Does Global Shop Solutions Have Finite Capacity Scheduling? The APS Module Explained

1. Routers and BOMs

Scheduling starts from the Router, which gives “tasks, workcenters and sequence for every product” (Routers). A Router holds three kinds of sequences: material, labor and outside service. Global Shop lets you “build routers from BOMs or BOMs from routers” and “automatically create POs and work orders for needed parts” (BOM).

2. Workcenters, work groups and calendars

Capacity lives in calendars. Global Shop’s white paper says: “Calendars – Allows you to easily define a workcenter’s capacity and can be viewed by workcenter and employee.” The product sheet adds “work group scheduling based on workcenter capability” constraints and lets you “add temporary date-specific modifications to capacity calendars” (APS product sheet).

3. Finite or infinite, forward or backward

“Use finite/infinite scheduling to create reliable quotes that reflect real-time data, including what-if scenarios.” (Planning & Scheduling) The product sheet lists forward and backward scheduling, workcenter scheduling, employee constraint scheduling based on skill sets, tool scheduling and material scheduling. It can also “schedule labor around incoming dates for dedicated materials,” “schedule multi-level assemblies based on required dates” and “schedule link similar jobs.” Scheduling a new order is automatic: “Simply enter a work order, click on a few buttons and the system instantly schedules the job” (Global Shop white paper).

4. The APS screens

The white paper walks through the screens. The master menu covers Job, BOM, Project, Plant, Master Job Schedule, Master Part Schedule, Master Customer Schedule, Master WC/WG, Work Groups, Employee and Calendars. In the Individual Job View, “horizontal bars on the large graph show the material sequence (blue), employee or machine labor (red) and outside service sequence (green).” In the Plant View, “Red blocks mean that a department is overloaded on that particular date.” (Global Shop white paper)

5. Drag and drop, what-if and the bump list

“Easily reschedule or reroute jobs with our drag and drop feature to meet customer deadlines.” Planners can “try out different scheduling options (using the ‘Shift to What-If Scenario’ menu selection) before entering them into the system.” When a reschedule pushes other work, “graphic scheduling pops up a ‘bump list,'” which tells the planner: “we have taken all these work orders and moved them out to the right. You will be late on these orders if you continue with this decision.”

6. Dispatch lists

The floor works from “customizable dispatch lists” and a “real-time workcenter dispatch list.” Global Shop also offers “global reschedule capabilities” and “visual schedules by department, workcenter, project, work order and bill of material (BOM).”

7. Shop Floor Data Collection

Employees “log in & out of jobs,” “capture time applied to work orders,” “complete a job/all jobs on a workcenter” and “change the workcenter to be used,” by “RFID, barcode, biometrics or touchscreen” (Shop Floor Data Collection). That labor and production data updates the work orders the APS schedules.

The native module does the job when:

• One plant schedules by workcenter and work group calendars.
• Planners are happy to set due dates and move jobs themselves.
• Setups are short or do not depend on the job before.
• Rush orders are occasional, and the bump list is a useful warning rather than a daily chore.
• Shop Floor Data Collection is used on every sequence, so the APS sees real progress.

If that fits, keep Routers and calendars accurate, use what-if before you commit a date, and read the bump list on every reschedule.

SkyPlanner APS takes over the sequencing that stays with the planner. Every workstation, person, tool and material is finite, with real clock times. Arcturus optimizes the whole plan in seconds, sequenced by job priority, completion date, customer priority, Fast Track and Dynamic Priorities.

The setting time matrix holds the changeover time between each pair of parts in both directions, and the engine picks the order with the least setup. A job that needs three operators gets three people with free shifts. A tool in use on one machine is never booked on another, and work moves to an alternative machine or person when the first choice is busy.

Material-driven scheduling simulates future inventory from stock and incoming purchase orders, so a job is planned when its material is there. Autopilot reschedules automatically when production changes, and the Running Time Lock freezes the next hours of work so the floor is not disrupted. Operators log work on phone or tablet with Mobile Confirmations, Production Timer and Quick Log Mode.

Choose SkyPlanner over Global Shop APS when:

• You want all work orders optimized together. Global Shop schedules each work order on entry, and the planner reworks the Gantt when priorities clash. Arcturus sequences every machine at once.
• Rush orders are daily. Autopilot re-sequences the whole plant around the rush order, instead of bumping work orders to the right.
• Setups depend on the job before. The directional setting time matrix plans the order with the least total setup.
• Machines and crews limit you together. Each machine in a Workcenter gets its own queue, and multi-operator jobs are staffed from free shifts.

Start with an Excel export of open Global Shop work orders in the 30-day free trial (up to 20 workstations, no credit card). After that, pricing is from 199 € per month with 5 workstations included, billed monthly. The integration is quoted up front for your process and needs, together with your plan.

SkyPlanner integrates with Global Shop Solutions in both directions, built with Global Shop’s GAB SDK and SkyPlanner’s REST API. The SkyPlanner team configures it during onboarding, and your Global Shop developers can work on the documented REST API. See the SkyPlanner for Global Shop Solutions page, the Global Shop Solutions integration guide, SkyPlanner features or all ERP integrations.