Find the best Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) software

As manufacturing operations grow, complex demands often outpace standard manufacturing resource planning (MRP) tools. Production managers can address these growing pains using advanced planning and scheduling (APS) software. These best-of-breed platforms improve production efficiency using mathematical modeling based on more variables than basic MRP software.

Choosing a software solution can feel daunting when there are so many similar MRPs, APSs, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) options to choose from. This guide will explain what makes APSs unique and how to select the right solution for your business.

Here's what we'll cover:

• What is advanced planning and scheduling software?

• Common features of advanced planning and scheduling software

• What type of buyer are you?

• Benefits

• Key considerations for purchasing advanced planning and scheduling software

• Market trends to understand

What is advanced planning and scheduling software?

APS software collects complex production data and uses mathematical modeling to suggest production strategies that improve efficiency and profitability. These systems give production managers predictions and data visualizations to inform their decisions. APS software offers enough flexibility to manage multiple production streams in a single platform.

Common features of advanced planning and scheduling software

While advanced planning and scheduling tools often target different markets or user niches, most platforms offer some version of the following features:

What type of buyer are you?

Finding the right production software solution begins with knowing what kind of buyer you are. Here's a breakdown of APS buyers versus MRP and ERP buyers so you can figure out which group you're a part of, and the type of software you need:

Manufacturing resource planning software buyers: MRP buyers manage production using scheduling models that compare each run against constant total capacity, rather than the variable available capacity remaining after considering other tasks on the same equipment. MRPs use simple formulas to predict completion times. Order fulfillment is a linear process that does not incorporate lead time into planning. MRP buyers treat all orders as equal without prioritizing profitability. MRP software tends to be a good fit for manufacturers that perform large production runs with little product variability.

Advanced planning and scheduling software buyers: APS buyers manage production based on actual available capacity, which can change at any time. APSs use complex mathematical models to simulate alternative production scenarios, which helps managers choose the best schedule. APSs also factor in order lead time into fulfillment processes. APS buyers prioritize the most profitable jobs and production scenarios. APS software tends to be a good fit for manufacturers that make or assemble products to order, manage many parts, have unusually complicated tasks, or schedule product lines that compete for resources.>

Enterprise resource planning software buyers: ERP buyers are able to take advantage of all that APSs have to offer, in addition to a few key features for large organizations. ERPs offer seamless data integration to merge many functions into a single platform. ERPs have more tools for business functions such as estimation, work-in-progress management, and accounting. ERP buyers can use the software's estimates to export project management budgets with invoice matching and cost allocation.

Benefits

Advanced planning and scheduling software improves production in several ways:

Prioritize equipment use. APS software lets you schedule production and assembly events around equipment that is more expensive to operate. This strategy ensures that expensive equipment is only used when needed. Users can also prioritize equipment that is cheaper to operate, which saves money. Some systems can even suggest machinery use schedules based on repair cycles and consumables to avoid equipment downtime.

Increase profitability. Comparing production scenarios based on profitability in APS software allows you to focus on production of your most valuable products. Choosing the most profitable production schedule avoids wasteful opportunity costs that come from producing products with narrower margins at the expense of products with better margins.

Identify production bottlenecks. Get a big-picture perspective of your entire production environment to predict possible delays and schedule operations to avoid them.

Key considerations for purchasing advanced planning and scheduling software

APS software allows managers to change or ignore the system's recommendations. However, these modifications often introduce unexpected inefficiencies. Persistent disagreements with APS recommendations may suggest that the system was configured with false assumptions or that your operations manager should receive additional APS software training.

Market trends to understand

Understanding the following trends can help you select advanced planning and scheduling software that will grow with your organization:

• More and more APSs directly integrate with production floor equipment. Some APS solutions offer integrations that collect real-time data from your equipment. This data can refine production predictions and recommendations, even in the middle of a production run. These integrations also save time and prevent errors by collecting data automatically.

• Visualizations are becoming more robust. Most APS platforms can produce Gantt charts to display production timelines and illustrate steps that must be completed before other steps can begin (such as assembly). In addition, some platforms now explain production scenarios using a graphical display. This makes it easier for managers to interpret system recommendations at a glance.