In recent years, terms like Industry 4.0, Smart Factory, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been widely discussed. Nevertheless, many medium-sized companies in Germany still rely on Excel for their production planning. This traditional method often leads to inefficiencies and costly wastage, as production planning is the heart of a factory. Planning influences all processes within the company and therefore must be carried out just-in-time. AMC Industrietechnik GmbH, a leading company in the field of machinery and plant engineering, faced several challenges: Production planning was largely based on the experience of the production manager, which increased dependence on individuals and the susceptibility to errors. With the expansion of the product portfolio and the increasing number of projects, planning became more complex. Production orders were initiated based on empirical values, and start dates often had to be adjusted spontaneously, which corresponded to inefficient push production. AMC grew continuously, which increased planning complexity and the need for process optimization.

To address these challenges, AMC decided to develop and implement an intelligent detailed planning tool in collaboration with AMEXIS. The requirements for the new software were high: The software had to be capable of fully representing the actual conditions of the factory. This included considering all product characteristics, processes, process rules, and constraints. The availability of materials should be integrated into the planning to avoid bottlenecks. An efficient sequencing should minimize lead times and production costs. The software had to be flexible enough to respond to short-term changes. Changes in production should be quickly and easily integrated into the planning to maximize efficiency.

By implementing the intelligent detailed planning tool from AMEXIS, significant improvements were achieved at AMC: The introduction of the new software significantly reduced the workload for production management and order control. Planning became more transparent and less prone to errors. The AI-controlled planning enabled better adherence to customer deadlines, thereby increasing customer satisfaction. Lead times were shortened, and production efficiency was significantly improved. The software facilitated the management and prioritization of urgent orders, leading to more flexible and faster production.

About AMC

AMC is a renowned specialist in machinery and plant engineering, particularly in the fields of sealing technology, pumps, agitators, special machines, drive technology, and industrial services. With more than 100 employees, AMC serves a variety of well-known customers and is known for its innovative and customized solutions. The successful introduction of the intelligent detailed planning tool by AMEXIS at AMC represents a significant step towards modern, efficient, and flexible production planning. Through the automation and optimization of planning processes, AMC has not only increased its efficiency but also laid the foundation for future growth and further optimizations.

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