Efficient machine scheduling with the innovative APS software solution “axxalon plan”

Optimize your production management with modern SaaS technology from the cloud

Machine utilization planning is an indispensable part of modern production management. It ensures that machines and systems are used optimally in order to achieve a high and fast delivery capacity, reduce production costs and increase the overall efficiency of the company. With advancing digitalization and the requirements of Industry 4.0, the use of specialized software solutions for machine scheduling is becoming increasingly affordable. Here we want to show you how such APS software (Advanced Planning Software) works and what benefits it can offer your company.

Table of contents

What is machine scheduling?

Machine allocation planning refers to the process of assigning production orders to machines and systems within a company. The aim is to make optimum use of machine availability and capacity in order to avoid production bottlenecks and minimize throughput times. Effective machine allocation planning takes into account various factors such as production volumes, delivery dates, machine availability and capacity as well as maintenance times.

The challenges of traditional machine scheduling

Traditionally, machine scheduling is often done manually or with simple tools such as spreadsheets or manual planning boards. However, this is time-consuming and error-prone. In addition, manual planning cannot provide an optimal solution given the complexity of modern production processes and the large number of variables. Typical challenges are

  • Complexity: The larger the production and the more machines in use, the more complex the planning becomes.
  • Lack of flexibility: Changes in production planning have to be entered manually, which leads to delays.
  • Limited overview: Without a central database, there is often no overview of the entire production capacity utilization and possible bottlenecks.

Advantages of modern machine scheduling software such as “axxalon plan”

The use of specialized software for machine scheduling offers numerous advantages over traditional methods:

  • Real-time overview: A modern software solution such as axxalon flow provides you with a real-time overview of the current capacity utilization of your machines and systems at all times. You can immediately see where capacities are free or where bottlenecks are imminent. You don’t want to do the planning yourself? No problem – with the axxalon plan integration, the automatic planning engine does it for you.
  • Automated planning: axxalon plan can automatically assign production orders to available machines and resources, taking into account various factors such as priorities, delivery dates, interlinking, sub-assembly lead times, delivery dates and machine capacities.
  • Flexibility and dynamism: Changes and adjustments can be made quickly and easily with new planning runs in the shortest possible time. This keeps your planning up-to-date and flexible at all times. No fear of planning chaos: A freely definable “frozen zone” allows you to determine the period in which the existing planning should not be changed again, even when recalculating.
  • Increased efficiency: By optimally utilizing your machines, you can reduce production costs and shorten throughput times. This leads to greater efficiency and competitiveness of your company with maximum delivery reliability.
  • Integration: Modern machine scheduling systems such as axxalon plan can be integrated into existing ERP systems and other production software.

FAQ

What is machine scheduling?

Machine allocation planning is the process of assigning production orders to machines and systems in order to optimize their use, avoid bottlenecks and produce orders in the shortest possible throughput time and with high delivery reliability.

Effective machine scheduling helps to reduce production costs, increase efficiency and shorten throughput times. In large and complex production systems, with interlinked work schedules and parallel events, machine scheduling is no longer trivial. Regular rescheduling is also necessary to take account of changes in the general conditions. These include material bottlenecks, staff shortages, machine breakdowns or changes in customer requirements, which must be countered by replanning. Modern machine scheduling such as “axxalon plan” is therefore always dynamic and not static. A freely definable “frozen zone”, which is no longer changed by the planning system, also ensures the necessary continuity in a short time horizon.

axxalon Flow and axxalon plan offer a real-time overview, automated planning, flexibility, increased efficiency and integration into existing systems. In addition, planning results are achieved that are impossible for humans to achieve. For example, axxalon plan can reschedule a production program of 15,000 operations to an overall optimum of the production system in the shortest possible time. In this way, axxalon plan achieves the following goals even in complex production systems:

  1. Achieving the maximum possible delivery reliability
  2. Shortening throughput times
  3. Increased efficiency of the entire production system
  4. reduces production costs at the same time.

Yes, modern machine scheduling software such as “axxalon plan” can either be integrated stand-alone into ERP systems and other production software such as MES. Or you can use axxalon flow as an MES, where axxalon plan is directly integrated as a planning engine.

Taking into account the existing capacities and the production program of orders, axxalon flow achieves the following goals with the intelligent machine scheduling software “axxalon plan”:

  1. Achieving the maximum possible delivery reliability
  2. Shortening throughput times
  3. Increased efficiency of the entire production system
  4. reduces production costs at the same time.

Conclusion

Machine scheduling is a decisive factor for the efficiency and competitiveness of modern production companies. By using specialized software solutions, the planning process can be automated, optimized and made more flexible. This leads to better machine utilization, lower production costs and faster throughput times. It is therefore advisable to invest in modern machine scheduling software if your production is complex enough to benefit from the numerous advantages of this technology. With large and complex production systems, machine scheduling becomes increasingly challenging and humans cannot solve the mathematical scheduling problem without help. In addition, regular re-planning is required to take account of changes in general conditions such as material bottlenecks, staff shortages, machine breakdowns or changes in customer requirements. Modern machine scheduling such as “axxalon plan” is therefore always dynamic and not static. Our MES solution axxalon flow significantly supports intelligent machine scheduling with “axxalon plan” and helps you to optimize your delivery reliability, throughput time, capacity planning and efficiency in an automated and highly dynamic way. Feel free to contact us, we will be happy to help you!

Your axxalon team