The master production schedule website is a nice site if you are looking for a lot of good resources on production scheduling and various options that are available with this software. There is a nice collection of articles which have links to additional articles and web sites. The articles offer suggestions on how to purchase the software from conventional methods to newer ways such as SaaS (Software as a Service). It is a good link to articles that touch on topics for advanced planning systems or more basic scheduling software. Additionally, there is an article that talks about open source scheduling software that you might want to take a few minutes to look at.

Open source systems generally give a company’s IT department the basic structure of the system with open access to the software’s source code. From here they have the ability to modify the user interfaces, reports and overall system structure. With an open source system there are many benefits that will help increase any company’s bottom line. For example, the tailored screens are user friendly and the users have access to only the information that they need. Because of a limited number of screens the users will not become overwhelmed with functionality they do not know how to utilize.

These systems frequently require modifications however; they are cost effective in the manor that they cost less than generic “out-of-the-box” software. Companies will benefit also from the continuous improvement this software allows them to achieve. Open sources allows them to maneuver the software and control it for their perfected practices while still improving the procedures that are inefficient.

Some companies have developed advanced open source software that has the benefits of configurable software with out the aggravation of upgrading problems. The disadvantages of open source are considerably reduced when they are designed in this way to be modified in addition to upgrade easily.

Cambridge Manufacturing Journals


Manufacturing.gov