Challenges
The company encountered several obstacles that limited their production scheduling capabilities:
Production Adaptability
They needed to convert planned process orders to actual production runs just one day prior due to changes, leading to inefficiency
Bottleneck Scheduling
The scheduling process was hindered by bottlenecks.
Knowledge Digitalization
A previous attempt to digitize the scheduler’s knowledge and reduce company risk had failed, indicating a need for a more robust solution.
Solution
The company implemented QLECTOR LEAP to address these challenges effectively:
Predictive Scheduling
Extending the scheduling horizon based on accurate predictions, allowing for better planning and resource allocation.
Learning Systems
Utilizing systems that constantly learn from planners to improve the scheduling process continually.
Schedule Optimization
Taking into account various factors such as color codes, allergens, and cleaning processes to optimize schedules and enhance production output without increasing resource input.
Benefits
The partnership with QLECTOR yielded significant benefits for the Austrian food & beverage supplier:
Extended Scheduling Horizon
The scheduling horizon was increased by 3 days, providing more time to react to production needs.
Time Savings
The planners saved 1-2 days thanks to the new, more efficient scheduling process.
Efficiency Gains
There was a 5% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), demonstrating enhanced production efficiency.
Conclusion
The company’s experience illustrates the transformative potential of QLECTOR’s scheduling solutions in the food and beverage industry. By extending the scheduling horizon and optimizing production planning, the company not only saved time but also improved its operational efficiency, as evidenced by the increase in OEE.
Keep following our use cases and blog posts to explore more about how innovative scheduling solutions are making waves in various sectors and driving companies toward a more efficient future.