Integrations / ERP / HELIOS
Does HELIOS Have Finite Capacity Scheduling? HELIOS Capacity Planning vs SkyPlanner APS
Yes, partly. HELIOS Nephrite includes its own APS, and HELIOS iNuvio has basic capacity planning and advanced production planning that can plan machines into limited capacity. Plans are built in calculation runs on one active plan, can fall back to unlimited capacity when dates are not met, and leave a collision list for the planner. Plants that need every machine, person, tool and material scheduled finitely, and replanned automatically, run SkyPlanner APS beside HELIOS.
This article covers the current Asseco Solutions lines, HELIOS Nephrite for large companies and HELIOS iNuvio for mid-sized companies. The step-by-step detail comes from the HELIOS iNuvio help. HELIOS Orange and HELIOS Green are the other HELIOS lines. For the general idea behind the term, see finite capacity scheduling.
How HELIOS plans capacity, step by step
1. Technical preparation (TPV)
Planning starts in technical preparation of production (TPV). Manufactured parts (vyráběné dílce) carry a BOM (kusovník) and a routing (technologický postup). Each routing operation holds:
- the workplace and machine
- machine preparation time and operator preparation time (přípravný čas strojní, přípravný čas obsluhy)
- unit time per piece (jednicový čas) and finishing time (ukončovací čas)
- a constant inter-operation time (konstantní mezioperační čas)
- alternative workplaces (alternativy pracoviště)
2. Resources and calendars
Workplaces, machines, professions, personnel resources and subcontracts each have a flag to include them in capacity planning. HELIOS describes a machine as the elementary unit that enters capacity planning as a resource with limited capacity (machine register help). Planning calendars (plánovací kalendáře) set working time per resource, and the capacity plan respects them on every recalculation.
3. Production plan and production orders
The production plan (výrobní plán) creates production orders (výrobní příkazy). A production order is one concrete production batch of one part. MRP generates purchase and production requests automatically (iNuvio production sheet).
4. Basic capacity planning
Basic capacity planning (Základní kapacitní plánování) builds a capacity plan of machines and subcontracts and can fill it automatically by the conditions you set. HELIOS shows the result graphically and lists collisions, such as an overloaded machine on a given order operation or broken operation order. Only one capacity plan can be active. The others are test plans (basic capacity planning help).
5. Advanced production planning
Advanced production planning (Pokročilé plánování výroby) turns orders into a list of production batches, each with an expected date for one batch of one operation. The base mode is backward planning from the final order’s finish date, completed by an optimization for work in progress. Forward planning is available too. A Gantt chart shows orders against resource capacity, and switches can move the following or preceding operations automatically when you move a batch. A profession request picks the best personnel resource of that profession (advanced planning help).
6. HELIOS Nephrite APS
HELIOS Nephrite markets its own APS inside production planning, with optimization of inter-operation times and batch sequencing at each workplace, and a planning board for building and visualizing the plan (HELIOS Nephrite production).
What stays with the planner
- Capacity can switch to unlimited. The advanced planner has a setting to plan into unlimited capacity when limit dates are not met (*Plánovat do neomezených kapacit při nedodržení limitních termínů*). Basic planning has the same option.
- Some resources never block. Resources set not to block capacity are planned into unlimited capacity, only within their calendar hours.
- One active plan, built in runs. The plan shows the date of its last calculation run. A rush order or a breakdown means a new run.
- Collisions come back as a list. Overloads and broken operation order are listed for the planner to resolve.
- Preparation time is set per operation. Each routing operation holds its own machine and operator preparation time, entered in the routing.
- Master data decides the result. HELIOS notes that capacity planning bases its calculations on TPV data, so workplace and machine registers must be complete.
When HELIOS’s native planning is enough
HELIOS planning does the job when:
- You need MRP requests and a capacity plan per machine, refreshed in periodic runs.
- Backward planning from due dates matches how you promise delivery.
- A planner has time to work the collision list after each run.
- Changeovers are short or do not depend on the product that ran before.
- Operators, shared tools and material arrival do not decide the order of work.
When you need a finite capacity scheduler
You have outgrown native planning when several of these are true:
- Dates hold in the plan only because capacity falls back to unlimited.
- The planner resolves collisions and moves batches by hand after every rush order or breakdown.
- Changeover time depends on which product ran before.
- Operators, shifts and absences limit output as much as machines do.
- Dies, molds or fixtures move between machines.
- Late material decides which order can start.
- Operators work from printed job cards instead of a live queue.
What to look for
- Every resource finite at once: machines, people and tools, with no unlimited fallback.
- Operation-level sequencing by priorities and due dates, as described in our job shop scheduling guide.
- A setting time matrix with sequence-dependent, asymmetric changeover times.
- Tools as finite shared resources and multi-operator jobs.
- Material-aware scheduling that checks stock and incoming purchase orders.
- Automatic rescheduling when production progress or orders change.
- A clean HELIOS data path. For iNuvio, reads and writes through the Inuvio REST API. Ask every vendor how dates reach your production orders and who supports it after go-live.
The options fall into four groups:
- HELIOS native planning (iNuvio capacity planning, Nephrite APS) plans inside HELIOS.
- MES suites with a planning module schedule the shop floor in daily or weekly plans next to their data collection.
- Enterprise APS suites are connected through an implementation project and run by a planning team.
- Cloud APS with shop-floor execution, where SkyPlanner sits, schedules every resource automatically beside HELIOS and puts the plan in operators’ hands.
For the wider category, see advanced planning and scheduling.
Where SkyPlanner fits
SkyPlanner APS closes each gap listed above. Every workstation, person and tool is finite. The Arcturus AI engine builds an operation-level schedule in seconds, sequenced by job priority, completion date, customer priority, Fast Track and Dynamic Priorities.
Its setting time matrix holds the changeover time between each pair of products in both directions, and the engine picks the order with the least setup. Tools are finite shared resources, several people can work the same job at once, and work moves to alternative machines or personnel when the primary one is unavailable.
Material-driven scheduling simulates future inventory from stock and incoming purchase orders, so an order is planned when its material is there. Autopilot reschedules automatically when production changes, and 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, in Czech if they prefer.
Choose SkyPlanner over HELIOS APS and iNuvio advanced planning when:
- The plan must keep itself current. HELIOS plans in calculation runs on one active plan, and the planner resolves the collision list (HELIOS help). Autopilot replans automatically on every meaningful change.
- Dates must be real. HELIOS can plan into unlimited capacity when limit dates are not met. SkyPlanner stays finite and shows the true finish date.
- Changeovers, tools, crews and material decide the sequence. The setting time matrix, finite tools, multi-operator jobs, alternative workstations and purchase-order arrivals sit in one schedule.
- You need a live schedule in weeks. SkyPlanner is cloud software you test on your own orders in the trial and run live within weeks after onboarding starts.
- Every operator should see the plan. SkyPlanner users are unlimited, and Mobile Confirmations put the queue on every phone or tablet.
Start with an Excel export of open HELIOS production 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 HELIOS in both directions through the Inuvio REST API on HELIOS iNuvio, and on a route set during onboarding scoping for HELIOS Nephrite. The SkyPlanner team configures it during onboarding, and your partner or developers can work on the documented REST API. See the SkyPlanner for HELIOS page, the HELIOS integration guide or all ERP integrations.
SkyPlanner reviews from manufacturers
2 hsaved every week
“SkyPlanner has taken our production planning from Excel spreadsheets to real-time production optimization.”
Kalle Kalliomäki, Supply Chain Specialist
UTU · Electrical switchboards and switchgear
Production planning saves 2 hours of working time every week, and a new work queue reaches the line in seconds.
+90%production efficiency
“Efficiency has gone up 90% in production.”
Abdul Rucyinga, Head of IT
Laboratory & Allied · Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Production efficiency is up 90%, and a three-month optimized plan across all workstations takes under 30 minutes.
6 monthsof free capacity visible to sales
“SkyPlanner creates the foundation and reliability for all production planning.”
Anu Järvinen, Production Manager
Fredman Operations · Food-safe packaging papers
Sales sees free capacity six months ahead, and schedule-change requests that took an hour or more are answered in seconds.
Fewerstoppages from material shortages
“The value SkyPlanner brings us is that it is a tool that works in daily use, especially for setting delivery dates.”
Tommi Männistö, Production Planning Manager
Eskomatic · Contract machining
Automatic load scheduling gives more accurate delivery dates, and production stoppages caused by material shortages have fallen sharply.
FAQ
Does HELIOS have a scheduling tool?
Yes. HELIOS iNuvio has basic capacity planning and advanced production planning with a Gantt view, and HELIOS Nephrite has its own APS with a planning board. They plan production batches in calculation runs on one active plan. SkyPlanner APS adds a finite schedule that replans automatically.
Is HELIOS capacity planning finite or infinite?
Both. Machines plan into limited capacity, but a resource can be set to unlimited, and a setting plans into unlimited capacity when limit dates are not met. SkyPlanner keeps every resource finite.
Does HELIOS iNuvio handle sequence-dependent setup times?
iNuvio routings hold a machine and an operator preparation time per operation. SkyPlanner’s setting time matrix stores changeover times between product pairs in both directions and sequences jobs to minimize them.
Can I test SkyPlanner before integrating it with HELIOS?
Yes. Export open production orders, routings and workplaces from HELIOS as Excel or CSV during the 30-day trial and compare the schedule with your current plan. See pricing, start the trial or talk to sales.
