just plan it vs. Schedule Forge

Just Plan It specializes in production scheduling specifically designed for high-mix, low-volume make-to-order settings. Through our collaborations with various manufacturing shops, we have identified the crucial elements that lead to their success. Despite the effective use of an ERP system, CIOvita relied on custom Excel spreadsheets for production scheduling, a method that became increasingly insufficient as the company grew. This approach brought forth several significant issues, including poor visibility and reduced responsiveness to changes. The resulting environment was characterized by constant fluctuations and a focus on crisis management. Before implementing Just Plan It, Loynds utilized spreadsheets, paper lists, and extensive discussions to establish delivery timelines and keep their engineering team updated on current work tasks, as highlighted by Richard Loynds, the Managing Director at Loynds. The main obstacle they faced was the lack of transparency about the actual activities taking place on the shop floor, which was exacerbated by rapidly changing processes. This absence of visibility often resulted in the failure to meet delivery commitments, ultimately threatening customer relationships and eroding trust. The switch to Just Plan It has not only addressed these issues but also brought about a significant enhancement in operational clarity and efficiency, allowing Loynds to regain control over their scheduling processes.

Schedule Forge is specifically crafted for the production scheduling needs of small manufacturers. It facilitates the generation of work orders that feature multi-step routings and aligns these orders with actual line capacity; users can effortlessly adjust schedules through a simple drag-and-drop interface, which automatically realigns all subsequent tasks. Each job’s deadline is continuously monitored throughout its workflow, with any late tasks clearly marked, and the interconnections between orders illustrate how one job may influence the timeline of another. Users are empowered to examine AI-driven what-if scenarios to assess the consequences of introducing a rush order or pausing production before making final decisions. On the production floor, operators can easily clock in and out via a PIN kiosk, while progress is meticulously tracked through counts of good products and scrap; routing steps are enhanced with photos, links, and revision histories to provide better clarity. A customizable dashboard, complemented by a daily email summary, assists users in prioritizing tasks that demand immediate attention. Furthermore, users have the ability to print purchase orders, keep an eye on deadlines, invite team members with specific roles, log in using their Google accounts, and modify names for tasks, projects, lines, and work orders to suit their unique shop lingo. The platform also integrates seamlessly with REST API, webhooks, and Airtable, further enhancing its capabilities. By offering these comprehensive features, Schedule Forge not only simplifies the scheduling process but also significantly boosts overall operational efficiency for manufacturers, making it an invaluable tool in their production management arsenal.