Planning and Procurement – Raw materials requirements for the process must be procured using correct channels and in accurate amounts. Planning of resource usage, Calculation of raw material requirements, and daily output must be done to ensure customers receive goods on time.
- Scheduling – The order of process flow with respect to time and date, and goods produced, is called scheduling. Companies often refer to a master schedule, a complete plan for key resources to utilize time on raw materials to be constructed into goods.
Other important factors considered are the routing of raw materials through specific processes to complete production and dispatch
Need for Production Scheduling
How does better Production Scheduling lead to a healthier bottom-line for the organization?
Have you ever heard of an organization heading into a market for production goods without a fixed scheduling plan in its manufacturing plant? Such scattergun approaches are rarely successful for businesses.
Production scheduling helps businesses match demand forecasts and actual supply of goods. This results in better management of the raw materials and different kinds of resources used, which results in cost saving. Resources can also be effectively assigned and utilized during the production process to increase productivity, which results in double the output for the same level of input.
Alongside the above, controlling inventory flow is also important. Storage expenses form a solid component of a company’s outflow and with better production scheduling, easing the inventory to match outflow of goods reduces company lag on the balance sheet and improves the inventory turnover ratio.
Great production scheduling also helps draw up maps of business plan optimization. With a multi-pronged approach to production, organizations can use the same approach to set up manufacturing of different goods, for different markets, under different price points. Lesser the input cost, but greater the addressing of demand, which leads to higher profits.
Producing goods for export is another key variable here. Ensuring effectively higher production of goods for foreign transport will help companies double down on revenue. Production scheduling also removes many inaccuracies of production – such as ineffective time allocation and poor process flows – giving way to refined goods which will spur demand.
All the processes mentioned above play a great role in businesses increasing their bottom-line.
Key challenges faced in Production Scheduling:
Every process scheduling task is filled with the danger of mismanagement and creeping inefficiency. Besides the above, some of the biggest risks that cancel out the advantages of a production scheduling process are as follows –
- Poor Communication – Insufficient coordination between different manufacturing departments could endanger a production schedule, no matter how well the system is working.
- Outdated Software – Several key processes in production scheduling depend on automation and the latest software upgrades to handle processes and loads. Lack of system updates is detrimental.
- Re-planning – Often products/goods waiver in demand or regulations as per authorities. This requires major shifts in production to meet specifications of manufactured goods. This will require the rescheduling of entire processes which is time-consuming and ineffective.
- Raw materials discrepancy – Raw material wastage is a common bane of most manufacturing companies. Every time a good is stuck on the table due to the poor quality of raw materials, the entire production schedule goes for a toss.
- Vendors Distrust – Vendors sometimes cannot meet the demands of a production heavy organization. Be it raw materials or the flow of manpower, vendor inefficiencies throw the spanner into the works.
What are the different Production Scheduling techniques?
Production scheduling techniques are looked through with a fine comb to increase performances of the manufacturing set-up. From processes such as Ichikawa’s diagram to Kanban Cards, the innovation around these processes has been significant. Some of the most important production scheduling techniques are –
Finite and Infinite Capacity Scheduling – Both these types of scheduling consider load capacity on resources and the timeline of delivery of goods.
In a finite capacity scheduling process, the overall load on all resources is calculated and calculations are made on how new production requirements should be adjusted to match the load to create an efficient system. There is no reprioritization of tasks/workload for the due dates.
In an infinite system, every resource is considered to have sufficient capacity to match order dates. The process identifies which resources need additional capacity, those that have the capacity to utilize further, and how many more resources will be needed to fulfill demand. The infinite process then adjusts resources and due dates accordingly.
Backward and Forward Scheduling – These are techniques to determine and estimate production commencement and finishing dates.
Backward scheduling estimates production scheduling capacity and resource utilization needed to fulfill and order based on the end date. The process determines the start date for production-based on, working backward with a fixed load output and schedule.
Forward scheduling is the opposite of backward scheduling. Here, resources allocation, capacity/load distribution, and schedules are determined based on an estimated time the resources are made available. The idea to ensure all order fulfilments by the delivery date.
Just-in-Time (JiT) Scheduling – Last minute changes to the production schedule/requirements are given in any industry. JiT ensures production schedules are adjusted and resources are made available to just ensure the orders are delivered to the client right on the deadline. This is to ensure minimum production wastage and inventory usage.
Evolution of Production Scheduling
Mankind’s quest for maximum production efficiency has been known long since the first industrial plants opened doors to production circa 1760. Production scheduling had been in the cynosure of the earliest foreman and floor managers, but no relative improvement had been made to the system until Fredrik Taylor, the father of industrial efficiency, came along in the 20th century.
Taylorism became popular through his book Principles of Scientific Management, which stated that worker efficiency on tasks could be improved by allotting them work that their skills and capabilities were most aligned with, while supervision should be conducted regularly. In effect, scheduling and planning of work must be done equitably per resource of labor.
Karol Adamiecki and Henry Gantt both made significant contributions to the production scheduling problem. The former created the Harmonogram, which used strips of paper clipped onto a metallic frame, whose one side consisted of markings perspective to the time taken for one operation to complete. The paper strips could be pulled off to represent one entire task being completed.
The latter created the now ubiquitously used Gantt Chart, a modern-day standard for task scheduling across industries. The horizontal bar graph task scheduling method was a revelation during its time. After Gantt, the Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) analysis method tried to demystify the scheduling stages. It was a graphical representation of project flow, with the expected time taken at each stage to buff up the manufacturing process.
Then came Johnson’s rule in the latter half of the century. The rule reduced the time taken to complete a job (or group of jobs) based on the availability of two successive workstations or two different work centers. The rule greatly reduced idle-time between two machines and sequenced the tasks for maximum productivity. The rule could also be used for task management between plants at various sites.
Modern-day production scheduling software combines the best of all processes mentioned above to deliver products in a critical time. Production scheduling systems help companies adapt to ever-changing requirements in product demand, getting a variety of goods to consumers in-time.
What is Production Scheduling Software?
Used under the wider ambit of the manufacturing and planning, production scheduling software is a suite of widely used functions that enable the planning, scheduling, manufacturing, and distribution of goods produced in a plant.
Production planning software provides the right platform to track, analyze, and optimize the process of manufacturing with automated scheduling mechanisms, and quality control loops. Several key features such as inventory management, vendor management, and re-scheduling of the process to fit demand are also available.
Overall, production planning software eases out manufacturing constraints arising out of manual processes and ensures load capacity on resources and due dates are in perfect sync.
Features of Production scheduling Software
Advantages of Production Scheduling Software
Who uses Production Scheduling Software?
Good and well designed free production scheduling software is needed by many companies in every industry that deals with the manufacture and supply of produced goods. Industries such as 3D printing, Cardio and Gym equipment manufacturing, and even alcohol production require an exceptionally free and open source production planning software or manufacturing planning tool.
Within companies, the production planner is the go-to person who uses the software for resource allocation and maximizing production efficiency. All personnel on the shop floor have access to functions of the software unless limited by user access protocols. Often, the heads of the manufacturing department also use the software to extract reports on the production capabilities of the plant and further optimization.
Prodsmart
Prodsmart is a top option for manufacturing execution system software (MES). Its motto is that it connects machines, people and processes. With Prodsmart, you can transition to digital shop floor monitoring with ease. The system is flexible so it can adapt to your operations. In addition, it processes real-time data so you get an analysis straight in your dashboard.
The platform also provides planning and manufacturing resource planning (MRP) tools. These tools are based on robust data collection, which also makes managing stock easier and more effective. Prodsmart also visualizes workflows for better overview and allows for seamless employee scheduling and tracking. You can also conduct quality management from within the tool.
Pricing: Plans start at $199/month per manager for a minimum of three managers. There is a 14-day free trial. Custom enterprise solutions are available, too.
Inventory management software for the manufacturing industry
Effective inventory management is critical to the success of any business. The best inventory management software uses barcodes, point-of-sale software (or eCommerce integrations) plus warehouse tracking to optimise inventory control.
SaaS inventory management systems make it easy for businesses to reduce time to benefit. They integrate easily with other software systems and are automatically upgraded by the service provider.
Advantages: Inventory management software provides transparent, real-time inventory data. It automates inventory tracking and reordering, which reduces holding costs, increases profitability, and improves customer satisfaction by reducing stockouts. Some systems will also offer advanced features for production and operations management that improve forecasting, strategic planning, and decision-making.
Disadvantages: When using inventory management software, a periodic physical stock take is still necessary to identify loss from spoilage, waste, theft or even manipulation of the system – and reconcile the real-word situation with the digital record.
Who is inventory management software best for? Any manufacturing business seeking to optimise efficiency by reducing stock carrying costs, stockouts, and waste. Accountants and advisors also use inventory management software to monitor and optimise their clients’ businesses.
Conclusion
The right manufacturing software can help your business streamline operations, manage communication and performance, and connect employees to the right information at the right time.