Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1504794
32 SMT007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2023 being forced to change production plans due to last minute changes in material availability. It's the sad truth that critical components oen don't arrive on the required date for produc- tion, and planners are le scrambling to fig- ure out how to re-align the production flow. Planners need to be equipped with a tool that appropriately evaluates the reality of materi- als so production orders can be easily and effi- ciently re-scheduled if a critical component doesn't show up when originally scheduled. In many of these no-show material cases, planners need the flexibility to assess produc- tion options even without all required com- ponents, perhaps cutting the job in half based on available material and running that order through to the testing process, then hold- ing those units at mechanical assembly until the rest of the order is ready to be built when the remaining material is in-house. e abil- ity to identify and address risks beforehand ensures manufacturers can maintain continu- ity in operations and minimize the impact of no-show components. Another complication many electronics manufacturers deal with regularly is when a top customer requests an urgent and hot order. ese last-minute orders usually wreak havoc on production when they're plopped in unexpectedly. Planners need visibility on how to effectively squeeze in an urgent order and clearly evaluate available capacity and down- stream effects on production. Simultaneously balancing multiple delivery requirements can be nightmarish, so the ability to easily visual- ize and choose the least painful option—for example, weighting profit margins more heav- ily with minimal impact to the overall produc- tion plan—is of the utmost importance in these hot order situations. An advanced planning and scheduling (APS) platform helps manage these complicated material planning scenarios. Utilizing produc- tion optimization algorithms in the planning and scheduling process—including available resources, on-time delivery, current demand, and cost considerations—this tool simulates and plans the best factory-specific options for production scheduling, balancing many and oen conflicting manufacturing priorities. In today's environment, manufacturers require the ability to properly assess any impact on the originally planned schedule, evaluate the feasibility of potential adjust- ments, and then make informed decisions with minimal impact on both profitability and real- time operations. Simplifying We're all feeling the pain of the global staffing crisis, whether it's something minor like the local coffee shop closing earlier than expected when you're desperate for an aernoon pick- me-up, or a positive COVID-19 employee infects all the staff assigned to the rework and repair department. It has disrupted our lives in one way or another. Electronics manufacturing is a multifaceted production operation requiring a variety of resources beyond just machinery and mate- rials. Availability of staff can have a dramatic impact on the production flow, and when a handful of operators call out simultaneously due to illness or otherwise, it can wreak havoc on the original production plan. Manufactur- ers need to be able to re-run scheduling sce- Screenshot from the gantt chart view within APS.