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ThyssenKrupp Implementing Quintiq Planning Solution
01/09/2008 - ThyssenKrupp Steel AG, Germany, is implementing Quintiq’s Advanced Planning & Scheduling solution to optimize capacity utilization at its steel mills and in its supply chain procedures.
ThyssenKrupp Steel AG, Germany, is implementing Quintiq’s Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) solution to optimize capacity utilization at its steel mills and in its supply chain procedures. Quintiq’s APS solution will help ThyssenKrupp to analyze every step of its process chain and plan each individual stage of production.
ThyssenKrupp Steel’s central steel ordering division has been looking for some time to identify a suitable software tool to optimize the yield efficiency of its slab production and improve delivery performance. The main challenge is to optimize the steel mill selection process, which involves spreading production orders over six continuous casters for optimal utilization of their capacities. One way of achieving this is by optimizing production parameters such as the duration of production sequences and the casting width, as well as further reducing the number of slabs in stock. The solution will also help TKS to further improve delivery performance by increasing the number of on-schedule slabs and reducing the amount of orders shifted forward.
Building on the orders provided and consolidated by ThyssenKrupp's own systems, the Quintiq APS solution provides an analysis of order backlogs and draws up an initial rough sequencing. The solution will sequence the continuous casters, generating weekly plans and final casting programs. The software can also be used to evaluate ThyssenKrupp's key performance indicators (KPIs), productivity and delivery compliance. This KPI analysis functionality ascertains the quality of each sequence and the associated sequence planning in real time.
“With a detailed Proof of Concept, Quintiq clearly demonstrated that their flexible solution was perfectly geared to support our complex requirements," said Frank Vidic, Head of IT/SCM/Order Processing at ThyssenKrupp Steel AG. “The weekly plans contain all the in-depth information, down to the final planning of sequences in continuous casting. The effects of short-term changes in production—such as smelting more or less steel than was planned during scheduling—are immediately reflected in the weekly schedules at each facility. The system also visualizes the current order backlog and evaluates the quality of our planning.”
ThyssenKrupp Steel started its implementation of the Quintiq Advanced Planning & Scheduling solution in July 2007. The system is expected to go live in the second quarter of 2008.
Quintiq provides advanced planning, scheduling and supply-chain management solutions. Established in 1997, the fast-growing Dutch company develops and implements software for planning, optimizing and automating complex company-wide business processes. Deloitte has recognized Quintiq as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Europe, and Gartner has acknowledged Quintiq for its innovative products and market presence. The company has its head office in 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, and has subsidiaries in Germany, U.K., Finland, Malaysia, China, Australia, and the U.S.
