Why are successful companies failing to plan in Excel?

Do you still use Excel as its default factory planning tool? If so, it is being left behind. There is no doubt that Excel is a powerful tool, allows calculations, data analysis and report creation. All of us, whether amateur or professional, we use it. But will not be hostage to its simplicity and versatility? The market and industry is increasingly challenging, either due to supply chain volatility, increasing costs, increasingly demanding customers or more aggressive competition. Not all tools are able to answer these questions. For more practical than Excel may be, has its limitations. Limitations that cost companies time and money, such as:

• Scale Limitations: Excel has restrictions on the number of data and formulas that can manipulate. This can be a problem for large factories or a wide variety of products.
• Human Failures: Excel is susceptible to human errors, such as typing errors or poorly elaborate formulas. This can lead to inaccurate or inefficient production plans.
• Collaboration Difficulty: Excel can be difficult to use in teams, as users can easily overlap or modify each other.

So how are many of the successful companies doing something so complex? They invest in innovation and digitization of their systems and bet on advanced and specialized solutions in production planning and programming, namely Siemens Opcenter APS, former Preactor . And why choose Opcenter APS?

Easily integrate with any ERP or data source

How long spends looking for information? To search Excel sheets and files, looking for hidden tables, making calls or sending emails to ask for information? Opcenter can extract information from orders, dates, scripts, list of materials directly from the source, whether ERP, Mes, or even Excel Files used by the various areas. This always guarantees the most up-to-date information and time saves on tasks that will not bring added value.

Processing and response capacity

Opcenter APS not only deals with large data volumes, but also uses advanced algorithms to generate precise production plans, to take into account machine capabilities, scripts, material list, labor use, tools and other specific rules. All of this is done in a matter of seconds or minutes.

Simulation capacity and visibility

Orders that are changed on time, damage to machines, incorrect stocks and that generate us surprised when material is lacking at the time of production, sudden increase in absenteeism. We all come across any of these situations if not all! Unfortunately they are more recurrent than we would like. With the Opcenter APS we can quickly see the impacts of these changes on the plan. We can see, for example, what orders will delay. We can easily calculate and compare different scenarios and realize the best alternative to minimize impacts. Excel may even be a practical tool and that, on a small scale, can work on factory planning. However, as factories become more complex, the market becomes more challenging Excel becomes less and less appropriate for this task. Siemens Opcenter APS Software offers a number of features that make it ideal for production planning on any scale and any manufactured industry, with proven results in cost reduction, improving resource use and increasing productivity. Contact with Neo to learn more or ask for a free demonstration!