// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM

Planning

The process of setting goals, developing strategies, and outlining tasks and resources needed to achieve objectives.

Planning — illustration from Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia

TECHNICAL DEFINITION

In a supply chain context, Planning involves the strategic and tactical determination of future actions, resources, and schedules required to meet demand, optimize inventory, manage production, and coordinate logistics across all stakeholders, often utilizing forecasting and optimization models.

BACKGROUND

Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of the secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high-tech, but it is most commonly applied to industrial design, in which raw materials from the primary sector are transformed into finished goods on a large scale. Such goods may be sold to other manufacturers for the production of other more complex products, or distributed via the tertiary sector to end users and consumers.

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SYNONYMS & ALIASES

  • Scheduling
  • forecasting
  • strategizing
  • blueprinting

USAGE NOTE

Effective planning is essential to prevent bottlenecks and ensure smooth operations throughout the supply chain.

DEVELOPERS

Organizations developing technology related to Planning.

  • SAP

    A global leader in enterprise software, SAP offers comprehensive solutions for manufacturing planning, including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Supply Chain Management (SCM), and Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO), as well as Integrated Business Planning (IBP) for end-to-end supply chain visibility and planning.

  • Siemens Digital Industries Software

    Siemens provides a broad portfolio of software for manufacturing, including Opcenter APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling) for detailed production planning and scheduling, Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM), and other tools to optimize production processes and resource utilization.

  • Dassault Systèmes

    Through its DELMIA brand, Dassault Systèmes offers solutions for manufacturing operations management, production planning, scheduling, and optimization, enabling companies to simulate, plan, and execute manufacturing processes efficiently.

  • Oracle

    Oracle provides robust cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) solutions with advanced planning capabilities, including demand planning, supply planning, production scheduling, and inventory optimization for manufacturers.

  • Kinaxis

    Kinaxis specializes in concurrent planning platforms for the supply chain, enabling companies to integrate planning processes across demand, supply, inventory, and production to react quickly to disruptions and optimize outcomes.

  • Blue Yonder

    Blue Yonder offers AI-driven supply chain planning and execution solutions, including demand forecasting, inventory optimization, production planning, and workforce scheduling to help manufacturers achieve greater agility and efficiency.

  • Infor

    Infor provides industry-specific cloud solutions for manufacturing, including robust ERP and supply chain planning modules that help optimize production schedules, manage inventory, and allocate resources effectively.

  • GE Digital

    GE Digital offers Proficy Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) solutions that enable manufacturers to optimize production processes, improve scheduling accuracy, and enhance operational efficiency and visibility.

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