Integrations / ERP / Visma L7
Does Visma L7 Have Finite Capacity Scheduling? L7 Fine Planning vs SkyPlanner APS
Partly. Visma L7 production control loads work stages onto resources day by day, shows the load per day and turns the figures red when a resource is overbooked. It does not build a plan where every machine, person and tool stays within capacity at a real clock time. Visma has also ended new L7 development. Manufacturers that need finite capacity scheduling run SkyPlanner APS beside L7 and keep it when they move to their next ERP.
Visma L7 is Visma’s ERP for contracting, energy and industrial companies, typically large and mid-sized Finnish ones. If you run Visma Net or Visma Nova, see their own pages.
How Visma L7 schedules production, step by step
L7 production control (Tuotannonohjaus) works on the product structure, the work number and the resource. It runs with Visma LTR, which also hosts the L7 REST API.
1. Resources and the factory calendar
A resource (KRYH) sits in a resource tree and has a machine count and a capacity. When a resource has several machines, L7 divides the capacity need by the number of machines (source). Capacity follows the factory calendar (Tehdaskalenteri), which holds up to three shifts. Missing calendar days can push scheduling into the past, so the calendar must be kept complete (source).
2. Work stages in the product structure
Work stages (työnvaihe) are rows on the product structure (tuoterakenne). L7 has no separate routing master. Each stage names its resource and its time.
3. Work numbers and work cards
A work number (työnumero) with its sub-number and row holds the parts to make. Each stage of a part becomes a work card (TSUUNR), and its plan is stored as hours on dates (TSUUNRP).
4. Requirement calculation
Requirement calculation (Tarvelaskenta) explodes the structure, reserves material and places the stages on dates. It works from the delivery date or forward from a start date.
5. Fine planning and the planning grid
Fine planning (Hienosuunnittelu) and the production planning grid show the stages per resource with status colors, grouping and sorting (source). The daily load view turns the figures red when load exceeds capacity (source).
6. Sorting the day
The planner sets a priority for chosen stages on a target day. When the day is full, the rest flow to the next working days. A manual action sorts the day’s work, and a priority set by an external system is left as it is (source).
7. Work queues on the shop floor
Operators see their stages in L7 work queues (Työjonot) and post production events there. Those events are readable over the REST API.
What stays with the planner
- Overload is a red number. L7 shows that a resource is overbooked. Moving stages to fix it is the planner’s job (source).
- Fixed-stage scheduling allows overload. Visma’s 2024 training material says it lets the load run over and covers only single-level structures (source).
- Days, not clock times. A stage’s plan is hours on dates. The order inside the day comes from priority and a manual sort.
- One resource, several machines. The machine count shortens the duration. It does not give each machine its own queue (source).
- No changeover logic. Fine planning has no setup matrix, so grouping similar jobs is done by eye.
- People and tools sit outside the plan. Capacity is held on the resource. A stage that needs two operators and a fixture is not checked against free people and tools.
- The calendar must be complete. Gaps in the factory calendar move stages into the past (source).
- Development has ended. Visma has stopped new L7 features. Maintenance covers only critical security and bug fixes, and use of the product ends at the end of 2028 (Visma notice).
When Visma L7’s own scheduling is enough
L7 fine planning does the job when:
- Each resource is one machine, or the machines in it are truly interchangeable.
- Your structures are single-level.
- A supervisor sets the exact order at the machine each morning.
- Changeovers are short or the same whatever ran before.
- You plan to stay on L7 until you replace it and do not want to change planning before that.
When you need a finite capacity scheduler
You have outgrown it when several of these are true:
- The planner moves stages off red days every week.
- Operators, shifts and shared tools limit the plan as much as machines.
- Changeover time depends on which product ran before.
- Material arrival, not stock on hand, decides which job can start.
- Rush orders and breakdowns force a replan several times a week.
- You are choosing L7’s successor and want planning settled first.
What to look for
- All resources finite at clock time, including people, tools and multi-operator jobs, with shifts, holidays and absences on the calendar.
- Alternative workstations that the engine picks between on every run.
- A setting time matrix of sequence-dependent changeover times, used to order jobs for the least setup.
- Material-aware scheduling from stock and incoming purchase orders.
- Automatic rescheduling when production changes, inside your locks.
- A concrete L7 write-back. Ask each vendor which REST calls write the schedule to L7 work cards. On L7 that is
PUT /manufphases/. - A plan that moves with you. Ask what happens to the planning model when you replace L7.
The options fall into three groups:
- L7’s own production control covers day-level loading inside L7 until its end of life.
- APS suites such as Delfoi Planner connect through an implementation project and need a dedicated planning team.
- Cloud APS with shop-floor execution, where SkyPlanner sits, schedules every resource automatically beside L7, puts the queue in operators’ hands and reconnects to the next ERP.
The general method is in the finite capacity scheduling guide and the advanced planning and scheduling guide.
Where SkyPlanner fits
SkyPlanner APS covers each point above. The Arcturus engine schedules every machine, operator, tool and material at real clock times and optimizes the whole plan in seconds inside your limits: capacity, shifts, materials, setup times, tools and dependencies. A job that needs three operators gets three people with free shifts.
When the first machine is busy, the engine moves the stage to another workstation you allowed. The setting time matrix holds the changeover time between product properties in each direction, so blue to red can take 30 minutes and red to blue 60, and the engine orders jobs for the least setup. Material-driven scheduling projects stock from L7 balances and purchase rows, so a stage starts when its material is there.
Autopilot reschedules automatically when production changes. Running Time Lock keeps the jobs already running in place. Operators confirm work with Mobile Confirmations on a phone or tablet.
Choose SkyPlanner when your planner clears red load days by hand every week.
Choose SkyPlanner when several machines share one L7 resource and you want each one scheduled.
Choose SkyPlanner when setups, people or material decide what can run next.
Choose SkyPlanner when you are replacing L7 and want planning to carry over to the new ERP.
SkyPlanner integrates with Visma L7 in both directions over the L7 REST API. Work stages, resources, materials, stock balances and purchase rows flow in. Each work card’s resource, start date, priority, person and day hours go back with PUT /manufphases/. The SkyPlanner team configures it during onboarding and supports it after go-live. Your Visma partner or your developers can build on the documented REST API (API reference).
Start with an Excel export 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.
See the SkyPlanner for Visma L7 page, the Visma L7 integration guide, or other systems in the ERP integrations hub.
SkyPlanner reviews from manufacturers
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.
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.
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.
FAQ
Does Visma L7 have a production scheduling tool?
Yes. L7 production control includes requirement calculation, fine planning, the production planning grid, load views and work queues. It places stages on days and flags overload in red. It does not keep every machine, person and tool within capacity at clock time.
Does Visma L7 prevent overloading a resource?
L7 shows overload by turning the load figures red, and its fixed-stage scheduling allows overload. The planner moves stages to clear it. SkyPlanner APS builds the plan within capacity from the start.
Is Visma L7 still being developed?
No. Visma states that new feature development has ended, maintenance covers only critical security and bug fixes, and use of the product ends at the end of 2028. SkyPlanner keeps your planning model when you move to the next ERP.
Can Visma L7 schedule changeovers by sequence?
L7 fine planning has no setup matrix. SkyPlanner’s setting time matrix holds the changeover time in each direction and orders jobs for the least setup.
Can I test SkyPlanner before integrating it with Visma L7?
Yes. Export open work numbers, stages and resources from L7 to Excel, import them during the 30-day trial and compare the schedule with your current plan. See pricing, start the trial or talk to sales.
