Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) system refers to a supply planning process by which raw materials and resources are optimally allocated to meet demands. Traditional planning system such as MRP utilizes a stepwise approach to allocate material and resource. This approach is simple but cumbersome, and does not readily adapt to changes in demand, resource capacity or material availability. Materials and capacity are planned separately, and many systems do not consider limited material availability or capacity constraints. Thus, this approach often results in plans that cannot be executed.
Due to the limitation of traditional planning systems, many companies have implemented APS system such as SAP’s SCM/APO system. SAP’s SCM/APO solution started more than 10 years ago. I personally involved in 10 SCM/APO system implementations since 2001. To be honest, I believe only 2 implementations have achieved desired benefits of the APS system. This does not mean other implementations are failures. In many cases, the imeplementation objectives and approaches are not designed to achieve the benefits. For example:
- Company implements APS system based on old processes. If the planning process is based on traditional MRP type of planning system, the benefits from a APS implementation will be very limited.
- The projects are narrowly focused. Instead of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain, many projects are focusing on sub-processes such as scheduling only.
- APS system poses greater challenge on busiess users and IT community. Many projects simply choose not to “touch” the Advanced planning engine such as Optimizer and CTM. Others abandoned the projects after go-live.
Of course, there are many factors contributing to the success of APS implementation. I believed the follow two issues are critical towards achieving the benefits of APS system:
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Recently, US has increased its pressure on China to stop “manipulating” the value of the Chinese Yuan (RMB). The logic is simple: RMB is undervalued, it caused trade deficits and in turn caused the loss of US jobs. Therefore, in order to create US jobs, trade deficits with China has to be reduced and RMB has to be appreciated. Let us assume this logic is correct for a minute. If the RMB is appreciated, the price of China imports will have to increase. The purchasing power of US consumer will decrease. The recovery of US economy will be in question. The China exports will suffer and china recovery will be in jeopardy as well. It is clearly a loss/loss situation.
There are 3 elements in the above logic: Exchange Rate, Trade Deficits and Jobs: more
What is iPad? To be honest, I am not sure what it is. When Apple released its first iPod in 2001, I thought it is just a Portable Music Player. How can it competes with low-cost players? Obviously, many of us are wrong. iPod changed the whole industry. So did the iPhone.
Now the expectation is that iPad will change the publish, broadcasting industries; change the way people read newspaper, magezines and books; change the way people watch TV, videos and movies; change the way people surfs internet and social networking. And maybe more importantly, iPad may change the way of learning.
Can iPad meets these high expectations? Or it is just a iPod Touch with a big screen, a MacBook without a keyboard. I believe only time can tell. Personally I will not bet anything on it. As a consumer, we all benefit from the innovations and competitions. For now, the iPad has ended Amazon’s monoploy position in eBook market (WSJ Article).
Since the release of myPlan application, many people have asked about the user guide. In fact, myPlan is not a complicated software to use. It may not have fancy and most user-friendly interface. But it certainly achieves one goal – making retirement planning easier and simpler to understand. Instead writing a user guide, I decided to write an article about retirement planning. As a disclaimer, I am not a Certified Financial Advisor (CFA). I am a Supply Chain Management consultant helping companies to optimize the supply chain and improve the bottom-line.
What is Retirement Planning?
According to Wiki definition:
Retirement planning, in a financial context, refers to the allocation of finances for retirement. This normally means the setting aside of money or other assets to obtain a steady income at retirement. The goal of retirement planning is to achieve financial independence, so that the need to be gainfully employed is optional rather than a necessity.
In layman’s term, you need to have enough money so you do not have to work. From time to time, someone may approach you – how you done your retirement planning? They may also offer free retirement planning service to you. In most cases, they are trying to sell you their products or services such as Annuanity, Insurance, Brokerage service, etc. Their products or services may be important as part of your retirement plan. However, their advices may not serve consumer’s best interest and are limited in scope. Therefore, we need to understand the retirement planning ourselves.
In summary, retirement planning is a process to achieve financial independence through saving and investing.
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myPlan is a Personal Financial Management software for Mac OS X. It is freeware can be download here. Please leave comments or contact me at myplan@voyagebc.com for any bugs or feature request.
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China vs US - Is Win/Win possible?
Recently, US has increased its pressure on China to stop “manipulating” the value of the Chinese Yuan (RMB). The logic is simple: RMB is undervalued, it caused trade deficits and in turn caused the loss of US jobs. Therefore, in order to create US jobs, trade deficits with China has to be reduced and RMB has to be appreciated. Let us assume this logic is correct for a minute. If the RMB is appreciated, the price of China imports will have to increase. The purchasing power of US consumer will decrease. The recovery of US economy will be in question. The China exports will suffer and china recovery will be in jeopardy as well. It is clearly a loss/loss situation.
There are 3 elements in the above logic: Exchange Rate, Trade Deficits and Jobs: more