nMetric 4C Provides Event-based, Dynamic Shop Floor Scheduling; Traditional Scheduling Software Delays Production and Relies Too Heavily on Standards.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers COSTA MESA Costa Mesa (kŏs`tə mā`sə), city (1990 pop. 96,357), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific south of Santa Ana; inc. 1953. It is a transportation, residential, and light industrial center. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 26, 2003 nMetric today announced that production scheduling software must provide dynamic scheduling for two reasons. First of all, it should not hinder. Every second a process is delayed affects the start of other processes. When that happens, conventional scheduling systems, such as Advanced Planning and Scheduling Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) refers to a manufacturing management process by which raw materials and production capacity are optimally allocated to meet demand. APS is especially well-suited to environments where simpler planning methods can not adequately address complex (APS), Forward Scheduling, Backward Scheduling, Finite Scheduling and Infinite Scheduling, usually recalculate re·cal·cu·late tr.v. re·cal·cu·lat·ed, re·cal·cu·lat·ing, re·cal·cu·lates To calculate again, especially in order to eliminate errors or to incorporate additional factors or data. the entire schedule. This takes time, leading to vicious cycles of creating production schedules with time lines that are close, but not real. Secondly, traditional scheduling software is based on standard rates rather than real-time, live production data. "Standards" often do not accurately reflect actual rates and capacities. Standard lead times are not competitive -- and may be wrong -- when trying to win business in build-to-order business environments. Worse, actual real-time production anomalies may fall outside "standard" conditions, making moot An issue presenting no real controversy. Moot refers to a subject for academic argument. It is an abstract question that does not arise from existing facts or rights. any window into manufacturing. "Current software systems don't deliver manufacturing visibility and live scheduling," explains Tom Carpenter, nMetric CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "Finite capacity scheduling (FCS FCS - Frame Check Sequence ) systems are deterministic 1. (probability) deterministic - Describes a system whose time evolution can be predicted exactly. Contrast probabilistic. 2. (algorithm) deterministic - Describes an algorithm in which the correct next step depends only on the current state. ; they schedule orders on the shop floor based on applicable resource constraints, but they do not respond to or interact with the dynamic nature of the production environment. Advanced planning and scheduling (APS) systems focus on materials, but don't address required manufacturing resources, such as equipment, tooling, and labor needed to manufacture product. "None of these approaches provide accurate, timely, and comprehensive information to make responsible real-time commitments for Build to Order," emphasizes Carpenter. "Without real-time scheduling, decisions are made about delivering on time, without knowing what can be manufactured on time. Shop floor schedulers adapt. They anticipate and prepare for production problems by building in buffers in time, tooling, capacity and inventory. The result is costly inventory buffers, inefficient production, missed order dates, lost customers and low profit margins with little visibility to upper management." According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Carpenter, nMetric's 4C is a real-time, always-on, probabilistic (probability) probabilistic - Relating to, or governed by, probability. The behaviour of a probabilistic system cannot be predicted exactly but the probability of certain behaviours is known. Such systems may be simulated using pseudorandom numbers. scheduling system. It schedules, monitors, tracks and optimizes shop floor and related activities based on production data. The scheduling engine continuously monitors shop floor processes and events that have occurred on time, plus those both ahead and behind schedule. As events progress, 4C reschedules production loads as new customer orders come in. 4C also supports collaboration through user-configurable event messaging In IP telephony, any time the status of a call control device or end point changes, an event message is sent, such as asking for permission to drop the call. See IP telephony. , which alerts appropriate people when shop floor processes are not progressing as expected or planned so management can respond to production events in time to make a difference. It analyzes production data by running a virtual production operation into the future to see where scheduling conflicts may arise. Coupled with user access through wireless or network devices, 4C provides capable-to-build information that highlights whether the production process is capable of delivering a new order by a specific date. About nMetric nMetric's 4C system is the only software that provides mid-sized and smaller manufacturers with live scheduling, monitoring and tracking, messaging updates and analyses so that they can completely oversee all steps of their manufacturing process and proactively supervise the dynamics of their supply chain in real time to accurately predict what will happen. Company headquarters are at 3070 South Bristol South Bristol is the name of the following places in the United States of America:
NOTE TO EDITORS -- For quickest response to reader inquiries, please direct them to Fran Black at the above nMetric address. For additional media information, including high resolution, downloadable graphics, go to www.brighamscully.com and click nMetric. |
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