Unlocking Efficiency in Medical Manufacturing: Additive Manufacturing and Automation Powered by PlanetTogether Integration

In medical device manufacturing, the pressure to innovate, comply with stringent regulations, and deliver faster to market is greater than ever. As a Production Planner, you sit at the heart of this transformation—balancing efficiency with precision, flexibility with compliance. Two trends that are radically reshaping the production landscape are Additive Manufacturing (AM) and Automation.

Combined with integrated planning systems like PlanetTogether, and their connectivity to ERP and MES platforms such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Kinaxis, and Aveva, these technologies are rewriting the rules of what's possible in medical manufacturing.

The Rise of Additive Manufacturing in Medical Production

Additive Manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D printing, has moved beyond prototyping to become a viable production method for a growing number of medical products. From custom orthopedic implants to patient-specific surgical tools and dental applications, AM offers unmatched design freedom, reduced waste, and rapid iteration.

For Production Planners, this opens up exciting possibilities:

Shorter lead times for highly customized or low-volume products.

Decentralized production near the point of care, reducing logistics costs.

Reduced inventory holding, as components can be printed on-demand.

Design consolidation, minimizing the number of components in assemblies and simplifying planning.

But with these benefits come new planning challenges. AM introduces a different set of variables—build orientation, machine calibration, material types, post-processing time—that need to be factored into your scheduling logic. That's where advanced planning and scheduling (APS) systems, like PlanetTogether, come into play.

Automation: Your Planning Ally, Not a Threat

Automation is already a staple in many medical manufacturing environments, especially in sterile packaging, assembly, inspection, and labeling. For Production Planners, automation delivers several advantages:

Predictable production times and throughput.

Improved quality and consistency, reducing rework and scrap.

24/7 production potential with minimal human oversight.

Real-time production data, aiding in continuous improvement and rapid response.

However, these automated assets need to be fully accounted for in production planning. Without an integrated view of machine availability, maintenance schedules, and throughput rates, planners risk creating bottlenecks or underutilizing valuable capital equipment.

Connecting the Dots with PlanetTogether Integration

This is where integration between PlanetTogether APS and ERP/MES systems like SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Kinaxis, and Aveva becomes essential. When your APS system pulls real-time and master data directly from your ERP and MES, you gain a synchronized view of:

Demand forecasts

Inventory levels

Material availability

Work center capacity

Production constraints

Let’s say your ERP system is SAP and you’ve introduced a line of customized surgical guides using 3D printing. SAP knows what needs to be made and when, but not how best to schedule it. By integrating SAP with PlanetTogether, your planning engine can automatically consider additive manufacturing constraints—such as print bed utilization or post-processing time—and allocate the right resources accordingly.

Similarly, if you’re running automated assembly lines managed through Aveva MES, PlanetTogether can factor in the exact machine availability, changeover times, and quality checks—giving you a holistic schedule that’s not just feasible, but optimized.

Real-World Use Case: Planning for Additive + Automated Workflow

Imagine this scenario: You’re tasked with planning production for a new orthopedic device line that uses:

Additive manufacturing for custom-fitted titanium implants.

Automated assembly for attaching modular components.

Automated inspection and packaging integrated into the downstream flow.

In a traditional planning setup, these steps might be siloed—resulting in delays, material mismatches, or capacity clashes.

With PlanetTogether integrated with Oracle ERP and Kinaxis for supply chain planning, here’s what happens:

Sales orders and demand forecasts from Oracle automatically populate into PlanetTogether.

Material lead times for specialized titanium powder are pulled from Kinaxis.

PlanetTogether schedules the additive manufacturing step, considering build cycles, support removal time, and machine availability.

Once printed, the automated assembly cells are scheduled with real-time data on tool changeovers and robot availability.

Automated inspection and packaging steps are sequenced to prevent bottlenecks and meet regulatory documentation requirements.

All updates flow back into Oracle and Kinaxis for visibility across finance, procurement, and logistics teams.

As a Production Planner, you don’t just react—you proactively orchestrate a smooth, efficient, and compliant workflow from raw material to final product.

The Human Element: Empowering Planners, Not Replacing Them

It’s natural to wonder whether automation and planning AI will diminish the need for human planners. In reality, these technologies amplify your value. With mundane calculations and reactive adjustments off your plate, you can focus on:

Strategic planning and scenario modeling

Collaboration with design, procurement, and regulatory teams

Continuous process improvement

Identifying risks and mitigation strategies before they become problems

How to Get Started

If your facility is already using an ERP like SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics, or a supply chain solution like Kinaxis, the next step is integrating an APS like PlanetTogether that brings planning logic to life. Many PlanetTogether implementations are up and running in as little as 30–90 days, especially when connected to existing systems through APIs or middleware platforms.

To begin:

Map your current planning process and identify where delays, misalignments, or guesswork occur.

List all automation and additive assets along with their constraints and schedules.

Engage with IT to assess integration capabilities between your ERP/MES and PlanetTogether.

Run a pilot project for a single product line or cell that combines additive and automated workflows.

Scale with confidence as you realize time, cost, and quality benefits.

Additive Manufacturing and Automation aren’t future trends—they’re here, reshaping how medical devices are designed and delivered. But without a smart, integrated planning approach, their benefits can be lost in operational chaos.

As a Production Planner, you’re the linchpin to realizing these gains. Tools like PlanetTogether, especially when integrated with platforms like SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Kinaxis, or Aveva, empower you to plan with precision, adapt with agility, and lead your facility into the next generation of manufacturing excellence.

Are you ready to take your manufacturing operations to the next level? Contact us today to learn more about how PlanetTogether can help you achieve your goals and drive success in your industry.