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Production scheduling

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I am looking for suggestions for software for use in product... - Feb 28, 2003 by

Hi Based on what I read, I think you have a small shop an... - Mar 01, 2003 by

I just can't accept that what I want to do hasn't been thoug... - Mar 14, 2003 by

Garth, Try searching on "capacity planning." This is a st... - Mar 14, 2003 by Steve Schrader

Hi I don't mean to be offensive, so bear with me. Also ... - Mar 14, 2003 by

Hi, We are looking for some software that can keep track ... - Mar 15, 2003 by

Hi Well you got lucky with this note series. See the a... - Mar 16, 2003 by

Try ... - Mar 17, 2003 by Doug Philbrick

I used the MS Outlook exchange sever task list very successf... - Mar 17, 2003 by Rob_C

I want to efficiently manage the time and jobs that the staf... - Mar 18, 2003 by

Have you seen or heard of Fouth Shift MRP or Avante MRP? I'... - Mar 26, 2003 by DL

Garth

#23584

Production scheduling | 28 February, 2003

I am looking for suggestions for software for use in productions scheduling.

I want my senior assembler to be able to enter the projects that are upcoming or ongoing so that I know when certain builds are finished. That way I know when the boards are going to move from assembly to production.

Then I want to be able to generate the next day's work schedule so that the production employees can all see what they will be doing and also so I can see at a glance what each employee is supposed to be doing.

The above would be what I need. A nice extra would be for me to have the software automatically block out a period of time depending on what I assign the employee. For example, let's say that I want to assign Employee 1 the job of testing 100 pieces of a certain product. The software would have been pre-defined so that according to my past statistics if it should take 1.8 minutes to test one piece then if I assign Employee 1 to test 100 pieces the software would automatically block out a 180 minute period of time.

Any ideas?

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MA/NY DDave

#23588

Production scheduling | 1 March, 2003

Based on what I read, I think you have a small shop and may just have to make up your own system. You could hire an Industrial Engineer or Production Control Specialist to find or set up the best cost effective system for you.

Poke around on this site:

http://www.apics.org/

YiEng, MA/NY DDave

This message was posted via the Electronics Forum @

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Garth

#23794

Production scheduling | 14 March, 2003

I just can't accept that what I want to do hasn't been thought of before. It's to basic a concept for there not to be an existing product that can at least do something reasonably close. There are too many manufacturing environments and locations for there to be a custom system at each one.

My searches so far have used the keywords "time scheduleing", "employee scheduling" and "resource scheduling".

The best I've found so far is at http://www.scheduleview.com It's designed as an appointment scheduling package but could at least be adapted to manage employees.

With little response so far to this post I can only assume that:

1) I'm out to lunch and everybody is using custom software, or 2) Nobody is using anything in terms of managing the time scheduling of their employees.

There are probably other options but those are the main two that come to mind!

Garth

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Steve Schrader

#23795

Production scheduling | 14 March, 2003

Garth,

Try searching on "capacity planning." This is a standard tool available in most MRP and ERP software packages. You may already own it in whatever software package you use for your material planning.

Steve

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MA/NY DDave

#23801

Production scheduling | 14 March, 2003

I don't mean to be offensive, so bear with me. Also I might really be off for what I think you intend.

As I read what you want to do, maybe you do want something that is a bit unique for a manufacturing situation. You seem to be more focussed on time of the day and using the workers like calendar puppets with little appointment books down to the minute. Operation One 7:10 to 7:33 Operation Two 7:35 to 8:24

Most of the systems I know, even though I can't spell all their names don't work that way. They push or pull the worker to be effective in many ways, find ways to measure their effectiveness yet don't give them or even management this level of time by time detail.

Again I would suggest bringing in an I.E. or someone in this production scheduling field and review all the alternatives.

I mean with a small operation you could create this idea yourself with a spreadsheet or other older techniques like a card deck, wall chart etc, yet I think you will find it would drive you and your entire place crazy.

YiEng, MA/NY DDave

This message was posted via the Electronics Forum @

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Grant

#23802

Production scheduling | 15 March, 2003

Hi,

We are looking for some software that can keep track of products, and the components they use, and the volume we sell. We use complex spreadsheets currently, however the number of components is making that complex.

We would love to have some software that keeps track of our parts, and what products use them. Then based on sales of different parts, we can get an idea of component consumption over the next 3 - 6 months, and then we can put in purchase orders based on that. With lead times up to 15 weeks, it's important we don't screw this up!

I hope someone can suggest something!

Regards

Grant

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MA/NY DDave

#23807

Production scheduling | 16 March, 2003

Well you got lucky with this note series.

See the abbreviations Steve gave in the note above yours. Then go to my note up earlier and click on the web site I listed. Then go to the Buyers guide and you will see two of the choices are "Steve's abbreviations".

Other places you can search for MRP, , , as well.

YiEng, MA/NY DDave

This message was posted via the Electronics Forum @

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Doug Philbrick

#23808

Production scheduling | 17 March, 2003

Try http://www.mfgcatalyst.com Vey inexpensive and easy to use. Small company MRP system with shop floor functions. We use it for the shop floor portion. It was much easier to implement than our $100,000 MRP systems.

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Rob_C

#23809

Production scheduling | 17 March, 2003

I used the MS Outlook exchange sever task list very successfully for a similar situation. Which allows you to set up a shared folder between you and lead assembler. Everyone can electronically view (read only) your production schedule, and email notification can be configured too. I understand your need for simplicity, my last company had an elaborate Brio query system, product is now made in China with hand written schedule. Good luck, SMarTSTART.com

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Garth

#23821

Production scheduling | 18 March, 2003

I want to efficiently manage the time and jobs that the staff do...yes. Calender puppets??? Whatever!

I have had some more luck in finding packages that do what I want. The software package WallChart seems to do what I want although I have only looked at their promotional material and not the software itself yet.

As for driving the place crazy? The staff are actually looking for ways to know what they need to do and what the priority is. They want something in place that is bettet than the existing hand written wall chart we're using. At the least a semi-automated system will make this possible. I can see what products need testing and as long as I have a good handle on how long certain operations take I can schedule the entire week or more.

Yes I could do this myself with a spreadsheet but why recreate the wheel. There are packages to do this so lets use them. I am very reluctant to bring a consultant in. I may be behind the times on this but I'm not comfortable inging somebody in and then letting them figure out what would work for us. I know what I want to accomplish so why hire somebody and pay them to figure it out. If I didn't have any clue what I should do then I might consider a consultant but what I'm looking for is too basic a concept. As mentioned I am starting to find packages that may do what I want. The idea now is to find the one that does the most of what I want.

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#23933

Production scheduling | 26 March, 2003

Have you seen or heard of Fouth Shift MRP or Avante MRP? I've used both of these. In my opinion, not good for a small company, and can be expensive, REAL big $$$ to implement. 4thshift and Avante MRP systems are NOT a do it yourself kinda package.

Sounded like your real interest was managing employees time?

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