Scheduling of industrial production: Issues, challenges, and future perspectives
30/05/2023
Reading time: 5 min
The scheduling of industrial production has been the key issue for many years now; flow management methods are more than merely strategic subjects for industrial companies. This is because the stakes are multiple and also crucial, not only from an economic point of view but also from a social and environmental perspective.
The challenges of industrial production scheduling
Optimizing industrial production is a daily challenge due to cost, image, growth, and also environmental impact issues that can no longer be postponed.
Here are the major challenges of finely-tuning industrial production scheduling:
Improving customer satisfaction: Shorter production times allow products to be delivered to customers more quickly, thereby enhancing their satisfaction and strengthening their trust and especially their loyalty to the company.
Reducing costs: Extended waiting times can lead to additional costs for the company, such as storage costs, labor costs, and equipment costs. By reducing these waiting times, companies minimize their costs and, de facto, their profitability.
Increasing production capacity: By optimizing production and reducing waiting times, companies increase their production capacity, allowing them to meet growing demand and seize new market opportunities.
Improving quality: Optimized production allows for better control and monitoring of production processes, which can help reduce errors and defects and improve the quality of finished products.
Flexibility and responsiveness: Optimized production enables companies to adapt more quickly to fluctuations in demand and market changes, which enhances their competitiveness and their ability to meet customer needs.
Reducing risks: By minimizing waiting times and delays, companies can reduce risks associated with production delays, such as penalties for failing to meet delivery deadlines or revenue losses due to stockouts.
Inventory and supply chain management: Good inventory management maximizes profitability and serves as a flexibility factor for the company. It avoids problems related to understocking or surplus inventory, which can lead to lost revenue or unnecessary costs. Finally, good inventory management contributes to reducing waste of goods, especially in industries where perishable products are numerous.
Environmental impact and sustainable development: Optimized production can help reduce industrial pollution, which decreases thanks to a combination of regulations, changes in the manufacturing sector, and environmental initiatives. However, the industry continues to pollute, and the goal of zero pollution in this sector remains a challenge. It can also contribute to the implementation of the Paris Agreement for environmental preservation. The health and economic crisis triggered by the Covid-19 epidemic has exacerbated the urgency of these issues, putting the economies of the world to the test.
The challenges and obstacles to overcome
The challenges are numerous; however, while some of them remain uncontrollable, others can be managed, notably through better communication.
Interdependencies and interconnections: In complex industrial systems, there are permanent interdependencies and interconnections between all parts and their whole, the supply chain. This makes it difficult to predict the consequences of a decision or a change on the entire system, such as the bullwhip effect, for example.
Technological uncertainty: Innovations and technological advancements can rapidly alter production processes and markets, thereby creating uncertainty for industrial companies. This uncertainty will affect all industries.
Demand variability: Fluctuations in customer demand and market changes can make production planning and inventory management challenging.
Employee training and skills are a significant challenge in this sector, particularly due to the rapid evolution of technologies, the skill shortage, especially in specialized positions, high staff turnover, the nature of training that must be practical and on the ground, and also due to the cost of it.
Resistance to change and the adoption of new methods also present a genuine challenge for the industry. Many employees are anxious about the unknown, develop a feeling of loss of control, fear for the security of their jobs and their professional identity.
These barriers persist especially when employees lack communication and support. To overcome these challenges, companies must implement change management strategies, which include clear and transparent communication, support for training and skill development, as well as employee involvement in the change process.
Future prospects and innovations
Industry 4.0 and the Connected Factory
Industry 4.0 and the connected factory are widely regarded as the future of industry. They offer significant advantages in terms of efficiency, productivity, and customization of manufacturing processes. Companies adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics, can achieve substantial gains in performance and competitiveness. By 2028, the size of the Industry 4.0 market is expected to triple its current value and surpass 330 billion dollars. However, it is important to note that adopting these technologies requires significant investments, as well as organizational and cultural changes to fully leverage them.
Artificial Intelligence and Optimization Algorithms
Artificial intelligence (AI) and optimization algorithms play an increasingly important role in industry and will quickly become an integral part of many production sites. Companies leverage AI and optimization algorithms to improve productivity, reduce costs, and create new growth opportunities. AI and optimization algorithms impact various aspects of industry, such as predictive maintenance, logistics, product design, and supply chain management. AI is also used to enhance predictive analytics, enabling companies to make more informed decisions and optimize their operations.
Robotics and Advanced Automation
Long viewed as the distant future of industry, they are today an invaluable advantage in terms of efficiency, productivity, and innovation. Companies adopting these technologies achieve significant gains in performance and competitiveness. Advanced robots exhibit improvements in perception, integrability, adaptability, and mobility, allowing for faster setup, commissioning, and reconfiguration, as well as more efficient and adaptable use.
Customization of Production and the Rise of On-Demand Manufacturing
They are growing trends and certainly the future of industry. These approaches enable companies to meet specific customer needs and reduce costs associated with mass production and product storage.
Product customization is increasingly facilitated by the adoption of advanced technologies, such as 3D printing, which allow for more flexible production adaptable to individual customer needs. Additionally, on-demand manufacturing helps reduce storage costs and minimize waste by only producing the necessary products based on actual demand.
En résumé
To summarize quickly, the scheduling of tomorrow's industrial production relies on innovation.
Indeed, technological innovations allow companies to stand out in a competitive market and respond to the changing needs of customers and environmental requirements. Green industrial innovation is no longer an option to achieve a carbon-neutral transition and to meet sustainable development goals.
Finally, companies that invest in innovation and adaptation are better positioned to face the many disruptions in the sector, such as changes in supply chains, product customization, and the evolution of environmental standards.
Innovation and adaptation are therefore necessary to take advantage of new technologies and emerging trends, such as Industry 4.0, robotics, and advanced automation.
