Finite capacity is an extremely useful solution for manufacturing companies, as it takes into account the finite aspects and constraints that are normally present within each production process. Let’s find out why this solution is better than infinite capacity.
Whatis Finite Capacity Scheduling?
Finite-capacity scheduling, within the manufacturing landscape, is the result of a set of calculations and evaluations that is carried out to understand the “amount of work” that can be produced in a given period of time, taking into account some limitations deriving from different resources. It is therefore useful for manufacturing companies to understand the date on which the products will actually be ready to be delivered to the customer, and to maintain a high level of service.
Why finite capacity planning?
Scheduling tools can be finite capacity or infinite capacity. The latter are simpler but cannot take into account the limitations to the system that occur in real time. On the contrary, the objective of finite capacity scheduling is to ensure that production proceeds at a uniform and efficient pace. This makes it possible to maximise the load on the bottlenecks and maintain regular production, despite setbacks and last-minute variations. The FCS or Finite Capacity Scheduling logic makes it possible to improve the planning process by increasing the effectiveness of local scheduling on the work centres without significantly reducing the lead time required to deliver the finished product to the customer.
What are the benefits of finite capacity
The FCS allows the company to obtain a more constrained schedule, with shorter time intervals, variable lead times and a more refined detail simulation.
A major advantage of finite capacity is adaptability. This type of software is in fact easily adaptable to the specific needs of each company, as it must perform the normal production processes, as well as adapt to the variations that they will have over time.
In fact, the structure of the source groups allows you to easily select which stocks to include and which not, allowing you to obtain a view as a negative requirement. In this context, the MRP is able to provide a view that includes everything that needs to be produced to implement the resource capacity shipment plan. In developing production suggestions, the MRP will calculate the requirement arising from this view on production orders already released and will produce only the necessary missing quantities.
Another fundamental element of planning a finished capacity production plan is to obtain a view of the MPs (Master Production Schedule) with a precise description of the products that will leave the factory by date and resource as well as the detail of the finished items.
How to get a full capacity plan?
The first step in building a finite-capacity plan is to check whether it is possible to express the quantity data contained in a finite-capacity view. It is possible to carry out this verification thanks to a specific function of the MPs, called “finite capacity resource loading”. This functionality is able to process each resource individually and evaluate its consumption during the production process of an item, relying on a resource consumption structure, which is generally the production cycle. To turn the plan into reality, it will then be useful to use the FCS (Finite Capacity Scheduling) calculation to obtain a detailed production schedule with the finite capacity constraint.
How to get the finished capacity
If you want to find out how to get the finished capacity into your production planning and scheduling process, contact a Cybertec expert and get your questions answered, we’ll be happy to help.