World's Leading Planning & Scheduling Platform

PlanetTogether is the rapid-to-implement and easy-to-use visual planning and scheduling solution for manufacturers. PlanetTogether resolves production constraints and creates KPI-driven schedules automatically. Integration with AVEVA Manufacturing Execution System allows for feasible production plans based on actual plant capacity and material availability and for an optimized production schedule that balances business KPI’s with operational constraints.

Key Benefits of APS in Manufacturing

Why implement an APS? See how it can benefit your company!

Minimize
Downtime Related
to Changeovers

With efficient sequencing, downtime related to changeovers can be reduced to minimum. 

Improve Order
Completion Time
and On-Time Delivery

Realistic production plans enhance the order execution process by reducing completion time and improving timeliness. 

Gain Control
Over Company
Results

Optimization of schedules according to essential KPIs facilitates more effective control over financial results. 

Improve
Profit Margins
and Cash Flow

Reducing inventory improves throughput rates and reduces operating expenses, leading to better profit margins and streamlined financial flow.  

Save Time
and Streamline
Internal Processes

Rapid and efficient planning saves time and streamlines production processes.  

Enhance Flexibility
and Response
Time

Clear and transparent plans updated in real-time enable planners to react swiftly and flexibly. 

Reduce Inventory
and Work
in Progress

By strictly controlling purchases and synchronizing work with the available production capacity, you can avoid excess inventory and inefficiency. 

How It Works

A comprehensive set of functionalities for effective planning and scheduling of production and supporting processes, including inventory optimization

Automated
Data Download

All data necessary for an APS can be imported from various sources. This applies both to initial scheduling and verification of its implementation. 

One-Click
Planning

Planning with an APS is extremely easy. By automating the process, you can generate professional, detailed schedules tailored to the needs of your plant within seconds.  

Constraint-Free
Planning

With APS-generated plans, you don’t have to worry about any constraints. The system considers all aspects, including material availability, special sequencing principles, and limited resources.

Customizable Business Rules and KPI Estimations

Freely adjust planning business rules in an APS to achieve optimal timeliness, profitability, and efficiency. Optimization results can be evaluated with estimated KPIs before schedule execution. 

Up-to-Date Schedules for Your Teams

Real-time access to schedules provides employees with updated information on inventory, production events, demand changes, and more. 

Quick Customer
Response

Thanks to clear, transparent schedules that encompass various aspects and constraints across the plant chain in real-time, you can promptly respond to your customers, providing precise order shipment dates or estimated execution dates for potential orders. 

What-if
Analysis

APS enables its users to analyze various options and create alternative scenarios for comparison. This helps in better understanding how different factors impact performance or how proposed changes influence plans, schedules, and related KPIs. 

Multi-Plant
Synchronization

You can seamlessly create plans and schedules synchronized across several manufacturing plants in different locations, streamlining everyday operations and integrating them to function as a cohesive entity. 

Schedule a free presentation
of the PlanetTogether APS system.

Discover how PlanetTogether creates production plans and schedules, ensures the availability of essential raw materials, components, and semi-finished products, and optimizes production based on key criteria — such as minimizing changeovers.
SCHEDULE A FREE PRESENTATION

Superplant performance for your operations

SuperPlant is a cohesive, nimble and value-creating system of plants optimized by operations planning and scheduling solutions. Unlike any other solution in the market, PlanetTogether’s software and thoughtware are designed to maximize its clients’ KPIs in complex, multi-plant production environments… leading to SuperPlant performance.

SuperPlants bring any number of users and manufacturing locations together to:

  • Visualize solutions to manage capacity and material bottlenecks
  • Synchronize the flow, protected against uncertainty and variability
  • Optimize alternatives to deliver on-time with high profit margins

APS: Tailored Solutions for Every Industry

Discover which sectors will thrive with APS

Food, FMCG, Pharma

Manufacturing

Discrete

Integrate Systems, Enjoy Benefits

While an APS System from PlanetTogether can function independently, integrating it with other manufacturing support systems such as Manufacturing Execution System (MES) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) can yield significant benefits.

ERP connector APS Integration

Integrating APS and ERP systems offers numerous advantages, particularly in supply chain and production process management. An APS utilizes ERP data, such as information on resources, products, customer orders, and material availability, to create – with all the capabilities of APS systems – more precise and realistic production and delivery schedules than an ERP alone could generate. This integration helps avoid issues like excess inventory and delivery delays. Moreover, it promotes better collaboration among various departments like production, warehouse, sales, and finances, by providing everyone with access to the same information and fostering alignment towards common goals. 

Most frequently synchronized data

plants and warehouses production resources sales orders production orders purchase orders inventory Bills of Materials (BOM) and recipes Bills of Resources (BOR) material records and attributes

Optionally synchronized data

changeover parameters forecasting security status and batch principles alternative BOR transfer orders human resources

APS connector MES Integration

The primary goal of an MES is to monitor and control everything happening in production in real-time. Various data collected by the system, including machine states, employee availability, quality of produced items, and material utilization, can be utilized by an APS to generate even better schedules. Conversely, plans generated by the APS can be communicated to the MES, facilitating their execution. 

Most frequently synchronized data

technology changes and test series Material Requirements Planning (MRP) data labor changeover times and teardown times maintenance plans power and energy consumption other data in the delivery chain

Optionally synchronized data

manufacturing data BOM and recipes resource availability work center capacities inventory production schedule quality control plans real production progress

Boost Your Manufacturing Efficiency:
Discover MES Now!

Are you ready to enhance your manufacturing efficiency? Explore the Manufacturing Execution System and unlock new possibilities to optimize production processes. Gain full control over production and optimize resource utilization with the MES.
DISCOVER MES SOLUTIONS

How PlanetTogether Benefits Your Team

System APS od Planet Together może pracować samodzielnie, ale pozwala osiągnąć jeszcze więcej dzięki integracji z innymi systemami wspierającymi produkcję, takimi jak system MES (Manufacturing Execution System) czy ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning).

Director of Operations

Create a culture of accountability and fast delivery while keeping costs under control.

  • Achieve reliable, on-time delivery while driving down lead-times
  • Standardize planning and capture tribal knowledge to reduce risk
  • Improve capacity visibility and utilization – simply adjust “optimize rules” to drive business objectives

Finance

The production schedule is at the heart of predictable cash flow, customer retention, and productivity.

  • Forecast monthly shipments and related cash flows to hit your numbers
  • Reduce labor, inventory, and supply chain costs by using resources more efficiently

Production Planner / Scheduler

Keeping up with schedule changes can be so much easier when you have the right tool.

  • Visual, auto-adjusting drag-and-drop with impact analysis makes rescheduling easy and clear
  • Automate 90% of the tedious number-crunching with integration and scheduling rules

Supply Chain Planner

Extend capacity planning and visibility throughout your supply chain for improved service and lower costs.

  • Create visibility into your contract manufacturers’ plants to protect against delayed shipments
  • Balance demand across your facilities for minimal supply chain costs
  • Share schedule information with suppliers and customers for improved supply chain performance

Sales & Customer Service

Know when your customer orders are really going to ship and grow your sales with faster, more reliable delivery.

  • Stay informed with real-time visibility of customer ship dates and order status
  • Get realistic delivery estimates for new orders in seconds using the Capable-To-Promise function

IT Manager

Plug-in PlanetTogether to easily create production plans and realistic schedules from your existing ERP infrastructure.

  • Works smoothly with your ERP
  • Available on-premise or in the Cloud
  • Get started easily with a Proof-of-Concept project to see the integrated system in action

Find Answers to Your
Most Pressing Questions

Would you like to know more? See what our customers ask about and resolve any doubts.
CLICK HERE

Ask Our Expert

Discover how we blend agile and cascade methodologies to achieve great flexibility while ensuring high quality, on-time delivery, and budget compliance.
Partner | Business Development

“Our main objective is to support businesses in efficient planning of resource utilization with the assistance of APS class systems. Not only our experience demonstrates that APS systems offer more precise, flexible, and optimal production planning and scheduling, considering complex correlations. With advanced algorithms and visualization tools, APS systems facilitate rapid response to changes, scenario generation, optimization of resource utilization based on chosen criteria, and schedule evaluation with KPIs before execution.”

Success Stories

Explore how our customers benefited from APS implementation.
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Graphic Packaging International

Dean Dietrich,
VP Sales Operations Support

“Business Today faced the challenge of meeting increasing demands for shorter lead times and better profitability while maintaining top-line growth. To address these challenges, we turned to PlanetTogether, a tool that provided objective information to guide decision-making and freed up time and energy within the organization. PlanetTogether helped to reduce infighting between sales and operations, as well as frustration from the back-office support team.” 

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Knapheide

Dick Marks,
Materials Manager

“Our scheduling system was limiting our production capabilities. (…) Scheduling now takes about 15 minutes. PlanetTogether paid for itself in six months!” 

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Illes

Ed Czysz,
Production Scheduling Manager

PlanetTogether’s software is by far the best and most encompassing planning software package offered today. Before it took hours to schedule our production because scheduling was based on manual reports. Now it only takes seconds!”

Transforming Industry Together

FAQ

See our customers’ frequently asked questions and learn more about APS systems.
1.

What is an APS System?

Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) is a state-of-the-art IT system designed for planning and scheduling. It is used across various areas such as manufacturing, logistics, supply chain management, and services. The primary aim of APS is to streamline and optimize planning and scheduling processes. 

2.

How does an APS work?

An APS collects, analyzes, and processes manufacturing data. Then, based on this data, it enables us to generate optimal plans and schedules regarding various factors and limitations. 

3.

What are the key features of APS systems?

An APS facilitates optimal production planning and scheduling, considering resource availability, order completion deadlines, and other crucial factors. It empowers manufacturers to create schedules based on priorities. Moreover, it provides support in supply chain management, optimization of assets such as machines, people, and materials, and solving logistic issues. 

4.

What are the benefits of implementing an APS?

Implementing an APS yields significant benefits, including increased production efficiency, improved customer service, and enhanced resource management. 

5.

When to consider implementing an APS?

An APS provides invaluable support to managers and planners responsible for advanced production scheduling and optimizing order handling scenarios. APS implementation should be considered for companies with complex processes dependent on numerous variables, high production volumes, diverse product lines, operating in dynamic environments, or grappling with frequent scheduling errors. 

6.

Does an APS reduce order completion time?

Through efficient APS algorithms, optimal schedules are generated, minimizing downtimes and delays, facilitating rapid response to changes, effective resource management, and process automation. All these features make it possible to plan orders with the shortest possible completion time. 

7.

Can an APS solve excess inventory issues?

Through integration with systems like ERP, the APS constantly analyzes data on material consumption, delivery times, inventory levels, and raw material demand. In this way, APS systems can provide valuable assistance in inventory optimization, while minimizing excess inventory risks. 

8.

Does an APS contribute to reducing manufacturing costs?

An APS facilitates efficient production planning by minimizing unnecessary downtimes, optimizing resource utilization, improving inventory management, and more. As a result, its implementation can significantly contribute to cost reduction. 

9.

Can an APS help eliminate delays in manufacturing orders?

When generating schedules, APS systems analyze a number of factors such as inventory and order management, and thanks to specialized algorithms, they prioritize the execution of tasks. This allows the user not only to estimate order completion time but also significantly reduce delays. 

10.

How is the course of a production process presented?

The production process is most commonly visualized graphically, in tabular format, or as a form. The production process is visualized as a series of interconnected operations which can be viewed in different configurations, each with its own properties and limitations. 

11.

How does an APS differ from other systems for production planning?

APS systems stand out for their sophistication and ability to address more complex factors. Plans generated by APS systems not only outline subsequent steps but also help optimize production processes. 

12.

Is an APS user-friendly?

Assessing user-friendliness of an APS is subjective – much depends on the user’s experience and process complexity. APS by PlanetTogether offers intuitive interfaces and transparent access to all necessary data. Personnel training is a crucial element of the system’s implementation, serving to familiarize the employees with all its functionalities in practice. 

13.

What are the technical requirements for APS implementation?

While the technical requirements for APS implementation may vary depending on a specific solution and the company’s nature, they generally encompass several key areas such as hardware infrastructure (servers with the proper power, storage space, proper amount of RAM), compatible software (the equipment needs to be compliant with the operating system supported by APS; for integration with other systems, it might be necessary to use ESB as middleware), high-speed internet connection, and network security measures. 

14.

What is the cost of implementing an APS?

APS implementation costs may range from several to several hundred thousand zlotys. The final price comprises numerous factors like functional scope, configuration to the specific needs of an enterprise, personnel training, and integration with pre-existing systems. These costs, depending on the industry, the size and the general condition of a company, are recouped within a few months or years. For a precise cost calculation, it is best to consult APS implementation specialists. 

15.

What are the best practices of APS implementation?

APS implementation requires careful consideration and planning. Firstly, it is crucial to identify what specific needs of a company will have to be answered. Management support is equally important, along with forming a dedicated team focused on the work related to the APS implementation. Leveraging the expertise of professionals experienced in such implementations can provide great assistance to your company during every step of the process. 

16.

Can ImFactory’s APS system be integrated with other systems?

ImFactory’s APS system by PlanetTogether can be integrated with various enterprise management systems like ERP or MES. This integration ensures data coherence and smooth information flow across different areas of an organization. 

17.

Do AI-based APS systems offer advantages over non-AI APS?

Currently, there are few planning and scheduling solutions fully leveraging AI. However, some APS systems use heuristic methods and can generate alternative scenarios, which are then compared to determine the optimal solution. This automated process is simpler and more efficient than manual work. 

18.

Is it worth investing in an APS if we already use an ERP?

While ERP systems are excellent for enterprise management and can also provide assistance in planning some of the processes, their features are not as advanced as in the case of APS. More complex and dynamic manufacturing processes require equally advanced solutions. The APS proves more efficient and effective in scheduling in such environments. 

19.

Why replace spreadsheets with an APS system?

Spreadsheets, along with other similar tools for planning and scheduling of manufacturing processes, are useful for visualizing schedules but lack easy optimization capabilities. Moreover, manual data handling in spreadsheets is extremely time-consuming and error-prone. For this reason, planning models created in spreadsheets are usually simplified (ignoring some data and dependencies) and they fail to reflect reality right from the start. An APS eliminates human error and significantly reduces planning time. It provides precise and accurate planning models with multiple optimization rules, facilitating easy edits and rapid generation of various schedule versions. 

20.

Will an APS replace planners’ jobs?

APS systems are designed to support planners and make their jobs easier, not replace them. Instead of wasting time and energy on tedious scheduling tasks, planners can generate schedules in a few seconds. Therefore, their expertise can be utilized in optimizing schedules by comparing multiple versions generated with different assumptions and optimization rules. It’s crucial to remember that an APS system is a tool, and its effectiveness depends on human input. If necessary, planners can reassign resources, sequences and priorities, to achieve a perfect balance between automation and expert control. 

 

21.

What are the benefits of planner workshops?

Planner workshops are meetings that aim to assist companies in assessing APS system suitability for their operations. Through commonly agreed assumptions, an APS model is prepared, enabling users to verify chosen functionalities. 

 

22.

What connects AVEVA with PlanetTogether?

AVEVA has established a strategic partnership with PlanetTogether, a provider of Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) platform, to assist clients with even more options on the path to digital transformation. This partnership enriches AVEVA’s portfolio with new capabilities in visual planning, multi-plant production planning, and production schedule optimization. 

23.

Which industries or types of companies will benefit from an APS?

APS systems aid various industries and can be implemented in small, medium, and large businesses. Flexible and versatile, they support the management of different resources such as machines, raw materials, inventory, and personnel. Their greatest impact is seen in environments with large numbers of complex operations. 

24.

Will an APS system handle variable demand and sudden changes in production schedules?

APS systems excel in dynamic environments with multiple variables. Their advanced algorithms ensure rapid response to demand fluctuations and other unpredictable events, generating subsequent scenarios based on updated guidelines. 

25.

Does an APS support cooperation and communication between departments?

APS systems enable users to develop comprehensive plans and schedules taking account of different departments and their tasks. This facilitates process optimization, more efficient resource utilization, and faster execution of multiple tasks. With plans accounting for multiple variables and easily verifiable alternative scenarios, we can foresee many events in advance and set realistic deadlines, which contributes to better communication and cooperation. 

26.

What are the analytic and reporting capabilities of an APS system?

An APS system offers tools for conducting analyses and generating reports on various manufacturing operations, such as the performance of individual processes, the efficiency of resource utilization, execution time, available resources, and many others. This allows production process monitoring, better identification of areas for improvement, and informed decision-making. 

27.

Is an APS scalable to adapt to our company's growth?

When selecting an APS solution, it is worth considering its development capabilities. Most options on the market are scalable, capable of expanding alongside the company both in terms of data volume and manufacturing complexity. 

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