Integrations / ERP / SAP S/4HANA
SkyPlanner APS for SAP S/4HANA: Finite Capacity Production Scheduling
SkyPlanner APS gives SAP S/4HANA plants a finite capacity schedule for every machine, person, tool and material, without a PP/DS project. You see which operation runs where and when, and Autopilot reschedules automatically when production changes.
SkyPlanner integrates with SAP S/4HANA in both directions: production orders, operations, work centers, routings, stock and purchase orders flow in, and operation dates and confirmations flow back. The SkyPlanner team configures the integration to your S/4HANA setup during onboarding and supports it after go-live.
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 SAP S/4HANA.
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.
99.2%delivery reliability
“SkyPlanner has brought visibility to identifying bottlenecks and clarified production management.”
Toni Tuori, Production Manager
Piristeel · Roof safety and rainwater systems
Delivery reliability reached 99.2% this year, and scheduling saves up to four hours of working time per day.
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 SAP S/4HANA
SAP S/4HANA sends the work.
Production orders, operations, work centers, routings, 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 start times return to each operation of the production order in S/4HANA, and logged work posts as production order confirmations.
SkyPlanner connects through SAP’s released OData APIs, so there is nothing to install in S/4HANA. Every plant runs S/4HANA 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 SAP partner or your own developers can also build on SkyPlanner’s documented API (API reference).
The technical details are in the SAP S/4HANA integration guide for production scheduling.
Where SAP S/4HANA’s own scheduling falls short
S/4HANA plans materials and dates every operation, but SAP’s own training is plain about lead time scheduling: “The operations are scheduled infinitely.” For complex scheduling, SAP points to embedded PP/DS. In daily production, that means:
- MRP ignores the load already on each machine. Every planning run creates overloads that a planner has to clean up.
- Planners level the bottlenecks by hand. The plan turns finite only when a planner dispatches the pacemaker operations. Every rush order or breakdown means dispatching again.
- Automatic scheduling means a PP/DS project. PP/DS needs its own activation, liveCache and trained planners. SkyPlanner is the lighter cloud option, implemented within weeks and with shop-floor reporting built in.
Every limit, including PP/DS, is explained in Does SAP S/4HANA have finite capacity scheduling?
SAP S/4HANA alone vs with SkyPlanner
| SAP S/4HANA alone | SAP S/4HANA with SkyPlanner APS | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Infinite in MRP; finite only when a planner levels | Every machine, person and tool has real capacity and shifts |
| Schedule | Planner dispatches bottleneck operations by hand | Detailed schedule for every operation in seconds |
| Changeovers | Fixed setup time per operation, whatever ran before | Jobs ordered for the least setup time |
| Materials | MRP plans material without machine capacity | Jobs start when stock or incoming deliveries are there |
| Changes | Planner re-dispatches after a rush order or breakdown | Autopilot replans the whole plant within your priorities |
| Shop floor | Confirmations entered in SAP GUI or Fiori | Operators see their queue and log work on phone or tablet |
How to choose a scheduler for SAP S/4HANA
S/4HANA’s own capacity leveling fits a plant with one pacemaker work center and stable, MRP-driven demand.
- Choose SkyPlanner when every machine, person and tool limits the plan, not just one pacemaker.
- Choose SkyPlanner when changeovers decide your output. SkyPlanner orders jobs for the least total setup.
- Choose SkyPlanner when shared tools and crews 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 S/4HANA.
- Choose SkyPlanner when a site needs finite scheduling without a PP/DS project, with shop-floor reporting in the same 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 S/4HANA work centers. Assisted onboarding is available.
- Load your orders. Export production orders and operations from S/4HANA to Excel, import them and compare SkyPlanner’s schedule with your current plan.
- Connect SAP S/4HANA. 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 SAP S/4HANA have finite capacity scheduling?
Yes, in two forms. In core S/4HANA, MRP plans against infinite capacity and a planner levels the bottlenecks by hand in the Capacity Scheduling Table or Board. Automatic finite scheduling is embedded PP/DS, which SAP sells separately. SkyPlanner APS gives you an automatic finite schedule for every resource in seconds.
Do we need to install anything in SAP S/4HANA?
No. SkyPlanner runs in the cloud beside S/4HANA and connects through SAP’s released OData APIs. On premise and Private Edition, the services are activated in SAP Gateway. Public Edition uses communication arrangements.
Does SkyPlanner replace S/4HANA production planning?
No, it works on top of it. S/4HANA keeps MRP Live, materials, BOMs, routings, purchasing, inventory and costing, and creates the production orders. SkyPlanner does the capacity leveling your planners now do by hand and sends the dates back.
How much does SkyPlanner cost for an S/4HANA 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 center capacities and routings, connects orders and purchase orders, and sets up the write-back. Everything is tested against your current plan before go-live.
Can we test SkyPlanner before integrating with S/4HANA?
Yes. The 30-day trial runs on an Excel or CSV export of your production orders, operations and work centers. You see a finite schedule of your own production before any Basis or BTP work starts.
What is PP/DS, and do we need it to use SkyPlanner?
PP/DS stands for Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling. It is SAP’s automated finite scheduler, sold as SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing for planning and scheduling. You do not need it. SkyPlanner builds the finite schedule itself from the production orders, operations and work centers in S/4HANA.
