Challenges and Solutions for Labor Scheduling

One of the biggest challenges in a production facility is the scheduling of labor. It is also one of the largest costs (and one of the hardest to estimate). Many factors can affect labor productivity in such facilities. This is why many manufacturers are looking for remedies to these challenges. Thankfully, some softwares provide helpful strategies to alleviate the challenges that come with labor scheduling to maximize productivity and profits. 

Challenges in Labor Scheduling:

• Skilled Labor -  A major challenge of labor scheduling comes when you have operations that require highly specific skill sets. This can become a challenge in finding the right people to perform those operations. In addition, production may have to halt if the employee is taking time off or vacation and there isn’t anyone capable to perform those operations.
• Absenteeism -  Another challenge in scheduling labor comes when you have employees that are absent. This is especially challenging when said employees do not provide a warning for their absence and can leave planners and schedulers scrambling at the last minute to adjust operations. A flexible way to adjust the production schedule is a must in these circumstances.
• Too much overtime -  Although overtime may be necessary to meet important deadlines, it can become costly if used too often. When employees work long hours, their efficiency levels are reduced. This can worsen the company`s productivity output and require more and more overtime hours. As costs for production increase, productivity decreases.

Solutions in Labor Scheduling:

• Track Performance -  PlanetTogether APS offers a way to track employee productivity by comparing actual and planned hours and quantities. This allows employers to identify which employees are not performing as efficiently as planned. It can also allow them to identify which tasks certain employees are performing well in and decide whether additional training should be provided or if the schedule should be adjusted.
• Adjusting Number of People Assigned -  In PlanetTogether APS, you can adjust the number of people assigned to a task or resource. This is helpful if you have unexpected employee absences as changing the number of people assigned will automatically regenerate the schedule in accordance with those changes. 
• Forecasting -  Accurate demand forecasting can help with the scheduling of employees. In doing so, you will be able to predict increases in demand to schedule more employees as well as avoid over-staffing when demand is predicted to be low. This will help reduce the costs that are associated with labor. 

Our quality has improved as a result. The software assigns the best person to the job.

DICK MARX, MATERIALS MANAGER, KNAPHEIDE TRUCK EQUIPMENT

Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) Software

Advanced Planning and Scheduling Softwares have become a must for modern-day manufacturing operations as customer demand for increased product assortment, fast delivery, and downward cost pressures become prevalent. These systems help planners save time while providing greater agility in updating ever-changing priorities, production schedules, and inventory plans. APS Systems can be quickly integrated with an ERP/MRP software to fill the gaps where these systems lack planning and scheduling flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency.

With PlanetTogether APS you can:

• Create optimized schedules that balance production efficiency and delivery performance
• Maximize throughput on bottleneck resources to increase revenue
• Synchronize supply with demand to reduce inventories
• Provide company-wide visibility to resource capacity
• Enable scenario data-driven decision making

The implementation of an Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) Software will take your manufacturing operations to the next level of production efficiency by taking advantage of the operational data you already possess in your ERP system. APS is a step in the right direction of efficiency and lean manufacturing production enhancement. Try out a free trial or demo!