Multi-Plant Planning Graphically

This continues a weekly series on the concept of a Superplant. Every Monday will be a new entry in this ongoing series. This is week three.

Here are our other entries: Week 1 |  Week 2 |  Week 3

Senior workers in the manufacturing industry will recognize that multi-plant planning is similar to multi-echelon planning. Both methodologies adopt a location-agnostic outlook. Routings combine resources and send them through multiple factories. The options and flexibility provided by the Superplant methodology, of which multi-plant planning is just one component, can be a gamechanger for company processes. Alternate plans, paths, options, and scenarios are now available. 

Below are a series of graphics to visualize the added benefit multi-plant planning has for your team. These visuals will increase in complexity as we go on. So this will start easy with Multiple Resources Per Area. 

Example #1

There are two production lines in a single factory. Resource A and C are producing the same goods. The same is true of resources B and D. 

Example #2

As they did in Example #1, resources A & C and B & D perform the same tasks. The difference here is that resources A & C can connect to resources B &D. This is our baseline as we move on to the next stage.

The following examples do not depend on resource aggregation like the previous two examples. Aggregation occurs when the work is divided between resources at specific plants.

Example #3

This example features interchangeable resources in separate factories. Under the standard process, these resources would have been handled separately. Here, they are managed as one and become part of a Superplant.

Example #4

This showcases multi-plant plannings ability to be flexible. Any of these resources can handle or share a job. Big jobs foster cooperation and teamwork, smaller jobs are completed faster.

Example #5

This example depicts one resource servicing production lines in both factories.

Example #6

Multi-plant functionality moves resources back and forth between factories as the situation dictates.

Example #7

Here, two factories send components to a third factory. Resource E is in that third site. The planning manager now has the option to supply Resource E through Resource B or Resource D. 

Example #8

This is a non-multi-plant planning design. Each routing is unique to a site. The supply planning system passes stock transport requisitions between locations. The model with this design doesn’t plan supply and production together.

Example #9

For software to be considered multi-plant, routings must span through multiple plants. The routings provide alternate scenarios available within the supply network.