Powerful APS package

Citation

(2000), "Powerful APS package", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772bab.020

Powerful APS package

Powerful APS package

Keywords: Fourth Shift, Planning, Scheduling, Software

Fourth Shift Europe announces that it has added an Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) package to its integrated Fourth Shift enterprise resource planning (e-RP) product line, a suite of fully integrated software applications based on Microsoft Windows NT and designed for operation on conventional networks and the Internet. John Wolfenden, managing director of Fourth Shift Europe, says:

Until recently, APS packages have tended to be costly and only affordable by large manufacturing corporations. Thanks to the latest technology, the APS system we have introduced offers high performance at comparatively low cost and will be good news for the mid-market sector that we serve. In addition, it adds a powerful planning and scheduling capability to the core Fourth Shift e-RP engine.

The new APS product forms part of a growing portfolio of important new Web-enabled packages from Fourth Shift, says Wolfenden. Fully integrated, each one will complement and extend the company's e-business product line and represent a further step towards marketing a total supply chain solution to management in a broad range of manufacturing and process industries.

Built on Tempo ™ from APS Systems Modeling Corporation, Fourth Shift's new software provides a comprehensive tracking of work orders and schedule changes to help mid-size manufacturers to better manage production processes and maximise on-time deliveries.

The new APS module will offer a seamless interface to all Fourth Shift e-RP components, providing automatic data synchronisation and immediate visibility throughout the manufacturing enterprise. Fourth Shift APS functionality includes consideration of work order capacities, as well as material and tool constraints. Advanced finite scheduling capabilities include a bottleneck scheduling feature to minimise process holdups and improve through-put. In addition, a Microsoft Windows-compatible platform simplifies data sharing and enables users to efficiently create reports from more than 25 other formats, including Microsoft Excel and Access.

Using Fourth Shift APS and e-RP simplifies shopfloor scheduling functions with the ability to synchronise data between the programs, resulting in greater accuracy and more efficient execution of manufacturing plans and schedules. Real-time information transfer and visibility of transactions across all functional areas of the enterprise ensure greater efficiency and control over work-in-process, and improve accuracy and troubleshooting capabilities to meet critical production deadlines. There is no need to maintain duplicate records, and users can manipulate data to plan an optimal schedule by ensuring that records remain synchronised.

Details available from Fourth Shift Europe. Tel: +44 (0) 118 975 4000; Fax: +44 (0) 118 975 4011; E-mail: frayssec@fourth-shift.co.uk; WWW: http://www.fseurope.com