AX Solution

Process Optimization

Due dates, equipment load and stock are read together, for a production plan that can run.

OVERVIEW

From production plans that keep changing to schedules the floor can run

Changed orders colliding with equipment load

  1. 01One planning basisOrders, due dates, equipment capacity and stock are brought onto one basis.
  2. 02Schedule optionsJob sequences and equipment assignments are compared within the constraints.
  3. 03Run and replanThe approved plan goes to MES, and a delay sends it back for replanning.

WHY OPTIMIZATION

Recalculated on change, not re-planned by hand

  1. 01

    Reads orders and due dates, equipment capacity, staffing and shifts, stock, routing and changeover times together, on a single basis.

  2. 02

    Spots bottlenecks and delivery risks while the plan is still being made, and proposes feasible alternative plans to compare.

  3. 03

    Once a planner confirms the plan, it becomes MES work orders, and any gap against actual output feeds back into the next plan.

  • Planning basis

    AI process optimizationDue dates, capacity and stock combined

    Manual / Excel planning
    Planner experience
    Rule-based scheduling
    Fixed priority rules

  • Responding to change

    AI process optimizationOptions recalculated and compared

    Manual / Excel planning
    Re-plan by hand
    Rule-based scheduling
    Rules re-applied

  • Bottleneck detection

    AI process optimizationPredicted during planning

    Manual / Excel planning
    After the fact
    Rule-based scheduling
    Limited to some processes

  • Execution

    AI process optimizationMES work orders, with actuals fed back

    Manual / Excel planning
    Manual instructions
    Rule-based scheduling
    Handed over separately

KEY FEATURES

Four capabilities for production planning

From automatic scheduling to plan simulation, bottleneck analysis and due-date risk monitoring.

Planning Capability

01 / 04

01

Constraint-based scheduling

Order, equipment, material and shift constraints are applied to build each machine's schedule automatically, shown as a Gantt chart. Planners adjust the sequence on screen, and confirmed schedules are versioned and released to the floor.

Management Scope

  • Gantt chart
  • Automatic scheduling
  • Machine assignment
  • Manual resequencing
  • Schedule versions
  • Release to floor

Four capabilities joined in one production-planning flow.

WORKFLOW

Each capability, as the work actually runs

For each capability, the order it runs in and the check it passes before moving on.

Orders and real capacity on one basis

  1. 01

    Demand

    item · quantity · due date

  2. 02

    Resources

    equipment · shifts · people

  3. 03

    Constraints

    routing · material · changeover

  4. 04

    Plan basis

    available time · priority

Recorded alongside

01

Orders · process routing

02

Capacity · operating calendar

03

Material · changeover time

Operating check

Are the material and equipment conditions for the job met?

YES

Feasible jobs → plan candidates

NO

Short resources → check procurement · schedule

An example workflow · the detailed links and criteria are set to suit your floor.

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

What it connects, and the work it leads to

From the data that goes in to the results on the floor.

01 / INPUT

01Orders · due datespriority · item · quantity
02Production resourcesequipment capacity · people · shifts
03Floor constraintsstock · routing · changeover time

CONNECTED OPERATIONS

AI Process Optimization

Due-date and resource constraints applied
Bottleneck and delay risks explored
A runnable plan recommended

03 / OUTPUT

✓Production scheduleequipment · time · job assignment
✓Options compareddue date · load · changeover
✓Executionapproved plan → MES work order
Linked by common identifiers, master data and historyResults checked → fed into the next run
Who uses itProduction plannersProcess managersDelivery managers

METHOD

How it is built

Orders, resources and floor constraints go in, the plan is calculated, and the approved schedule goes back out to the floor.

Collection01 →

Data Ingestion

ERP link

Orders · due dates · master data

MES link

Progress · output · stoppages

PLC / equipment

Run state · changeover history

Orders · due datesEquipment capacityStock · materialsChangeover time
Constraint modelling

Routing · eligible machines · shift calendars

Time syncNTP

Aligns plan and actual times

Target System

Plan DBSchedules by version
Actuals historyStart · end · delay reasons
Master dataRouting · capacity · changeover
Modelling & analysis02 →

AI/ML Modeling

Planning & optimisation

Schedule optimisation

Constraint-based search

Due-date risk

From progress and load

Bottleneck detection

Load and queue analysis

Option comparison

Due date · load · changeover loss

Feedback & refinement

Plan vs. actual
Rejection reasons
Capacity & changeover tuning
Service03

Production schedule

Schedule by machineMachine · time · job
Option comparisonWhy it was recommended

System integration

MES
ERP
APS

Delay risk alerts

Orders at risk flagged at once / replanning options offered

Built for plants with frequent order changes and tight equipment limits

  • Automotive parts production line

    Automotive parts

  • Metal processed parts

    Metal processing

  • Machinery and equipment manufacturing site

    Machinery & equipment

  • Injection-molded plastic and rubber parts

    Plastics & rubber

  • Close-up of a printed circuit board with a semiconductor chip mounted on it

    Semiconductors & electronics

  • Food manufacturing process

    Food

Reads due dates and equipment load together, and recommends a plan that can run.

  • Orders and due dates
  • Equipment capacity and calendar
  • Materials and stock
  • Routing and changeover time
  • MES actuals and stop history
AI Process Optimization
  1. Due-date and resource constraints
  2. Bottleneck and delay risk search
  3. Schedule option recommendation
  • On-time delivery
  • Plan execution rate
  • Production lead time
  • Replanning time

EFFECT

What changes from planning to execution

  • 01

    Faster planning

    Less time spent gathering order, stock and equipment data separately; plan options are compared on one basis.

    Planning timeConsistent master data
  • 02

    Better due-date response

    Due dates and equipment load are read together, so orders at risk of delay surface first.

    On-time deliveryOrders at risk
  • 03

    Balanced equipment load

    Jobs are spread with the load building up on each machine and its changeover time in mind.

    Equipment loadChangeover time
  • 04

    Quick replanning

    When a rush order or a stoppage comes in, its impact is checked and an alternative plan is offered.

    Replanning timeChange history

CONNECT THE NEXT

Connected solutions

The solutions that take this one's data and results and carry them on.

See all solutions →

Process Optimization

Data · work · execution linked

START WITH YOUR FACTORY

Start with your factory's own challenges

Check where you stand with the AX readiness check first, then carry on to a consultation.

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