Project: Advanced Production Programme and Personnel Assignment Planning
The supply structure in the European automotive industry is characterised by complex and customised products requiring a high level of employees’ training and education. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are continuously investing in employees’ further training resulting in above-average flexibility among the manufacturing workforce in comparison to international competition._x000D__x000D_The CO target of A ProPer Plan is to create a tool allowing the integration of personnel allocation planning into short-term production programme planning. Thus, optimum production results combined with high-grade adherence to delivery shall be achieved by the improvement in flexibility among the personnel. Hence, A ProPer Plan contributes first to the more efficient use of employees’ qualification in the European automotive industry. Furthermore, AProPer Plan helps to safeguard existing jobs as well as create new jobs in manufacturing and overall helps strengthening of the position of European OEMs’ in the market. A ProPer Plan enables an easier embedding of customised modules into manufacturing through a more flexible personnel allocation planning and opens up new opportunities for entry of SMEs into the automotive sector._x000D__x000D_The approach of A ProPer Plan is based on the principle of integration. Planning, qualification and manufacturing data are integrated in terms of “manufacturing intelligence” and are furthermore re-operationalised with regard to production control. This approach promises a high level of flexibility of the production processes as well as high market acceptance by means of using standard technologies._x000D__x000D_A ProPer Plan will deploy its potential in multiple ways: prospective programme planning enables resource saving operation and thus optimal utilisation along with minimised COtenance costs. By means of an integrated programme planning tool personnel flexibility can be utilised and developed, at the same time increasing motivation. A ProPer Plan contributes to process rationalisation without forcing staff reduction. On the contrary, utilisation and development of the strength of manufacturing personnel actively adds to innovation and economic power in the automotive industry within the European Union. Therefore, A ProPer Plan represents a system for optimised utilisation of „manufacturing intelligence“, as demanded by numerous companies. The usability of the project results beyond the aspired application scenarios – e.g. in case of consumption sequence oriented personnel allocation planning for just-in-sequence suppliers or in other areas – is already included in the deployed approach. _x000D__x000D_Accordingly the applying consortium is made up by two Ps seeing their potential synergies exactly in the suitable areas:_x000D_flexis AG is a provider of standard software for automotive and supply industry focussed on sequencing, sequence-oriented collaboration, programme planning, inventory and capacity management and real-time supply chain monitoring. Based on standardised company-owned software, flexis AG offers customised solutions granting flexible adjustment. Successful installation for companies including Daimler, Audi, Volkswagen, MAN or DAF and others in Western and Southern Europe as well as North and South America proof the company’s capability._x000D__x000D_The Division for Industrial and Systems Engineering of the Institute of Management Sciences at the Vienna University of Technology (TU-Wien) is specialised in structuring and optimisation of production and logistics processes in a high-tech and highly automated environment. Special emphasis is given to the tuning of IT systems with the requirements of operational doCOs, in particular to the structuring of socio-technological systems. To that effect TU-Wien’s CO task in this project will be the definition of the personnel allocation planning requirements for integration in such a planning platform as well as the evaluation of the developed solution with respect to applicability and user-friendliness. Via numerous contacts, particularly to new OEMs’ sites in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, current and future planning solution requirements will be defined and multi-national distribution channels shall be established. The same applies for Tier1 and 2 suppliers in those regions, which are also considered as target group in the medium-term._x000D__x000D_In the cooperation of the project Ps synergetic effects in terms of know-how and technology as well as in terms of potential distribution regions are realised. Due to present business relations of both Ps, the European I*PROMS network and miscellaneous engagements in German and European boards (e.g. VDA, ODETTE) excellent implementation channels for A ProPer Plan towards OEMs and different industries exist. The same applies for both continuation and generalisation of the developed solutions in a scientific arena.
| Acronym | A ProPer Plan (Reference Number: 4225) |
| Duration | 31/03/2008 - 30/10/2009 |
| Project Topic | A ProPer Plan is an integrated planning platform for personnel assignment planning and production programme planning in the manufacturing of complex products, especially in the automotive industry. The platform enables harmonised planning and assists in the realisation of additional value potential. |
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Project Results (after finalisation) |
The CO result is a software package prototype for the integrated planning of personnel assignment and for production program planning. Beside that the consortium designed a standardized planning process to be supported by the software. |
| Network | Eurostars |
| Call | Eurostars Cut-Off 1 |
Project partner
| Number | Name | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | flexis AG | Coordinator | Germany |
| 2 | TU-Wien Institute of Management Science, Division of Industrial and Systems Engineering | Partner | Austria |