SSI software assists client with delivery and production scheduling

        One of Slofstra Software Inc.'s (SSI) customers is a leading private-label food company, who wishes to keep a low profile; we will refer to them as 'the company'. For their manufacturing process, bulk materials need to be ordered on a time-sensitive schedule. Orders need to be placed carefully, with special consideration of how much of each material will be needed each week. 'The company' wishes to ensure that they do not run out of materials, while at the same time ensuring they stay within limited bulk storage constraints and shelf-life expiry limits.
        In the past, 'the company' went through the process of determining final shipping arrangements by hand. The ERP system produced reports of the production requirements, with information on how much of each ingredient was needed scattered throughout the reports. The information had to be analysed and all the data added together and recorded manually. One employee was usually committed to the job each time, and it would take even the best of employees several hours to complete. An added problem was that the company's products and schedule change continuously, and with each change, the whole process of delivery analysis had to be redone.
        This time-consuming, manual calculation process was obviously ineffective, so Luke Hamilton (not his real name, by request), the director of product development and quality assurance, called Slofstra Software Inc. and requested a new program that could perform the analysis automatically.
        SSI tailored a Production Scheduling (PS) program to better suit the company's needs. 'The company' was using ROSS, a successful ERP system with hundreds of installations. While ROSS provided an MRP calculation and a purchasing function, it did not meet the needs of the producer's specific just-in-time shipping requirements.
        SSI managed to add these necessary features to the system. SSI created a Production Scheduling program that draws from ROSS and also from product formula records. The program swiftly processes the data, leading to simplified ordering of the appropriate materials each week. The analysis that used to take hours can now be completed automatically in just a few seconds. "Logistics management is far-improved," says Luke Hamilton.
        Another benefit of the PS program is that it enables purchasing to have an at-a-glance view of ingredients for the week, in order to monitor any possible shortages. The computer monitors every ingredient in the system, including both the bulk materials and the less-often used ingredients. "[The Production Scheduling program] allows a push-button glance at our position," adds Luke Hamilton.
        The PS program further benefits the company because they do not have to pay licence fees each time they want to add the program to another employee's computer. As the program has been adapted to fit the company's specific needs and requirements, the company pays only to develop the software, and obtains a perpetual, unlimited user licence. 'The company' can use the PS program for as many people in the company as they wish, without having to pay for each individual copy. At 'the company', over 20 employees now use some aspect of the PS program.
        SSI has managed to provide 'the company' with a product that saves valuable time, money and energy, and that meets their specific requirements and desires. "The end product is just fantastic," says Luke Hamilton. "It's easy to use and it accomplishes the goal."

A screen shot of the Production Scheduling program in use at 'the company'.