Production Scheduling Software

Taking care of resource utilization, raw materials availability, potential bottleneck, etc. in a production cycle using spreadsheets or other manual methods is tough and labor-intensive. Having even one thing out of place can cause the whole production process to go for a toss. 

A production scheduling software tool can streamline these tasks, allowing for smooth production workflows. However, choosing software for a business is not easy given so many choices on the market. 

To assist manufacturing businesses in purchasing the right production scheduling software, we have put together this guide with relevant information.

Here is what we will cover:

• What is production scheduling software?

• What are the deployment options for production scheduling software?

• What are some common features of production scheduling software?

• What are the important software integrations?

What is production scheduling software?

Production scheduling software is a solution that helps manufacturing businesses plan and schedule their production activities. It allows users to allocate and optimize resources in ways that ensure that production takes place effectively. 

Users can also track the progress of tasks, forecast risks, benchmark performance, and adjust schedules for process optimization. 

What are the deployment options for production scheduling software?

Explore the following deployment options when thinking of production scheduling software:

Cloud-based deployment: Cloud-based production scheduling software is hosted by the vendor and can be accessed using a web browser or mobile app. Users only need to pay monthly/annual subscription charges for using the software.

On-premise deployment: The responsibility for hosting on-premise production scheduling software lies with the user. They need to purchase the software license and take care of software upkeep.

Key question to ask a vendor before you buy: What are the typical implementation time and cost of your product? 

What are some common features of production scheduling software?

Know the common features of production scheduling software before you invest:

Automated scheduling: Facilitate automatic scheduling of production operations based on business demands and resource availability.

Production schedule dashboard in Simio (Source)

Capacity planning: Leverage built-in algorithms to assess production capacity against demand and adjust schedules in real time. Users can drag and drop new work orders and get updated production schedules immediately.

Capacity planning in Plantune (Plantune)

Material requirement planning (MRP): Gain visibility into inventory and map material availability against projected demand to make optimal procurement decisions.

Inventory overview for material requirement planning in PlanetTogether (Source)

“What-if” analysis: Enable production managers to forecast production outcomes/scenarios and prepare contingency plans.

“What-if” scenario planner in PlanetTogether (Source)

Reporting: Gain consolidated summaries of business metrics and key performance indicators to assess production operations.

Production metrics reports in Plantune (Source)

Key question to ask a vendor before you buy: What additional features does your product offer? 

What are some important software integrations?

Integrations connect one tool to others in use, which facilitates data exchange. Here are some integration options you can look out for: 

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software: Integration with your ERP software will ensure that all business processes are consolidated into a single system. This will also provide a single source of truth and more visibility into business operations.

Accounting and bookkeeping software: Integrating production scheduling software with accounting and bookkeeping software helps businesses synchronize work orders, contact information about suppliers and clients, and create and manage invoices. This reduces the chances of duplicate orders and increases accuracy in accounts.

Back to production scheduling software directory

*Note: The applications selected in this article are examples to show a feature in context, and are not intended as endorsements or recommendations, obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication.