Developed and deployed production scheduling solution for JIT bottling/packaging facility

Conducted JAD session to document scheduling problem and generated RFP to be sent to vendors

Developed & deployed optimization stochastic techniques to optimize the placement of chips on PCB

Developed Production Resource Scheduling Class (1-day class, 2-day class, 3-hour seminar)

Taught classes at North Carolina State University and at client sites

Used FCS software from Taylor Manufacturing Systems to build case studies

Trained in PeopleSoft (Red Pepper) APS software

Received SAP R/3 certification in Production Planning

Configured and deployed several ERP systems (Lilly Software, QAD) in FDA regulated environments

Performed business cases studies to justify IT investments (Caterpillar)

Coordinating activities between product design, marketing, sales, production & distribution departments to set realistic expectations

Planning operations to avoid reacting to production events

Improving scheduling efficiency (higher throughput, shorter cycle times) to support the achievement of business objectives (higher return on investment, higher asset utilization, reduce operational costs)

Integrating scheduling tools with other systems to get benefits not available from each independent system (such as: real time data update, accurate data, real time schedule visibility)

Deploying solutions that are cGMP compliant, and if a software solution, 21 CFR Part 11 compliant.

To support a corporate Sales & Operation Planning process that involves Management, Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing and Distribution

To coordinate activities among several departments through planning & communication of information

To force the accurate maintenance of Master Data objects (recipe data)

To plan activities and direct activities taking place in the manufacturing floor

To eliminate bottleneck conditions where inventory accumulates (to increase throughput)

To reduce setup & cleanup times (to increase throughput)

To release work order in a just in time fashion

To enforce GMP compliance (task dependencies)

To schedule maintenance operations with minimal disruption of production operations

To analyze production needs from a long range perspective & plan resource capacity accordingly

It improves GMP compliance by controlling the order of activities

It improves product quality by minimizing a reactive approach to making products & planning appropriate time for each operation

It reduces operational costs by minimizing on-hand inventories

It enables better decision making by enabling simulations of multiple production plans under different conditions

It increases asset utilization by minimizing maintenance down times, setup times and cleanup times

It increases throughput by reducing bottleneck situations; this leads to higher revenues

It improves order fulfillment by better meeting due dates; this increase customer satisfaction

It enables people to spend more time planning instead of reacting to alarm situations

Develop a thorough understanding of the complexity of the scheduling problem (AS-IS model), because simplifying the problem to a level where a good solution can be quickly obtained depends on carefully pruning the model (making it less complex) without impacting the quality of the solution (value of the objective function)

Build a strong business case (the cost benefit associated with specific elements of the scheduling problem - for example the cost of delaying an order because of the lack of an inexpensive tool) for deploying a new solution and invest judiciously in resources and/or processes; this will insure strong management support

Define the new business process (TO-BE) that supports company objectives

Develop the requirements of the new system

Select vendors

Implement the system

Multiple decisions points to evaluate results & correct plan based on findings

Low level of financial commitment at any point in time

Regular availability of results that can be shared and discussed with associates