AdvancedPlanning& Scheduling(APS)SelectionGuide選型參考

7criticalsuccess factors inselecting anAPS system APS選型的7個關鍵成功因素

1、Purpose目的

The purposeof this Guide is to provide you with a brief and user-friendly tool to help youevaluate APS systems and select the right one for your organization. Tomaintain objectivity, no company name or brand will be mentioned.

本指南的目的是為您提供一個簡單易用的工具，幫助您評估APS系統并為您的組織選擇合適的系統。 為了保持客觀性，文章中不會提及公司名稱或品牌。

2、What exactly is APS？什么是正確的APS？

Per Wikipedia, advanced planningand scheduling (also referred to as “APS”) refers to a manufacturingmanagement process by which raw materials and production capacity are optimallyallocated to meet demand. APS is especially well-suited to environments where simplerplanning methods cannot adequately address complex trade-offs between competingpriorities.

根據維基百科的說法，高級計劃和調度(也被稱為“APS”)指的是一種制造管理過程，通過該過程，原材料和生產能力被優化分配，以滿足需求。APS特別適合于那些簡單的規劃方法不能充分處理相互競爭的優先級之間的復雜權衡的環境。 

3、Why may you need APS software?為什么需要APS？

If implemented correctly, APS softwarewill be a strategic driver of key performance indicators (KPIs) and continuous improvement.Common symptoms of a need for APS are: low return on capital, high operating expenses,less than 100% on-time delivery, excessive operational stress surroundingschedule management and order quoting, and lost sales due to capacity shortages.Return on investment is typically dramatic – less than one year.

如果正確實施，APS軟件將成為關鍵績效指標(kpi)和持續改進的戰略驅動力。APS需求的常見癥狀是：資本回報率低、運營費用高、未能100%準時交付、圍繞進度管理和訂單報價的過度運營壓力，以及由于產能短缺而導致的銷售損失。 投資回報通常是驚人的——不到一年。 

4、Why may you not need it?為什么不需要APS？

In production environments where capacityconstraints and scheduling variability are limited or non- existent and the abovesymptoms are not apparent, simple programs such as spreadsheets or a planning andscheduling module that is included in your ERP system may suffice.

在生產環境中，產能限制和調度變化有限或不存在，且上述癥狀不明顯，在ERP系統中包含的簡單程序，如電子表格或計劃和調度模塊可能就足夠了。 

5、7 Critical Success Factors inselecting the right APS System：7個關鍵因素

【1】Be clear about your requirements and objectives. What planningand scheduling challenges do you need to resolve, and what business impactwould you like to affect? It is likely that the right APS software will help youattain and sustain certain strategic initiatives, so consider these in the buyingprocess along with the functional capabilities of the software. Up-front,careful thought and documentation of detailed requirements and measurable objectivesare your best guarantee of a successful APS system selection and the achievementof desired results.

【1】明確你的要求和目標

您需要解決哪些計劃和調度挑戰，您希望影響哪些業務影響?正確的APS軟件很可能會幫助您獲得并維持某些戰略計劃，因此在購買過程中考慮這些以及軟件的功能。預先、仔細地思考并記錄詳細的需求和可衡量的目標是您成功地選擇APS系統和實現預期結果的最佳保證。

【2】Analyze the versatility, adaptability and scalability of thesoftware. The system’s capabilities should address a wide range of current and futureplanning, scheduling and business challenges, and facilitate unlim ited “what-if”scenarios. For the system to be used it will have to be accurate, and to be accurateit will have to be capable of modeling the important nuances of your  business processes. Also ask yourself: “Will thesoftware still be effective when you add more users or locations who need to collaboratein real time as your company grows?”

【2】分析軟件的通用性、適應性和可擴展性

該系統的能力應該解決當前和未來的廣泛規劃、調度和業務挑戰，并促進無限的“假設”場景。為了使用系統，它必須是準確的，而且要準確，它必須能夠對您的業務流程的重要細微差別進行建模。還要問問自己:“隨著公司的發展，當你增加更多需要實時協作的用戶或地點時，這個軟件還會有效嗎?”

【3】Make absolutely sure that the APS system provides clear, enterprise-widevisibility to your company’s operation. Will it help you achieve a clear view ofyour capacity levels, workloads, schedule, inventory, jobs, etc.? Is the graphicalscheduling board (Gantt chart) easy-to- understand, flexible and interactive soit will be a powerful and efficient tool in your production environment?

【3】絕對要確保APS系統為你的公司運營提供清晰的、全企業范圍的可見性。

它能幫助你對自己的能力水平、工作量、時間表、庫存、工作等等有一個清晰的認識嗎?圖形調度板(甘特圖)是否易于理解，靈活和交互式，以便它將是一個強大和高效的工具在您的生產環境。

【4】Perhaps most importantly, you need to know how well the softwarewill help you pro-actively manage variability in your production, the market,and in the supply chain. Even with perfect data and real-time updates, real-lifewill not follow the plan exactly. Since variability will happen, having a strategyand tools to monitor and manage it are fundamental to successful planning and execution;i.e., plan the work, then work the plan. How will the APS system help bufferand cushion against the inevitable schedule disruptions?

【4】也許最重要的是，您需要知道軟件將在多大程度上幫助您主動地管理產品、市場和供應鏈中的可變性

即使有完美的數據和實時更新，現實生活也不會完全按照計劃來。由于可變性是會發生的，因此有一個戰略和工具來監控和管理它是成功的計劃和執行的基礎;也就是說，計劃工作，然后按照計劃工作。APS系統如何幫助緩沖不可避免的進度中斷

【5】Get a clear picture of the extent the software will im proveyo ur com pany’s KP Is and what your return on investment (ROI) will be, based onobjective measures. Will the APS system facilitate continuous improvement for manyyears to come? How exactly will the system drive improvement in your strategic measures?If this can’t be answered, then why take a leap of faith?

【5】基于客觀的度量，對軟件將在多大程度上改善您公司的KPIs和您的投資回報率(ROI)有一個清晰的了解。APS系統是否有助在未來數年持續改善?系統究竟將如何在您的戰略措施中推動改進?如果這個問題無法回答，那為什么要冒這個險呢?

【6】If your company if a multi-plant operation, it is criticalthat the software fully supports multi- plant dynamics, functionality and collaboration.The APS system should help your many plants around the globe function as one cohesiveand nimble operation.

【6】如果您的公司正在進行多工廠的操作，那么軟件完全支持多工廠動態、功能和協作是至關重要的。APS系統將幫助您在全球的許多工廠作為一個有凝聚力和靈活的運作。

【7】Determine during product demonstrations the ease of use ofthe software. Will your team be able to learn the system relatively quickly? Whatis the APS software vendor’s implementation approach? What kind of education, trainingand support will be provided by the vendor? Answers to these questions will helpyou mitigate some of the main risks of buying a comprehensive software program,ensure adoption of the new system and make change management easier.

【7】在產品演示期間確定軟件的易用性。 您的團隊能夠相對較快地了解系統嗎? APS軟件供應商的實現方法是什么? 供應商將提供什么樣的教育、培訓和支持? 對這些問題的回答將幫助您減輕購買全面軟件程序的一些主要風險，確保新系統的采用，并使變更管理更容易。

6、Summary總結

To receive the greatest benefit from aneffective advanced planning and scheduling system, you should first recognize thecompetitive advantages it provides. When implemented as support for the achievementof strategic objectives, APS will create economic value for all of your stakeholders;customers, employees, shareholders and the communities your serve. To approach thisinvestment with less ambition will undoubtedly result in a missed opportunity.

為了從一個有效的高級計劃和調度系統中獲得最大的利益，你應該首先認識到它提供的競爭優勢。 當APS作為實現戰略目標的支持而實施時，它將為您所有的利益相關者創造經濟價值：客戶、員工、股東和你所服務的社區。 不那么雄心勃勃地進行這項投資，無疑將導致錯失良機。 

By Cees Molenaar info@planettogether.com