(1) Requirements explosion
Given production lot (order) information, Asprova generates detailed jobs at the process level, while automatically calculating required quantities of component parts and raw materials. Unlike in traditional MRP systems, all processing is performed in-memory, allowing 10,000 jobs to be generated in approximately 1 second.
(2) Automatic scheduling
Asprova simultaneously considers all relevant constraints from the master data, including machines, raw materials, items, workers, setup workers, tooling, metal molds, jigs, electricity, due dates, and earliest start times, along with information from the work calendar and various scheduling options. Full scheduling can be performed at high-speed with the click of a menu item. 10,000 jobs can be scheduled in less than 10 seconds, depending on the constraints used.
(3) Mixed forward / backward
You can mix forward scheduling with backward scheduling in a single scheduling run.
(4) Assignment direction switch
When assignment fails in the forward direction, you can have Asprova automatically retry in the backward direction, and vice versa.
(5) Scheduling parameters / dispatching rules
You can specify dispatching rules to determine the order in which jobs are assigned.
(6) Scheduling parameters / weights
You can specify weights for various criteria by which Asprova chooses among multiple candidate resources for a job.
(7) Scheduling parameters / options
You can make specify detailed settings to control finite/infinite capacity, assignment directions, temporary fixing of jobs, assigned resources, production time calculations, and what to do in case assignment fails.
(8) Scheduling parameters / combination
By preparing ahead of time multiple sets of parameters and using them in combination, you can achieve various effects which would not be possible in a single pass. For example, you can schedule once backwards, temporarily fix all the starting jobs, and then reschedule again forwards to have all orders start as close as possible to their due dates, while automatically centering the jobs around the bottleneck process to reduce lead times, wait times, and work-in-progress.
(9) Fixed job oriented scheduling
If you fix a starting process job, jobs for all later processes will be scheduled forward. If you fix a final process job, jobs for all earlier processes will be scheduled backward. If you fix a middle process job, jobs for later processes will be scheduled forward, while jobs for earlier processes will be scheduled backward. If you fix 2 or more jobs in the same lot, you can specify the assignment direction for jobs in between the immovable ones as either forward or backward.
(10) Results data
You can enter results data to mark a job as frozen, started, or completed. If you enter detailed results data such as the actual quantity, actual start time, actual end time, and results obtain time, the information will be reflected automatically in the next scheduling run. You can also choose to reflect the completed quantity onto the planned quantities for later processes.
(11) Automatic job division
You can specify a job division quantity for each combination of resource and item. Jobs which take a long time can thus be automatically divided and processed in parallel on multiple resources to shorten lead times and avoid lateness.
(12) Bulk production
You can perform scheduling in which certain component parts are automatically produced as-needed in fixed lot sizes, with excess quantity being stored in inventory for later use. This is especially useful when the same component is used in producing many different finished items.
(13) Theoretical inventory calculation
You can have Asprova calculate the theoretical on-hand inventory levels of items based on past stock-taking records and production results data and automatically write this into the inventory table.
Note: Many additional features exist which are not listed here.
| 