Simio LLC www.simio.com introduces the first advanced planning and scheduling (APS) software to automatically assess delivery schedule risk allowing for early mitigation and reduced cost. For final assembly operations, this new tool automates planning and scheduling at the individual plane workstation level while accounting for uncertainty and risk in the operation and supply chain. Planning that took months is reduced to hours. Aircraft manufacturing executives get unique production schedule detail for pulse stations, travel work and supply chain uncertainty.

Companies using Simio software benefit by predicting weeks and months in advance which individual plane orders carry too much risk of missing schedule and forecasted cost. For early mitigation decisions, the software details underlying non-value added constraints caused by variation in process operations and supply chain that put individual plane orders at risk.

Why variation matters

"Today's advanced planning and scheduling tools generate schedules that completely ignore variation in the system" notes Simio chief executive officer, Dr. Dennis Pegden. "By ignoring variation APS tools generate schedules that promise more than can be delivered", Pegden points out. The distinct difference Simio software provides aircraft manufacturing executives is for the first time an automatic accounting for variation occurring in supply chain and production operations. Click here for special report: WHY VARIATION MATTERS

The new Simio Risk-based Planning and Scheduling (RPS) tool provides up-front visibility into the inherent risk associated with a specific plan/schedule at the individual plane detail level. According to Pegden, "RPS provides the necessary information to take early action in the operational plan to mitigate risks and reduce costs." RPS provides a realistic view of expected schedule performance. Specific alternatives such as overtime or expediting external material/components from suppliers can be compared in terms of their impact on both risks of meeting schedule targets, and costs of mitigating those risks, thereby providing a customer-satisfying operational strategy at a minimum cost.

The new software becomes available in December 2011.