Demand, Production planning and scheduling assessment.

Based on interviews with users and team leaders, we establish a picture of the current processes and the skills of the team members.
– Team’s knowledge about planning. 
– Team’s knowledge of the capacities an limitations of the existing tool. 
– Perception of the limits of current processes and vision on potential enhancements. 
Data quality assessment and theoretical reachable service levels with the assessed data quality.

Support in redesigning organizations adapted to an APS implementation.

An APS implementation aims to reorganize the planning activities. A good APS implementation gives more visibility and allows a more efficient use of the inventory.  Very often, roles and responsibilities must be redesigned, and key indicators reviewed.

Target design support

Validation of the targets to reach when implementing an APS. 
Writing the requirement specifications with wording that is understandable for the APS software provider. 
Determining requirements for data preparation and cleaning prior to an APS implementation.
Support in including data quality with the Chief Data Officer.

APS Editor selection workshops and process.

Our excellent knowledge of the APS market will help our customers to preselect a portfolio of APS that meets their requirements. Our experience and expertise will help you to sort the less useful technologies from the ones that really make the difference. It is important to acquire the software that fits with your organization; there is no need to buy a Formula 1 if your roads aren’t made for it!

Project management.

Project Management should be adapted to the level of complexity on the implementation of an APS project.  We suggest standard roles and milestones.

Test-plan design.

Once the software provider has been selected and the project has started, it is vital to define a proper test-plan in order to prevent the project stalling when first deliverables are handed to the customer. If this happens, misunderstanding starts to arise – which is completely avoidable with a well prepared test-plan, and the benefits will be a clear vision on the progress of the deliveries and the quality of the solution.

Validating the delivered functions

Execution of the test-plan and support of the Key users when they first start using the system.
Detailed results of the test with proper wording to describe the problems found, and with accurate information and reporting, all of which can be shared with the software provider.

Management of Change

Taking the users along the road to an efficient use of the APS.
Working by exception instead of reviewing every SKU.
Learning how to accept a mathematical solver solution without understanding the details of the technical algorithm.

Implementation projects end are sometimes short in time and budget , that means that users training might have been neglected.

Review of current use of the APS

At least six months after the implementation of the APS, users are used to the user interface and are able to express some improvements on the solution to speed up their day to day experience. At this point we teach them how to make the most of their tool.  Key indicators and parameters should also be reviewed at this time: target stocks, product classes, inventory policies, to name but a few.

Continuous improvement

Like any value adding process, the demand, production planning and scheduling organizations must be regularly improved and challenged. We drive continuous improvement workshops inspired by lean manufacturing techniques (Kaizen) and we help our customers to determine what improvements should be made.  We assist them in writing the specifications, and following up on the delivery and the implementation of these.