Introduction to Factory Scheduling
SYSPRO Factory Scheduling is a range of scheduling products based on the internationally recognized Preactor scheduling tool. SYSPRO has developed these products to utilize the strengths of the Preactor range of tools, but configured it in a way that will work elegantly and logically with the core SYSPRO modules (WIP, BOM etc). These products are sold and supported directly by SYSPRO.
The range of products consists of three distinctly different products. These are:
- The Graphical Planning Board
- The Finite Scheduler
- The Advanced Scheduler
The products increase in functional richness, complexity and cost as you move up in the range. The Graphical Planning Board is a fairly basic finite scheduling tool which presents your schedule graphically, but will normally require quite a bit of manual intervention by the scheduler. The Advanced Scheduler on the other side of the scale is a very sophisticated scheduling system, employing advanced scheduling algorithms and considering all constraints such as tooling, material requirements etc. The Advanced Scheduler is the only tool in the range which can be considered a true APS (advanced planning and scheduling) tool. The other two products will be classified as finite scheduling tools, i.e. only the scheduling portion of APS.
These tools are all pure scheduling tools. Using these tools does not imply that you will not require other high level planning processes and tools (e.g. MPS/MRP, Rough cut capacity planning etc) to be in place. The scheduling tool will work in conjunction with these tools to form a complete end-to-end planning and scheduling cycle.