Improving Operational Efficiency: Part 2

Scheduling by Formula

A common challenge for process manufacturers is production scheduling. If only the production schedule could group products that use the same formula, manufacturers would gain efficiencies by creating longer runs.

In batch manufacturing multiple finished products can be made from the same formula. A scheduler may make cookies that go in a 50 cookie tin verses a box of 100 cookies.  Both products share the same formula but each have different packaging. The scheduler may have a requirement for tins this week and drums the following week.

What’s a scheduler to do?

When a scheduler has visibility into finished good demand and can view the demand by common formula the scheduler is able to create larger batches by combining demand for multiple container sizes. Creating a larger batch size by scheduling production by formula can increase operational efficiency. Scheduling by formula allows the production team to minimize clean ups and downtime. And machine downtime equals lower operational productivity.

See the Vicinity planning workbench in action.

What Vicinity brings to the table is the ability to see demand out into the future with forecasting and planning tools. Vicinity software gives users the ability to group the production schedule by formula allowing the scheduler the ability to view the production schedule over time so that like items may be grouped together. Many items can be produced from the same batch ticket or production run, if they share the same formula. The result is improved production efficiency and profits.