APS Software - Advanced Planning and Scheduling

APS stands for Advanced Planning and Scheduling, a relatively recent set of disciplines and concepts for which consequently many definitions exist!

See the latest APS software at your local iTSHOWCASE event

Fundamentally, APS are support tools for planning and scheduling that employ some form of computer-based optimisation to model real life material and resource constraints and produce accurate and feasible production plans. Fast-moving environments with large numbers of items, orders, machines and people are difficult to plan effectively, as are environments with complex constraints. APS systems quickly analyse the implications of alternative decisions, highlight consequences and problems, and generate optimal or near-optimal plans and schedules for transfer to execution tools.

Read APS Software News

Its all to do with total resource planning: APS provides a method of concurrent synchronisation of material and capacity with customer orders. Most, if not all, have a graphical user interface for data presentation and can be stand-alone systems, requiring to be fed with data and generating results independently of other systems, or part of suites of systems, with data arriving automatically from and output chanelled directly to other systems such as ERP.

"Thanks to iTShowcase, we managed to fit into 4 or 5 hours what would probably have taken at least three days to organise ourselves." Damien Stevenson, Finance Director, Dane Group Plc

"iTShowcase provided me with a convenient opportunity and a freindly environment to short list suppliers and meet them face-to-face. By the third appointment we had found our perfect iT partner." Alan Foster, MD, AIM Engineering Ltd

Hints and tips about implementing IT projects

Identifying the Business Requirements
A planned and structured approach to identifying the business requirements is essential to for any IT projects to succeed. Note:.- if achievement of benefits is not planned it will not take place.

If you're replacing an existing system, you will already have a clear understanding of your business needs and expected benefits, in which case iTSHOWCASE events can provide you with an ideal opportunity to find out which suppliers can help you.

Evaluating the Options for Sourcing the Solution
Arriving at a sourcing decision for an Information System (IS) should be seen as a culmination of a series of iterative reviews to assess the relative risk, cost and benefit of the options. The further the solution moves from a standard package, the higher the risk and the greater your reliance on the capability of the team. iTSHOWCASE events enable you to identify the products that most closely match your requirements.

Managing the Supplier Relationship
Management of supplier relationships is vital to the success of any Information Systems (IS) programme. The supplier may be required to support the system throughout its life expectancy; key suppliers will be involved in a number of projects. Senior management attention to building relationships with strategic suppliers can bring significant rewards.

Supplier relationships are mainly about people. At iTSHOWCASE events you'll meet potential suppliers face-to-face.

Select the Supplier
A structured, planned and well-informed approach is required to finding, assessing and selecting a solution and supplier. Your choice of supplier is likely to be a critical factor in your ability to deliver business benefits from Information Systems (IS), so you must get it right.

Now you have your short-list it's up to you how the relationships blossom!

iTSHOWCASE provides information for software buyers in various forms, though published articles and magazines, via our series of regional events and from this web site. If you have any ideas or suggestions we would be very pleased to hear from you.