At the time PC-Topp receives an order, it automatically puts each of that order's operations onto a suitable day, taking into account its processing time under normal conditions. But after that, in fine planning, the planner has full control over every detail: He has the final decision over the best possible sequence, without any bothersome automatic re-scheduling getting in the way.
Fine Planning
In a simple and natural process, like on a planning board, the orders for each machine are put into the final production sequence. All relevant information is readily available on-screen, and the system calculates the starting and ending times on all operations effortlessly, making sure that the order is off the preceding machine in time for production to start.
Thus, a detailed and precise short term schedule is created for the next few hours, followed by a more and more preliminary schedule for the next three to five days. New orders, or orders for the more distant future, are automatically pre-scheduled onto suitable production dates.
Permanent Updates
As production progresses, these schedules are constantly updated: Orders that are done appear along with their actual times and quantities, and the starting times of the subsequent jobs are adapted automatically.
Production data is best collected by PC-Topp's Machine Terminals or on a central Supervisor Terminal on the shop floor. But it is also possible to work with just occasional manual input of the orders that have been produced, without entering all the details.
Problems Recognized Early
While downtime or other events can render any elaborate planning useless, PC-Topp makes it easy to contain the damage and to come up with alternatives instantly.
PC-Topp's precise detail planning uncovers bottlenecks much earlier than anything possible with manual scheduling. The system then helps to eliminate them – early on, thus providing sufficient time to react. Integrating new orders into the existing schedule is easy, and when yet another rush order must be squeezed in, then all consequences are clearly shown, allowing planners to reduce the damage.
Shipping Scheduling
Even Shipping can benefit from the planning information available in PC-Topp, even start the planning process. The PC-Topp Shipping Terminal shows all orders that are ready to ship, plus those that will become ready shortly according to schedule. Shipping can compile those orders on truck loading lists, setting target times for Planning.
But it is also possible to add a future order, one that hasn't been scheduled yet for production, to a loading list. This starts the Pull Planning process at the "right" end: In the shipping department.
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