Advanced production planning and scheduling (APS) is an a must part of manufacturing if efficiencies are to be enhanced where there are competing priorities on resources. The process considers raw materials, equipment availableness and production capacity and allocates them in the best way to reach consumer requirements. There are several different tools that may be used to implement APS to deliver excellent scheduling results—but what is different about ‘native’ scheduling and why should you be paying attention to it?
 
What Is ‘Native Scheduling’?
 
Native and non-native scheduling are separate because of where the application resides. Native scheduling exists within the production execution systems (MES), whereas non-native arranging works using a tool that runs alongside the MES. Non-native scheduling solutions can come in many different forms. They may be provided by specialist companies in the area of scheduling, be a module within the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system or third-party scheduling module integrated into the MES, or as a bolt-on provided by the MES company. While all of these can and frequently do offer great scheduling, they do not totally and wholly work within the MES, fully sharing master data with integrating and synchronization at the deepest level. Indeed, native scheduling within the MES is not the usual or customary providing and is it is in fact quite rare to find a true native scheduling option within a system.
 
Why Do You Need Native Scheduling?
 
So why should you concern whether a system offers traditional APS or native scheduling? The response lays in efficiency. While historically, the efficiency of a separate APS module has sufficed, the change to Industry 4.0 manufacturing models with dynamic rather than linear process flows, means that the difference in efficiency is reducing the full understanding of benefits of a smart shop floor. This is because a organizing application which uses its own database requires to integrate with the MES for data including calendars, maintenance schedules, information on equipment status and setup matrices and synchronize this information with materials and perform in advances (WIP). This all demands modification of data into an ideal form, convert to the APS application and then transformation and transfer back again to the MES for execution. The work and time required means the MES and APS cannot react rapidly to dynamic changes on the shop floor. The systems can get out of step and schedules cannot always be implemented as planned, disrupting the flow and productivity of the business.
 
Alternatively, the shared master data of an MES with native scheduling implies the scheduling runs flawlessly. Latest data is always ready as manufacturing advances and new schedules are published better business outcomes. the need for XML or file transfer activity.  The streamlined native system further reduces implementation time, better optimizes operations and helps with maintenance exercises to minimize total cost of ownership and overall risk to production. In a practical and intelligent way, the system will respond more quickly than traditional APS to changes in business priorities, demand and unexpected disrupt to normal operation, improving on-time deliveries and business margins. As a native part of the MES, schedules will be optimized for total plant performance as well as being validated and enforced with complete visibility to the operator for total peace of mind.
 
Cleaner data, lower risk and happier IT
 
From an IT point of view, natively integrated scheduling means there are no difficulties, risks or slows down from system integrating activities. One data set removes the need for any duplication and any chance for discrepancies between systems. As there is also no need for further user interfaces, the system requires reduced stages of assist and presents a lower cybersecurity risk. When any changes, upgrades or servicing to the system is required, these are immediately synchronized without the need for new modification, integration testing, and separate deployment, reducing the ongoing maintenance cost of the system.
 
Bag the lot: Faster, better and cheaper
 
Obviously, the benefits of native scheduling: increased efficiency, reduced risk, easier maintenance, and improvised operations; reflect back into clear general business rewards. Having a single system with a single license equates to reduced setup costs, less training overhead, and better optimized maintenance using a lot fewer assets. This significantly lowers the total cost of ownership compared with an MES with non-native scheduling.
 
Advantages are also not restricted to operations and IT. Supply chain, logistics, support services, finance, and sales are all most likely to profit from the more robust and responsive scheduling. The added agility and responsiveness native scheduling adds to a business means customers are more likely to get what they choose, when they want it. Fewer costly delays, improved on-time delivering and better optimization of operations all boost brand name, enhance customer loyalty, and add to the in a nutshell of the business.
 
Preparing for the Future
 
There has been much talk around Industry 4.0 and the changes that are happening in production businesses, particularly for the production of more fancy and elaborate product lines. Benefits of changing to a smart factory with distributed intelligence and powerful steps throughout the shop floor include greatly increased efficiency; economic production of low-volume, high-mix batches, and faster response to changing customer demands. Finally, the industrial revolution we are seeing today is about business agility. Without native preparation, the full importance offered through Industry 4.0 cannot be realized. With native scheduling, companies will enrich their agility and better respond to customer needs without any problems from complex middleware system integrating. They will be prepared for the unexpected and lessen the risk of disruptions – whether they be from competitors, new product introductions or supply and demand shifts due to natural disasters.
 
Clear Benefits – but How Do You Get Native Scheduling?
 
Having native scheduling as part the MES has very clear benefits in terms of efficiency, agility, and reliability—but how can a company capture the rewards it offers? Of course, the right thing for a business will depend on the return on investment.
 
For ventures looking for a new MES, it just is sensible to find one that has been built from the ground-up with scheduling. For those looking simply at scheduling software, however, the very nature of native scheduling means it cannot be bolted on. To gain the benefits requires a shift to invest in an MES with scheduling, which may seem a tall order to sell to the management team. But the benefits are strong and, although on the surface it may seem a big undertaking, there are many new advantages to a complete review the whole manufacturing system with a view to ensure the business in the future with full Industry 4.0 capability.
 
A Future With Better Business Outcomes
 
The technologies to make Industry 4.0 a reality is with us today. Disregarding the benefits of even more efficient and agile manufacturing puts firms at the mercy of their competitors. Although changes will not happen instantly, they will come and, mostly for more elaborate production systems, companies need to look at a pathway to Industry 4.0 to avoid being left behind.
 
Native scheduling is very much a part of achieving the full agility, clarity, and efficiency offered by Industry 4.0. Pulling the primary factor of smart supply chain executing in as a deep synchronization of activities in the plant allows the vision of Industry 4.0 to speed toward reality with much more confidence and better business outcomes.

This article is originally posted on tronserve.com