Executive Summary There are many ways to perform optimization for production scheduling. We will cover three different ways, cost, duration, and KPI. Introduction In this article, we will cover three ways of running optimization for production scheduling. Cost Optimization Cost-based optimization or cost minimization has been the most common way to perform production planning and…
Executive Summary Duration optimization is the best fit for production planning and scheduling. We cover why duration optimization works so well. Introduction Cost-based optimization or cost minimization has been the most common way to perform supply planning, production planning, and scheduling optimization. Duration optimization means making the minimize objective time function of the optimizer. A…
Executive Summary We cover the differences in production scheduling between PP/DS and Simio, what each system is designed to model, and what types of manufacturing environments work for each. Introduction PP/DS is a well-known advanced planning application for production planning and scheduling offered by SAP which is part of the APO suite. SAP is the…
Executive Summary The SNP optimizer has two types of methods of deployment. The deployment optimizer has major problems with the second method, which is called cost optimization. The deployment optimizer cannot fair sharing stock to locations. This topic is hidden by SAP and SAP consulting companies from customers. Introduction to Optimization in APO In its…
Executive Summary There are several ways of solving a supply chain optimization problem with CPLEX. These settings are made in both supply planning applications as well as off-the-shelf optimizers. There is both a simplex method and a duplex method. Introduction The solution procedure is the optimization method that is applied. I often describe and differentiate…
Executive Summary What was the link trainer, and how did it work? What are the differences between flight simulation and supply chain planning simulation? A picture of the Link Trainer. Introduction to the Link Trainer The Link Trainer was developed back in 1929, although it developed through several incarnations, which eventually included instrumentation and a…
Executive Summary In the supply chain, sensitivity analysis is related to S&OP. External optimizers are available for sensitivity analysis, and we cover how this all works. Companies that do not perform sensitivity analysis can be in the dark about how many capital improvements in any one constraint will improve their operations. The Definition of Supply…
Executive Summary Using spreadsheets to explain optimization is beneficial. We cover the advantages and disadvantages of using spreadsheet optimizers. The Popularizing of Optimization Mathematics with Spreadsheets In researching different optimization mathematics, I have observed how research papers do not include spreadsheet models and their documents. Spreadsheet models can be purchased with several books that focus…
Executive Summary Redeployment is a planning thread that repositions inventory to locations where it has a higher likelihood of being consumed. Redeployment applies to more to slow-moving inventor and can be considered a form of inventory analysis and a way of reducing obsolete inventory. Redeployment differs by product type. Introduction to Redeployment Redeployement is the…
Executive Summary SAP has provided a misleading story on inventory optimization. SAP has a specific extractive pattern when partnering with vendors. We predict if SAP has a good chance of being good at inventory optimization and multi echelon planning. Introduction to APO Inventory Optimization I was recently doing research on SAP’s APO Add-In related to…