Integrations / ERP / Sage X3
SkyPlanner APS for Sage X3: Finite Capacity Production Scheduling
SkyPlanner APS gives Sage X3 manufacturers a finite capacity schedule for every workstation, operator, tool and material. You see which work order operation runs where and when, and Autopilot reschedules automatically when production changes.
SkyPlanner integrates with Sage X3 in both directions: work orders, routings, work centers, stock and purchase orders flow in, and planned operation dates and production tracking flow back. The SkyPlanner team configures the integration to your X3 setup during onboarding, whether X3 runs in Sage’s cloud or on your own servers.
Pricing is from 199 € per month with 5 workstations included, and each extra workstation is 20 € per month. The free trial runs for 30 days with up to 20 workstations and no credit card.
What changes in your production
No more overbooked machines.
Every machine, person and tool gets a finite schedule with real shifts, absences and overtime. A die in use on one machine is never booked on another, and a job that needs three operators gets three people with free shifts. When a machine is busy, work moves to an alternative machine or person.
Delivery dates you can promise.
The schedule shows when each order will really finish. You answer customers from the plan, not from a guess.
Rush orders and breakdowns replanned automatically.
When a machine stops, a rush order lands or work finishes early, Autopilot reschedules automatically. Your locks and priorities stay in control.
Fewer changeovers.
SkyPlanner knows how long it takes to switch a machine from one product to the next, in both directions. Blue to red can take 30 minutes and red to blue 60. The schedule runs jobs in the order that loses the least time to setups.
A schedule that respects material.
SkyPlanner checks stock and incoming purchase orders. A job waiting for a vendor delivery is planned after that delivery date instead of stopping on the floor.
Operators see their queue.
Each operator sees the next jobs on a phone or tablet and logs work as it happens. The office sees progress live, and the logged work goes back to Sage X3 as production tracking.
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.
1,000swork orders scheduled automatically
“Production is under control in a different way, and our understanding of capacity is on a completely different level.”
Hannu Ryynänen, CEO
Mamec · Industrial mixers, pumps and high-tech contract manufacturing
Thousands of work orders are scheduled automatically, with a real-time view of production for the whole organization.
How SkyPlanner works with Sage X3
Sage X3 sends the work.
Work orders, routings, work centers, stock and purchase orders flow into SkyPlanner.
SkyPlanner builds the schedule and keeps it current.
The Arcturus engine plans every operation in seconds and replans as production changes.
Dates and logged work go back.
Planned operation dates and work centers return to the work orders in Sage X3, and logged work posts as production tracking.
SkyPlanner connects through the APIs and web services Sage documents for X3, so there is nothing to install. Every plant runs X3 differently, so the SkyPlanner team configures the integration to your setup during onboarding and supports it after go-live. The integration is quoted up front for your process and needs. Your Sage X3 partner or your own developers can also build on SkyPlanner’s documented API (API reference).
The technical details are in the Sage X3 integration guide for production scheduling.
Why Sage X3’s own planning is not enough
Sage X3 plans materials with MRP and dates every work order, but its standard scheduling ignores machine load. Sage’s own support guide says it “does not delay or stagger work orders based on overall resource load.” In daily production, that means:
- Overloads are shown, not solved. X3 flags overbooked work centers, and a planner fixes them one order at a time.
- Changeovers, crews and tools are left to the planner. Standard scheduling does not order jobs to cut setups or check who and what is free.
- Cloud X3 has no built-in finite scheduler. Sage’s own finite scheduler runs only on-premises, so cloud plants add a separate one.
Every limit is explained in Does Sage X3 have finite capacity scheduling?
Sage X3 alone vs with SkyPlanner
| Sage X3 alone | Sage X3 with SkyPlanner APS | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Standard scheduling ignores machine load | Every machine, person and tool has real capacity and shifts |
| Schedule | Each work order dated on its own; the planner fixes overloads | Detailed schedule for every operation in seconds |
| Changeovers | Jobs not ordered to reduce setups | Jobs ordered for the least setup time |
| Materials | MRP plans material, not machine time | Jobs start when stock or incoming deliveries are there |
| Changes | Overloads fixed order by order, by hand | Autopilot replans the whole plant within your priorities |
| Shop floor | Production tracking entered in X3 | Operators see their queue and log work on phone or tablet |
How to choose a scheduler for Sage X3
Sage X3’s own planning fits a plant where materials, not machines, set the pace and a weekly load check keeps orders on time.
- Choose SkyPlanner when you run Sage X3 in Sage’s cloud and want finite scheduling there too.
- Choose SkyPlanner when changeovers decide your output. SkyPlanner orders jobs for the least total setup.
- Choose SkyPlanner when crews and shared tools decide what can run next.
- Choose SkyPlanner when material arrival decides which job starts.
- Choose SkyPlanner when the plan changes several times a week. Autopilot replans, and the new dates go back to Sage X3.
- Choose SkyPlanner when you want scheduling and shop-floor reporting in one tool.
How to get started
- Start the free trial. 30 days, up to 20 workstations, all Basic features, no credit card.
- Model your production. Create machines, people and shifts in SkyPlanner, or import them from your X3 work centers. Assisted onboarding is available.
- Load your orders. Export work orders from Sage X3 to Excel, import them and compare SkyPlanner’s schedule with your current plan.
- Connect Sage X3. The SkyPlanner team configures the two-way integration and supports it once you are live.
Pricing. Plans are billed monthly per workstation, and you can add or remove workstations or cancel at any time. See pricing for the details.
FAQ
Does Sage X3 have finite capacity scheduling?
Not in standard scheduling. X3 dates each work order on its own and shows overloads for a planner to fix. Sage’s own finite scheduler runs only on-premises. SkyPlanner APS adds a detailed finite capacity schedule for the whole plant.
Do we need to install anything in Sage X3?
No. SkyPlanner runs in the cloud beside X3, and the connection is set up in X3’s own web service configuration. You do not need Sage’s scheduler modules either.
Does SkyPlanner replace Sage X3 manufacturing?
No, it works on top of it. Sage X3 keeps products, bills of materials, routings, MRP, purchasing, stock and finance. MRP decides what to make; SkyPlanner decides when and on which machine, and sends the dates back.
How much does SkyPlanner cost for a Sage X3 plant?
From 199 € per month with 5 workstations included, plus 20 € per month per extra workstation. A workstation is a production resource with its own scheduled work queue. The integration is quoted up front for your process and needs, together with your plan, so you see the full cost before you start.
How long does implementation take?
Implementation is normally completed within weeks after onboarding starts, even for large companies. The team maps your work centers and routings, connects work orders and purchase orders, and sends planned dates back. Everything is tested against your current plan before go-live.
Can we test SkyPlanner before integrating with Sage X3?
Yes. The 30-day trial runs on an Excel or CSV export of your X3 work orders. You see a finite capacity schedule of your own production before any integration work starts.
Does SkyPlanner work with Sage X3 in the cloud and on-premises?
Yes. SkyPlanner never needs direct access to X3’s files or database, so the integration works the same in Sage’s cloud and on your own servers.
