Making the Case for Production Schedulers: 4 Big Picture Benefits

Production scheduling software does more than give managers peace of mind.

If your shop is still wrestling with manually updated spreadsheets or whiteboards to plan your production process, a production scheduler might sound like a bit of a stretch. In theory, one piece of software could simultaneously make life easier for you as a plant manager and build a better, more reliable production process—but while those outcomes are a nice idea, they ignore the real-world hurdles of making a change. The implementation process will take longer and be more complicated than you hope, and the results will be less “pie-in-the-sky promises” and more “same paperwork, different system.” Right?

That’s certainly one way of looking at it—and some solutions do turn out that way. Maybe your shop has even been burned by one before. But as the manufacturing industry becomes more data driven and the competitive margins grow finer and finer, the case for production scheduling software only gets stronger. You, your engineers, and your schedulers are confident that the right solution will streamline your day-to-day work and help the shop run more smoothly. But to get leadership on board, “return on investment” needs to be the linchpin of your argument. 

Fortunately, there are enough high-level advantages to production scheduling software that you can take your pick as you fine-tune your pitch. Here are a few of the strongest.

1. Production schedulers increase shop throughput.

Maybe the most apparent advantage of production scheduling software is that it helps a shop generate more product in the same amount of time. A long list of factors impact a shop’s throughput, and a production schedule is a powerful tool for swinging all of them in your favor, including:

• Optimized resource allocation. With a robust production scheduler, you have unmatched visibility into what resources you have and when they’re available. You know when a machine has a gap in its schedule that can accommodate an extra task, or whether you have enough supplies to draw on when a customer increases an order. 
• Less time for setup and changeover. When these tasks appear on the schedule, operators are ready for them, and your entire production process can assemble around them in a way that maximizes efficiency.
• Clearer communication. Engineers and operators can refer to a centralized system of record for the most up-to-date production schedule, and can receive changes in real time. Everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing at any given moment.
• Fewer bottlenecks. From differences in planned and actual output, you can work backwards to identify and solve procedural holdups: the need to retrieve supplies from the warehouse, for example, or a machine that can’t keep up with demand. 

2. Production schedulers reduce waste.

One more key to increasing throughput is cutting down on flawed products. The same root-cause analysis that lets you find and untangle the bottlenecks in your production process also helps pinpoint quality issues, narrowing them down to a particular machine, procedure, vendor, or QA tool. The result is less output that needs to be scrapped or recalled, saving cost on materials, logistics, and even reputation.

Increased transparency and optimized resource use also mean that more of your raw materials are turned into quality products. With more visibility into your warehouse, you can see which supplies you already have on hand, and whether they’re already committed to a job. Avoid the risk of over-ordering, and create value from remainders—or make sure you utilize perishable materials before they expire.

3. Production schedulers build strong customer relationships.

In any business relationship, transparency and reliability are crucial to a solid foundation. Building trust with a customer requires answering questions quickly and openly, setting clear expectations, and meeting those expectations on a regular basis. And to accomplish all that, the key ingredient is information.

A production scheduler provides you with a level of real-time transparency that manual updates can’t match. View your shop’s activity and capacity at any time, see the status of an in-progress job, or develop a detailed estimate based on historical data. With this knowledge at your fingertips, you can answer a customer right away when they ask if you can accommodate a rush job. You can increase your on-time delivery rates by 15% or more, and if there’s a chance you’ll miss a deadline, you can let your customer know well in advance. 

When you establish a track record of sustained success, honesty, and reliability with customers, they’re more likely to choose you again—and to be willing to pay a premium for your services.

4. Production schedulers set your shop up for growth.

If Industry 4.0 was once the cutting edge of manufacturing, it’s quickly becoming the standard. Technological advances like IoT sensors and data analytics are raising expectations around efficiency and productivity. In such a demanding climate, setting yourself apart and growing your business means using every resource at your disposal.

To that end, your shop’s data might be the single most valuable asset you have—and a production scheduler is the key that unlocks it. Leverage detailed insights and granular control into streamlined operations that scale up smoothly. Take on more work confidently, and make informed choices about where to spend your capital for maximum impact. The right production scheduler grows with you, integrating seamlessly with new tools and technology, and handling your increased capacity with ease.

JobPack is the production scheduling solution that can win leadership over.

Our production scheduler is lightweight and flexible, implements quickly, begins delivering benefits in weeks, and integrates with a wide range of business intelligence tools—including virtually any ERP. JobPack is intuitive to use and visually rich, making critical production indicators available at a glance, and putting your shop floor data to work for you in ways that enhance every level of your business. 

If you need support pitching JobPack to your organization, we have you covered. Explore our fact sheets, FAQs, and case studies, or request a demonstration today to explore firsthand what JobPack can do for your shop.