1. A Computerized Planning Genius Reports & Functionality
AutoScheduler
A Computerized Planning Genius
Reports & Functionality

2. Summary AutoScheduler schedules operations to:
Reduce inventory
Increase efficiency/productivity
Eliminate much planning effort
Maximize order fill
Ship on-time
AutoScheduler is a PC-based Planning System that:
Deploys inventory
Creates transfers
Moves orders to best site
Understands dependent activities
Gathers data from a variety of sources
Schedules all activities for a user-specified # of days, within constraints
Meets scheduling goals and customer ship times
Uses execution systems to carry out its plan

3. Glossary of terms used Term Definition Brand Code (Brand) Live load
LRDT
Slide Load UL
Definition
SKU or item
Driver stays with shipment – cannot be delayed
Load Ready Date & Time – When the carrier will pick up the load
Ship directly from production line
Unit Load or pallet quantity
Note: Reports contained herein have been “altered” to protect client information

4. AutoScheduler deploys inventory
Based on:
Forecast (if available)
Production schedules
History
Orders
For example, it may try to keep an assortment of club store product in one site and make sure it has the right mix of products there.
AutoScheduler looks to see where inventory can best be placed to maximize on-time complete shipments.

5. AutoScheduler creates transfers between buildings or sites to balance inventory
Based on:
Demand (orders)
Inventory targets
Truck capacity
Warehouse capability (is it open?)
AutoScheduler generally does this by either:
Creating a report or
Writing orders on the execution system.
To maintain the “mix” of product in any building or fill an order in that site, AutoScheduler will re-deploy inventory. 4

6. For production site, “stock requirements” determine the amount to keep
For production site, “stock requirements” determine the amount to keep. Balance is shipped elsewhere
Item
Keep this
amount

7. What stock should be moved into a site is detailed
Where product
is coming from
Site receiving
the product
Movements are in
truckload quantities
(truck is cubed out
in this case)
Unit Load
(pallet)

8. A summary of all product to be moved into a site

9. AutoScheduler reports what is coming from other sites & schedules an unloading time
While it arrives Sept. 30, product is needed immediately, so AutoScheduler unloads it on Oct. 1, before it is needed

10. AutoScheduler moves excess inventory out when it “house keeping” is needed
Every move-out has a corresponding move-in report at the receiving site

11. A summary of all product to be moved out

12. Movements are controlled by a number of parameter screens
“On-Hold” materials
can be dealt with
separately
Move all items of
the same SKU
together

13. AutoScheduler moves orders to best site based on...
Availability of inventory
Loading capability, such as people
Warehouse capability (Is it open? Can it handle this kind of product?)
Truck loading rules
Inventory positions and age
An order may be slated to ship from a location which does not have enough inventory or capability. For example, it is closed. AutoScheduler, under strict rules, will reassign the order to a new location.

14. To avoid product expiring, AutoScheduler can be told to move it to a place where it will ship

15. AutoScheduler moves orders to the best site based on inventory age
Now
After shipments
% of life left
Here the user has defined Age Bands at 10% & 30% of remaining product life

16. Shipments are relocated based on inventory availability & user preference
New site has all the product needed
Preferred site has only slightly less product than original site

17. AutoScheduler projects all inventory positions into the future...

18. …and highlights items which will go out of stock in “Shorts Report”

19. Stock summary report

20. Stock requirements by customer & time

21. Stock requirements summary by building

22. AutoScheduler reports...
Operating opportunities (e.g. cross dock)
Warnings (e.g. inventory or resource shortages)
Resource utilization
AutoScheduler provides the user with key reports so he/she can quickly hone in on “important issues”

23. Receipt is after shipment date May tell what to substitute
Shipment warnings
Receipt is after shipment date
May tell what to substitute

24. Missing stock report

25. Missing inventory puts shipments at risk of shipping incomplete
Other sites have the product
The shipment is coming in, but places these shipments “at risk” because product arrives after loading begins

26. AutoScheduler reports resource usage Case pickers
Problem
Spikes can be moved by AutoScheduler Optimizer

27. AutoScheduler reports resource usage Dock doors
Past due items
Potential capacity problem is looming

28. AutoScheduler reports resource usage Loaders
Need
Capability

29. Loading early would miss product here
Inventory availability for a shipment is tracked by case pick and pallet availability as well as total inventory over time
Loading early would miss product here

30. Space used is tracked by area of the warehouse over time

31. AutoScheduler determines orders that can be immediately loaded because inventory & trailers are available & shipping early will not disrupt later shipments

32. AutoScheduler understands dependent activities when scheduling
Loading can’t take place before cases are picked
Picking can’t take place before items are received
Receiving can’t take place before trucks arrive
Scheduling for a user’s specified number of days within constraints on such items as:
People
Equipment
Space (dock door availability, etc.)
Maximize the opportunity to load directly from the production line (slide load) by scheduling loading when the needed product is made
Meet customer ship times 100% of the time

33. Shipment schedule report
Door is assigned to minimize lift truck travel
Currently active
Late
TS - Transfer shipments created by AutoScheduler

34. Inbound schedule report by building

35. Inbound summary report

36. AutoScheduler parameters
Allows configuration of parameters for all activities and capabilities
Samples are shown on the following pages

37. User controls parameters for such items as slide loading
Allows for long conveyor trips or quality checks

38. Run control parameters Sample
Makes sure shipments leave from door closest to the product
AutoScheduler maximizes the opportunity for cross docking

39. Run control parameters Sample
Allows orders to be moved among facilities
Defines priority
Schedules receipts just before they are needed

40. AutoScheduler gathers data in a variety of formats from systems that manage an operation
Warehouses (WMS)
Transportation (TMS)
Orders (OMS)
Forecast
Production plan (e.g. ERP schedule)
Automatic storage (ASRS)
Production monitoring (real time production management and scheduling)

41. Checks “freshness” of data
AutoScheduler checks data validity Run control parameters – Data Checks
Checks “freshness” of data

42. Runs on PC Needs fast connections to data sources
Run time varies with complexity (number of SKU’s // degree of “optimization”
Traditionally run every 30 minutes

43. Contact us for more information
Transportation l Warehouse Optimization
Phone (615)