Scheduling

• Sequence-dependent set-up and cleaning times
• Batch / campaign sizes
• Reusable material, by-products, multiple usage
• Multi-stage production processes
• Capacity restrictions re material, facilities or personnel

ORion-PI^® follows a strictly holistic approach. Even competing goals are looked at simultaneously to identify the optimal compromise of all objectives. Calculations are based on a number of weighting factors: change-over times, stock-keeping costs, production and transport costs, delay costs or resource/material costs.

With the help of the interactive Gantt-Chart it is possible to manually interfere in the planning process. It visualizes the process flow down to the favored level of detail.

Ad hoc simulations can accompany the planning process. They help to illustrate and compare different planning scenarios.

Common operative optimization scenarios are:

Sequence Optimization
Sequence planning supports the in-depth allocation of production processes to resources. Setup and cleaning times here have a significant influence on through-put times. On the basis of a set-up and cleaning matrix ORion-PI^® figures the changeover costs and identifies the optimal sequence plan.

Lot Size Optimization

When optimizing production processes variable parameter like lot sizes play an important role. By the determination of optimal sequence plans and lot sizes, e.g. improvements in plant capacities can be achieved. The engine behind this is our unique ORion-PI^® Dynamic Target Stock Optimization-Technology which dynamically optimizes lot sizes and inventory along all levels of the supply chain.

Job/order control
ORion-PI^® fully maps the network of relations that reflect one single job. The connection between pre-production and production can be visualized in form of graphics and is automatically represented in the planning process. Interdependencies of several orders, such as the impact of a change of date on all follow-up orders, become apparent at a glance. The same is true for the corresponding material requirements. Moreover, ORion-PI^® supports the manual processing of orders: e.g. modification, set-up, fixation, deletion and re-scheduling.

Manufacturing control
Standard integration of ORion-PI^® with common MES applications - exchanging information on the ongoing production process – allows an accurate realization of the production plan. Variations of the plan, such as delays or the failure of a machine, are immediately visible. Effects on following orders can be ascertained and a new plan, if required, be compiled within seconds or minutes.