Visual Planner Benefits

Fully integrated into Exact Macola Progression or ES, Visual Planner will drive the optimization of the production process, providing the control required for effective planning and resource management.

So, not only will it make the planning process more efficient it will:

 

Save Time

By using Visual Planner, your staff can generate schedules more quickly than with manual methods. Customers on average, experience a 50% reduction is scheduling time alone. The result is more creative time to try out alternatives, to communicate the rationale behind decisions to others and, ultimately, to develop better schedules and policies. When things change, Visual Planner gives you the flexibility to incorporate the changes. It also gives you the ability to track performance versus plan and make adjustments before it is too late.

• Reschedule all works centres in minutes rather than hours

• Ability to do “What If” scenario in minutes

• Direct and extensive drill downs available on BOM, Open Purchase Orders, Stock information and customer orders linked to production/shop orders means you have live Exact Macola data at your finger tips to help you make the right planning decisions

• Schedule orders automatically or manually on each work centre with easy drag and drop functionality 

• Visual Planner makes it easy for you to maintain shifts for each work centre so working hours can be adjusted to meet your production needs.

• The ability to instantly write data back into Exact Macola Update Macola with all changes made to the schedule with a click of a button.

 

Reduce Stock & WIP

• The positive effect that Visual Planner has on productivity by cutting work-in-process (WIP) inventories for a given level of output should be significant. In some cases, a reduction of WIP by one-tenth will produce a significant rise in productivity and free up cash tied up in inventory 

• Visual Planner helps you to plan your raw material purchases against a reliable production plan (JIT). This means raw materials are purchased using fixed or estimated lead times. With Visual Planner, production planning is fast and efficient and will help reduce the company’s stock levels.

• Reduce finished goods in stock by manufacturing as close to the date the customer require

 

            

 

Improve Production Efficiency

• Visual Planner’s automatic scheduling rules aim to reduce as much as possible the “makespan‟ time for a job and to reduce the disruption caused by tool and line change over time, thereby keeping work in progress to a minimum.
• Easy to view and maintain capacity of each work centre helping you to rapidly adjust to meet customer demands. Maximize machine utilisation. 

•  Enables MRP or Gross Requirements Report to recommend purchase orders for the actual required production dates. This means your purchasing plans match your production plans, so you’re not ordering materials in too early or too late. 

 

Increase in the quality of customer service

• Provide you with the ability to keep to promised delivery times and hold them helping meet customer agreements and expectations every time

 

            

 

Improve Quality & Reduce Wastage

• Pre planned and achievable schedules will help reduce disruption and changes in the production process will also help the company improve quality and reduce wastage. This means the company can often do the same task more quickly and with fewer materials. Reducing the percentage of waste by only one-tenth of a percent can lead to a 3% improvement in productivity.

 

Reduce Labour Costs 

• Visual Planner can help you respond to unanticipated shop floor changes. If, for example, a machine breaks down, Visual Planners flexibility will enable you to quickly reassign the operator and the work in the best possible manner. This may allow you to deliver a critical order without the need for overtime.

• Visual Planner helps you allocate resources effectively during peaks and troughs

               

Reduce Raw Material Costs

• Less disruption in the purchasing process means buyers can do their job in getting in materials that are good quality, competitively priced, and delivered on time

              

Other Benefits Include:

• Return on Investment measured in less than a year – Start saving now.  

• Visual Planner is a multi-user and multi-company solution, providing increased visibility and management control. 

• Works out of the box – No lengthy implementation plan required as Visual Planner can be installed and ready to go in a couple of hours.  

• Written with the latest Microsoft .Net tools and compatible with up to date operating systems and software. 

• Clear upgrade path and will always be compatible with the latest Exact Macola release. 

• Ongoing support by our highly qualified support teams based in our UK, European and US offices covering all major time zones.