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Added value and absorption
Predictive evaluation and optimisation of planning according to the same criteria as the controlling process

If there is enough production capacity, planning is no longer used primarily for fulfilling customer orders but above all to optimise added value. To optimise the added value, you first have to accurately determine it. The best way to do this is to use the same model in controlling as in production to avoid any differences. The added value must be accurately recorded along each individual stage in the logistics chain. Calculating the absorption should be a simple and integrated process. The calculation must take specifications into account: for example if a safety stock is established but no material is discharged there is added value nevertheless.

Instead of a retrospective view in which added-value deficits are detected first by the controlling process, production planning can carry out added value according to the target figures.

Predictive simulation 
With the aid of a simulation tool from OR Soft, absorption across all stages can be calculated based on the (customer) requirements. In the process the absorption is represented as a target-actual comparison in various interpretations.
The SCM department and the controlling department use the same methods, models and prices to do this. The added value is based on materials with standard prices, requirement figures (aggregated by month) and an illustration of the production model as a result of planned and process orders in the SAP ERP system. Related to a material or a material group, this follows these guidelines:
- consider all planned and process orders for the material
- add the value of all part list quantities
- if the target product booking is entered as a positive figure and the ingredients as a negative figure, the added value results from this.
The added value related to an operation is calculated from the total of the values of all part list quantities of all planned and process orders in the given period. In a similar way the absorption for an operation is calculated from the prices for the material flow minus the prices of the ingredients.

Better prices in the system
If it is possible to define a partial order of materials (re-modelling of the production of co-products is necessary), occasionally new standard prices can be calculated in the following way and the master data quality improved:
- establish the variable average price for the raw materials
- calculate the machine price per hour from the utilisation
- calculate the standard price in the following way for all semi-manufactured products: the average of the target product price is calculated from the value of the incoming materials and the cost of machine hours.

All results at a glance
The solution from OR Soft uses the current data from the SAP ERP system and calculates the added value and absorption figures in real-time. Each change in the requirement, order or production situation has an immediate effect on the calculation of the added value: also predictively, not just retrospectively and of course, across all operations.

In the planning cockpits of the OR Soft solution the following information is displayed (each by month, by quarter and by year):
- budgets for requirements
- added value information for each material and each material group
- added value information for each stage
- absorption information for each stage
Furthermore as a result of a drill down of the aggregated figures:
- discretised material requirements and material stock lists
- comparisons of the target and actual values related to defined target and actual points in time
- standard price deviations from the variable average.

The benefits
Based on planning across all operations, illustrated in SAP ERP, absorption and added value information is made available without any additional expenditure. The SCM and controlling department can calculate at the same level of accuracy. The established cooperation promotes the joint objectives.
Budget planning can be integrated in the control loop of sales and operations, production and budget planning. It can be simulated and as a result production planning can follow the same objectives as controlling.

Added value can be displayed by product in any intervals of time. Product hierarchies are also possible. In addition the actual planned added value can be offset against budget figures.
 

Strategic Simulation
to maximise margins and for more competitive prices

When boundary conditions for production fluctuate rapidly, e.g. owing to a strong fall in demand, volatile raw material/energy prices or exchange rates, production strategies and target functions must adapt equally rapidly. If there is overcapacity, priorities may change from completing the order to the best of one's ability to maximising margins or minimal sales prices which just cover costs. In the planning process operational/tactical planning is therefore combined with medium-term and strategic simulations. This means improving the planning concept through continual improvement as opposed to individual strategic simulations.
Here are two examples of this:

Optimal geographic distribution

Which products should be produced and at which sites taking fluctuating transport costs and exchange rates into account?
Globalised markets and production facilities in all parts of the world, volatile exchange rates - the challenges for managing supply chains have risen considerably over the years. A planner with the task of assessing global processes in order to reach the best possible decision requires a process-oriented view of the global supply chain. It requires a simulation to take account of planning information (order situation, available capacity etc.) as well as commercial information (prices, exchange rates, transport costs).
The OR Soft Manufacturing Workbench can copy this information from SAP ERP into a RAM database and display it clearly and simply. The user can simulate and optimise according to the above targets.

The ideal choice of production technology

In the context of fluctuating raw material prices which products should be manufactured, and with which production systems?
Take petrochemical products for example, these can be produced by cracking oil or liquefying coal. Long-chain products are better produced from oil; short-chain products from coal. Depending on the oil price however, the chain length limit will move according to the highest profitability level. Now you can plan SCM scenarios with precise resource allocation which provide the highest margins according to the exchange rate, oil price, production capacity and assumed requirement levels. Armed with the results, you can flow them into your own procurement strategy and the chosen production system. Customer conditions can also be assessed. The operational and strategic levels merge into a highly flexible planning system.

Benefits and process
For classical simulation tools model data capture and model mapping are often too complicated and take too long. If you work with SAP ERP data though, you will have data that is reliable and up-to-date at all times and which can be rapidly transformed into optimisation models with the OR Soft products.
In simulation studies OR Soft has achieved optimum facility allocation, optimum facility design and geographically optimum distributed production facilities. The process is simple: the data required from the SAP ERP system is extracted, algorithmically modified where necessary and finally transformed into a model. This model can be altered manually and automatically improved during the simulation in terms of master data, facilities and the product range. The necessary software is provided free of charge by OR Soft throughout the study, after this period it can be hired or purchased. The costs for the simulations are related to the scope of the model and the complexity of the target functions - but they are only a fraction of the potential savings.

After you have entered the standard prices and expected future prices for materials in the upper window, the lower window evaluates the future added value related to the production method, product group and point in time.

Merck KGaA: ProPHET project
OR Soft Manufacturing Workbench schedules organic production in Darmstadt and Gernsheim

ProPHET stands for Production Scheduling: Planning on a Highly Effective and Transparent Level.

In their organic production Merck KGaA produces a wide variety of fine chemicals, for example liquid crystals for use in LC displays (for instance in monitors, televisions, mobile telephones, notebooks etc.).
Merck KGaA is the world market leader in this technology and has been expanding production for many years. With increased production volumes and greater networking of the operations, there was a greater need for a reliable production planning and control system that encompassed all operations. The existing SAP R/3 infrastructure had to be consolidated and the role of SAP R/3 as a central information platform for all areas of the company had to be expanded.

The present manager of the Logistics department within organic production, Dr Stahl, said that the main objectives of the project were:
- visualisation of the planning situation to an integrated planning system
- better utilisation of the existing capacities
- reliable confirmations of delivery dates for internal and external customers
- optimisation of the material flow and reduction of the stock volume.

In the autumn of 2007, after a thorough selection process, Merck KGaA decided to introduce the Manufacturing Workbench of OR Soft Jänicke GmbH.
Based on a pilot phase, Merck KGaA and OR Soft Jänicke GmbH employees created a specification document which contained the required functions and the benefits that were to be achieved. The project was officially launched at the end of June 2008. In the course of a project that was carried out with enthusiasm and dedication by all project members the solution was implemented in two plants and in the SCM division as scheduled within four months on 31st October 2008.

Project leader Dr Grolik gives the following as significant factors for success of the project:
- clear project planning with traceable milestones
- the major experience of the OR Soft consultant in the chemical industry
- strict compliance with the budget and schedules
- complete integration of the solution in the existing SAP infrastructure

The lean and efficient project organisation contributed to the project success and helped to find solutions that were developed "through direct channels" and simultaneously satisfied the requirements of documentation and validation of the system.

Dr Knoch as the department's project leader remarked: projects at the current time must be carried out as quickly and efficiently as the ProPHET project. The department's employeeswere able to be integrated in the project despite their basic duties in the daily business. The SAP expertise of the OR Soft consultant enabled efficient master data maintenance in the SAP R/3 system.

The users were involved from the start of the project and could add their ideas for the precise design of the solution. The high degree of flexibility of the software was a great advantage in this process. Based on tried and tested standard software, specific user requirements such as reports and planning cockpits prepared according to Merck standards could be implemented quickly and efficiently.
This was carried out with only minor adjustments to the existing SAP R/3 system and was implemented with little impact on Merck's resources.
The productive solution is to be rolled out at another four Merck KGaA operations by the end of February 2009.

The company Sasol Wax GmbH in Hamburg manufactures waxes from by-products of the lubricants industry. Their products can be found in tyres, candles and bitumen coverings. The production is characterised by ingredients (slack waxes) that differ greatly in quality and which are refined in several stages (oil removal, hydrogenation) by alternative means. OR Soft introduced strategic planning software for Sasol which illustrates long-term production planning for a period of one year.

Long-term planning with high reliability
Based on the expected order quantities for the material-customer combinations and the scheduled quantities of raw material purchases, the manufacture is planned across all stages of the logistics chain accurately in periods (one period is equivalent to 28 days). Thereby the planning software supports decisions such as
- to make or buy (are intermediate products manufactured or bought in),
- the choice of a manufacturing alternative based on the capacity situation and
- the selection of ingredients in order to enable production with minimal costs.
The outcome of the planning is orders by period, statements on capacity utilisation and detection of problem materials from the product or purchasing perspective.

Simulative calculation of future prices
A second task of strategic planning is the simulative calculation of future product prices from estimates about the raw material prices and manufacturing costs that may change in the future. The simulation of the future price development is based on the current evaluated stocks and future costs of raw material purchased parts which are fixed for a period of time. From these parameters, and with the aid of the planned orders, use of resources and by means of surcharges on material and recipe for all materials, the progression of the marginal and full costs (price progression) is determined on a monthly or period by period basis.
OR Soft provided planning cockpits to enter the data in different supply and purchasing divisions. With the aid of global filter functions the scope of the data presented and the time and effort required for input is reduced and selective totalling in the reports is also possible.

SAP as an interim data platform
Sasol Wax worked in strategic planning with an ACCESS-based tool from individual programming and the ERP system PRISM. Data in both systems was to be maintained simultaneously. With the Manufacturing Workbench (LUBE version) from OR Soft the strategic requirement was fulfilled by replacing the old system, using SAP ERP now as the data-recording system and designing the solution based on this. Master data maintenance was carried out exclusively in PRISM for the transitional period. The data was sent to the SAP ERP system by a daily update. The structures of the transaction data (planned orders, LSF, purchase schedules amongst others) are located exclusively in the SAP ERP system.

Mr Heesch, the person responsible for the project on strategic planning at Sasol Wax GmbH, highlights the following improvements after the introduction:
- improved communication, more accurate data, quicker planning results
- simulative evaluation for important strategic decisions which represent a valuable improvement in a very volatile field
- optimisation of BOM explosions owing to greater transparency in the OR Soft solution
- recognition of a previous sub-optimal cost calculation in the ERP system and various deviations from the master data

A solution for the oil industry
By using SAP ERP and the OR Soft Manufacturing Workbench, a future-proof solution was created at Sasol Wax GmbH on a standardised basis. As a result of the flexibility of the OR Soft solution specific characteristics of the oil industry are represented. Standardised overview cockpits and evaluations are also rapid and simple to use with the aid of mass functions. In the planning environment economic information is predicted based on current and valid data, and taken into consideration in the choice of production technology. This leads to a cost-effective method of production.
Mr Heesch assesses the route as not easy but, with a project duration of only 7 months, as a rapid and successful discovery path of the possibilities of the OR Soft Manufacturing Workbench for the needs of strategic planning and simulation.

With a new planning system, OR Soft SCHEDULE++, the DHU accelerated and simplified planning processes and as a result satisfied the increasing demands for more efficient production. The individual production divisions, and marketing and controlling departments each benefit from this.

Mr Ludwig, (head of preparatory work, production planning and production control) remarks: "with OR Soft SCHEDULE++ a solution has been found that is specifically tailored to the very individual demands of homoeopathy."

The EDP-supported use of planning tools in the division of production/production planning and control of the DHU was only possible until a short time ago with restrictions. With SAP this has changed radically. The use of these tools is now very intensive.
SCHEDULE++ as an add-on to SAP ERP was introduced within the scope of the "DHU 2010 project" with intensive support for system planning and central data processing.

Planning basis for production
Thanks to the new system the DHU was able to do away with its MS Excel planning in the packaging division. Laborious duplication of work was no longer necessary. Expansion of the system to the forming process is underway and introduction for the mother tinctures will follow.

Better processes - better results
OR Soft SCHEDULE++ at the DHU is the solution for:
- an overview of the orders and deadlines
- simplification of process order handling in SAP such as mass processing, processing and release of many process orders in blocks at a time
- handling of customer and warehouse stock orders
- short-term and medium-term capacity planning
- representation of the consequences of planning decisions already made
- support in material availability checking
- support for sequencing and planning of modifications
- assistance in monitoring the order inventory

Mr Ludwig: "SCHEDULE++ is the necessary dominant planning basis and solution for our large quantities of SAP data. The option of showing many preparations and production orders per day is particularly advantageous and the ability to observe, assess and control these in the future as well in combination with manufacturing and packaging. The very small average size of the homoeopathic products of the DHU can be effectively controlled using an intelligent user interface."

The software provides aids and information on:
- the availability of material and packaging
- scheduling conflicts
- history of use of an item to derive the seasonal demands
- current load on the production facilities
- ranges of use and requirements (calculated statistically)

Mr Ludwig: "The Deutsche Homöopathie-Union has made a ground-breaking step into the future with the introduction of this system. We will continue to build on this path and are sure that it can also be profitable for the entire company group."

Version 7
The latest software generation for better plans and more enjoyable planning

18 years of experience in scheduling are reflected in the new Version 7 of the OR Soft Manufacturing Workbench. The re-branding of the predecessor products known as SCHEDULE++ has taken place.
Having developed a very stable and highly functional Version 6.6, OR Soft has focussed its efforts for the past two years to develop the follow-up version, Version 7. The new Version 7 represents a great improvment in reaction speed and more reliable customised options. It has already been used in two projects including one on the subject of vendor managed inventory and in three pilot projects.

A modern and attractive appearance was particularly important to the developers. It is available as a local (high-performing) version for complex overviews for frequent users and as a lean web version for simple integration of occasional users.
A better overview is achieved by the new interactive interface elements such as e.g. calendar designs similar to MS Outlook and diagrams in addition to the Gantt charts.
The interface follows the Windows formula, integrates state-of-the-art user elements and places great value on...
Intuitive handling: most of the layouts of Version 7 for the power user are composed of one high-resolution or two screens and thereby avoid "flying" windows. Every piece of information retains its place. Analysis functions, automatically updating diagrams and process images are integrated from the start and support decisions for higher production margins.
Fewer Clicks: as a result of new selection lists it is possible to find, select and correlate information in a single activity.
New, intelligent user elements show the user whether it is worth carrying out the process even before clicking by displaying whether the featured information is "new", "amended", or "conflict-ridden". In this way the number of clicks necessary for typical activities is significantly reduced. Work is quicker, more accurate and more convenient.
Through "inner values" and a modular set-up the new Version 7 uses modern multi-core processors in a better way. As a result several connections to the ERP system can be distributed to different processor cores and therefore accelerated.
The flexible data model permits reliable customer extensions within an individual project name area and therefore individualisation without user exits. With new technologies the RAM database can be easily emptied or released on-the-fly and be the basis for highly complex production models even within the SAP NetWeaver landscape.
As a result of inheritance of standard model structures very simple specific data models can be created for new industries. Although the calculation requirements and booking methods differ from each other, the presentation, storage mechanisms and above all their quality assurance are standardised.

The SAP database can be accessed via the established rapid ABAP interface, also now via the new service interface and soon extensively via BAPIs. By mixing the concepts any problems can be resolved where SAP services or BAPIs are still not available.

Currently available features of the software in Version 7:
LeanAPS: the established detailed planning solution which is quick and simple to learn, comprises the divisions of simultaneous material and capacity planning, material monitoring and sales and operations planning.
Itinerary planning: to supplement production planning, transport capacities and transportation costs are optimised in the delivery deadlines.
Inventory monitoring across all plants and the Inventory Balancing Board, IBB: for early detection of inventory deficits and to balance inventory by stock transfers or by meeting requirements from different warehouses.
Blending optimisation: as a additional supplement to detailed planning solutions in which ingredient blending is relevant.
Vendor Managed Inventory: for cooperative supplier-controlled inventory management.

The new Version 7 has the look and feel of MS Office 2007 and combines established display elements with integrated graphics, charts, process images and diagrams.

The release 6.6.2 has been available since December 2008

At the same time as the first release of the new Version 7 OR Soft has announced a final release of the 6th series. In doing so for each new project the choice can be made between Version 6, which is based on the classic architecture and the new Version 7. In this way all projects can be handled in the best possible quality.
Both versions can be used in parallel, as they are both based on the same interface MW03.
Version 6.6.2 sets itself apart from the previous version of 6.6.1 in its first build level by the following features:
The software is compatible with Windows Vista and Office 2007 throughout.
An extended SAP interface in its own name range /ORSOFT/ provides more objects at an improved speed.
The real-time CTP (capable to promise) function allows the user to see in a simulative statement whether a requested product quantity can be produced by the desired deadline. Statements can also be made on part quantities that can be delivered or possible later delivery dates. Aggregating cockpits based on the product hierarchy "planned inventories" and "sales and operations planning" provide summarised statements for all the product groups. Aggregation is carried out hierarchically on the basis of the product hierarchy defined in the ERP.
New views with compressed PO representation now allow a more flexible representation of objects which are not restricted to the allocation of resources or the material histogram, e.g. for stock transfer orders and for process / finished orders on the header level.
The user administration of client-server installations has been designed to be easier to operate. An individual user list can be maintained, the authentication of the userinterfaceclient can be carried out using the SAP login or alternatively via a LDAP/ActiveDirectory server.
Maintenance orders can be created as simulated objects to prevent using individual resources for the selected period of time before "real" maintenance orders have to be placed in the ERP system.
Further types of event lists are available e.g. for capacities which change by part. A new campaign browser improves the overview of the campaigns (which have been available for a long time in the system) and their key data. Alert icons have been provided with a double-click function that gives quicker access to detailed information on the objects that trigger this alert.

"OR Soft for Healthcare" extends the product spectrum with bed and operation planning

Of course there are bed planning and individual operation planning processes in various "hospital information systems" (HIS). Even radiology and the other service providers have their own planning processes. Coordination between the departments, such as the flow of patients, however, is generally coordinated by telephone. This ties up valuable and expensive resources, irrespective of misunderstandings, stress and frustration. Furthermore, the situation is constantly changing in hospitals as emergencies, transferrals, discharges and extended stays are part of everyday life. Although simultaneous resource planning has been normal practice in industries for several years, there is no such planning of resources in hospitals.
By adapting the OR Soft Manufacturing Workbench for the health care sector OR Soft is creating a modern planning system for SAP, IS-H and i.s.h.med. Adapting the system to other HIS can be carried out within the scope of customer-specific projects. In doing so OR Soft has remained true to its virtues: Lean IT concept, a rich client architecture based on SAP as the server and SAP integration by design. Together with Fresenius Netcare (FNC) the IT daughter of Fresenius SE an implementation concept was developed tha helped the hospitals to implement the first successes very rapidly and again and again to reduce the buffers in the planning process and to roll out the concept step by step.
OR Soft and FNC are exhibiting together at the conhIT.

Within the scope of a project funded until September 2010 by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (funding reference 01|S08036A), OR Soft together with Halle and Dresden universities is carrying out research into the SCM and APS systems of the future. Based on the new architecture in Version 7 of OR Soft Manufacturing Workbench, the use of APS systems is set for a new revolution.
The core elements of the project are briefly presented:

Search machine-like instead of transaction/ function-linked use
Instead of needing to know a menu entry or a mask as in classical systems, the user can, in contrast, use the APS software like a search machine. By entering a precise identifier (e.g. "drilling machine") in a search field, objects are identified. By examining the types of objects the software suggests appropriate actions within the context of the found object type ("order"). The user is then offered permitted functions. The time and effort spent in training for management-information software, even for occasional users, is reduced because the user does not need to know the applicable function of the software (transaction) in advance.

Zoomable User Interfaces (ZUIs) instead of window and menu-orientated GUIs
Apple users know ZUIs from the iPhone and the new Mac operating system (Snow Leopard) will also contain a zoomable desktop. The user can zoom into objects that can be freely arranged on a desktop area. There is also a "drill-down" method in many planning processes. From summarised information you need to see details. For this purpose the manufacturing process is presented using icon-like vertices in a desktop area which contain summarised status information (e.g. no conflict or conflict-ridden, simulated or released etc.). Here, you can zoom in or out and move about. Zooming-in generates interface elements such as tables or Gantt charts which are operated from the icons. Zooming out provides summaries, links and aggregated information. The software can be operated more intuitively and rapidly because you know before calling up the function whether it will provide useful information.
In addition there is even the option of zooming within the interface elements whereby their semantic breakdown changes, but not the graphical representation in pixels. Starting from one cell in a table with monthly values, for example, on zooming-in a new table with weekly or daily values can be generated.

Design and visualisation of business processes for the run-time instead of for the design phase
The user can define workflows and processes for the run-time and have a process-orientated interface. This allows an insight into the process status and presents possible further process steps. It also enables modification of the process steps (if applicable even automatic modification stored from the user behaviour).
This concept goes far beyond the one dimensional and restrictive guidance of classic assistants. Via Tools which works in design time, the user can better understand the process for operating time and adapt flexibly.
This concept is also applied to simulation versions whereby the reversal of complex simulation paths is simplified and better arranged.
Likewise, topological circumstances such as factory layouts with product flows or geographical maps with transportation routes can be illustrated. Complex circumstances are more easily understandable, the decisions more well-founded.

A search field not only finds the suitable objects but offers targeted actions for which restricted browsers or views are opened on the search results.

On the path to the quality assurance of tomorrow
Software is developed by humans and is therefore not free of error. Everyone has at some time been annoyed by a computer crash.
It is even more annoying if you also lose a space probe. This is what happened in 1962 with the Venus Mariner 1 probe. A missing hyphen in the programme code threw away 80 million US dollars. In 1999 the use of yard instead of metre in the software for the approach for landing caused a hard landing of the Mars probe "Climate Orbiter" causing more than 100 million dollars worth of damage.
It is really bad however, if the software controls aeroplanes, monitors nuclear power stations, controls medical appliances or calculates the necessary braking in modern cars. In these cases you want to be especially sure.
Certainty can be achieved by either
- proving mathematically that the software is acting in accordance with the (hopefully correct) specification (validation),
- checking the correct behaviour empirically by a sufficient number of tests (and hope that a test has covered every important eventuality) or
- allowing the same software to be independently developed several times for one purpose and operated redundantly and is sub-ordinated by the majority decision or the average.

Test, test, test
is the most practical and frequent method of modern software quality assurance. In spite of this, test expenditure in important software projects can reach more than 50% of the total expenditure. It sounds unbelievable that at present redundant development is still much cheaper than the mathematical validation of software.
In a typical commercial aircraft three computers are on board (in the Airbus 380 even 8 computers in 4 cascades) with different processors, on which different programmes are run, that are developed by various teams and were built with different programming languages by different compilers and which all do the same things. The command controls are either the average of the three software systems or the majority decisions of two computers (according to the type of command). Total breakdown or a simultaneous incorrect function of the software is therefore very very unlikely. And yet, the development costs are three times as high are currently cheaper and are above all "more achievable" than the mathematical verification or record testing of the software.

OR Soft places value on quality
OR Soft has a QA (quality assurance) department that monitors the function of the software and the completeness of documentation and carries out several automated tests (so-called night processes).
In addition manual tests are carried out which are based on the process descriptions. In the past the QA department has successfully attended audits of major pharmaceutical companies and SAP certifications and regularly demonstrated the high quality of the software; most recently for the SAP-endorsed business solution certification. Nevertheless a complex software package with several hundreds of thousands of code lines cannot be 100% free of errors. Since OR Soft is active in a very sensitive data field, each individual error - even if there is only a very slight likelihood of it occurring - can have major consequences. As a result quality assurance at OR Soft will be even better in the future.

Mathematical validation is still carried out
Modern research results and current hardware performance make it possible at present not only to find errors in software by automatic retrospective testing but also additionally by prospective mathematical record testing ("verifying").
Since the middle of 2008 OR Soft has been the most important associate for a research project at the Halle University, in which a team of nine people is transferring the latest findings on protocol testing of software from a status of being useful for only "ambitious mathematicians" to a software component that can be used by all of the developers at OR Soft on a daily basis. The quality assurance process is not only part of the central QA department but also part of the task for each individual developer. Since every developer generates the protocol for validation as a regular printout during the development.
A central QA work station has an overview of all the modifications and implausibilities or noticeable problems. The user interface is set up hierarchically, which allows rapid identification. From there it is possible to study these in greater depth. It can be decided for certain whether a noticeable problem is a code error, which can then be resolved. Quality assurance is incorporated to an even greater extent in the work processes of the developers without them having to gain additional skills in this area.

Benefits
OR Soft estimates that this new quality assurance step for the Manufacturing Workbench will be active by the end of 2009. With this schedule OR Soft will quality assure its own software earlier than the majority of application software manufacturers worldwide as a result of a secure protocol testing procedure in addition to the automated tests.
In doing so it can use a very innovative procedure immediately at an early stage of research.

OR Soft sales
New ideas and now also to be found at SAP.com

"As the head of sales and distribution at OR Soft I am attracted by the opportunity to be able to rapidly supply our customers tailor-made solutions with a great product and a great team in the background. OR Soft as a medium-sized customer-orientated company fulfils customer wishes reliably within a few days." Peter Rüdiger, Head of sales and distribution

After 16 exciting years of SAP in the most varied functions (development, marketing, sales) 2007 offered the chance to fulfil a dream with a very close SAP partner. To make a difference in a small company with short paths, a first-class product and people dedicated to finding solutions. I knew OR Soft from my time as a SAP account manager - as a market operator satisfied customers and an extremely flexible product that can be introduced without any problems are a top priority. With the SAP-endorsed business solution certification for the OR Soft Manufacturing Workbench the foundation was laid to combine the best from both worlds: the world's best ERP system with a simple, flexible APS system. Sales and distribution at OR Soft will have to contribute greatly in the next few years to their total success. The strong growth of the past years is to be continued, internationalisation promoted and new fields developed.

SAP EcoHub presents the Manufacturing Workbench at SAP.com
https://ecohub.sdn.sap.com/irj/ecohub/solutions/manufacturingworkbench

The SAP Community Network with its portal SAP EcoHub (https://ecohub.sdn.sap.com) provides information on such software solutions of SAP partners that have been certified as endorsed business solutions and effectively complements the SAP portfolio. This certification stage is the second-highest immediately after SAP price list products. OR Soft Manufacturing Workbench is presented in the categories of "SAP Supply Chain Management" and "SAP Manufacturing". In addition to a summarised overview of the solution you can also find customer testimonials here.

Review: 04th - 06th June 2008 in Erfurt / Eisenach
Forum on production planning and 5th OR Soft user convention

More than 70 production managers, supply chain managers, MRP controllers and planners from different industries took part in the 5th user convention.
11 presentations on the use of OR Soft solutions by employees of the companies Boehringer Ingelheim, Döhler, DSM, Ferrero, Grohe, H&R Ölwerke Schindler, H&R Wasag, Roche, Sachsenmilch, Sasol Wax and Triumph formed an interesting and top-class specialised programme beyond industries and areas of responsibility.
The cultural social programme gave us an insight into the history of the area and up the Wartburg Castle.
A list of the presentations and selected examples can be requested by e-mailing marketing@orsoft.de.

Martin Kummer, Lonza AG: "Continues to be an impeccable organisation, good range of presentations, excellent social programme"

Andreas Weinert, Merck KGaA: "Very good organisation, interesting social programme"

Ingo Bartsch, H&R Ölwerke Schindler GmbH: "It was perfect!"

Events in 2009
Invitation to forthcoming trade fairs and conventions and to the OR Soft user convention in Dresden

 

CeBIT 03rd - 08th March 2009 in Hannover, Germany Hall 4, Stand G46		ACHEMA 11th - 15th May 2009 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany Hall 10.1, Stand E31
Hannover Messe 20th - 24th April 2009 in Hannover, Germany Hall 17, Stand B61		DSAG Jahreskongress 29th September - 01st October 2009 in Bremen, Germany
conhIT  21st - 23rd April 2009 in Berlin, Germany Hall 2.2, Stand A-104

Forum on production planning and 6th OR Soft user convention
09th - 11th September 2009 in Dresden

Specialised programme: The main focus of the lecture programme will be as in the past years, on 12 practical lectures from the areas of SCM and Advanced Planning. As part of this in the two days logistics managers, MRP schedulers and planners from companies including Merck, Zentis, Georg Fischer and Alupress will report on their experiences in their cooperation with OR Soft. A joint presentation from SAP and OR Soft will give an overview of the latest product developments and strategic focus.
Social programme: On Wednesday we have prepared an evening meal with a Saxon buffet at the Schloss Eckberg. On Thursday we invite you to visit the historical Grüne Gewölbe ("Green Vaults") accompanied by a tour of the city. In the evening there is the opportunity to exchange thoughts at a delicious buffet in Dresden's old town. Friday midday a trip on a historic paddle steamer on the Elbe river to the Schloss Pillnitz is scheduled.
If you are interested in taking part please send an e-mail to marketing@orsoft.de. We will be happy to provide further information.

Planners and logistics managers from companies included these took part in the last user convention (practical presentations = bold, OR Soft's customers = °). For the event in Dresden we expect a similar mixture of companies in the auditorium.
Air Products Polymers GmbH - Ashland-Südchemie-Kernfest GmbH - AstraZeneca GmbH - Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH° - B. Braun Melsungen AG - BASF AG - Bayer Healthcare AG - Benecke-Kaliko AG - Bischof + Klein GmbH & Co. - BODE Chemie GmbH & Co. KG - Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH & Co. KG° - BURGMANN Industries GmbH & Co. KG - BYK Chemie GmbH° - CFS Kempten GmbH - CILAG AG° - Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH° - Clariant Masterbatch GmbH° - CSL Behring GmbH° - Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH - ContiTech CBG - Daimler AG - Deutsche Homöopathie-Union° - Dionex Softron GmbH° - Döhler GmbH° - Dr. Oetker Nahrungsmittel KG - Dr. Th. Böhme KG Chem. Fabrik GmbH & Co. - Dräger Medical AG & Co. KG - DSM Fine Chemicals Austria GmbH - Dura Tufting GmbH° - DyStar Textilfarben GmbH & Co. KG° - EADS Deutschland GmbH° - Ferrero MSC GmbH & Co. KG° - Freudenberg Dichtungs- und Schwingungstechnik KG° - Georg Fischer GmbH° - Grohe Water Technology AG & Co. KG° - Grünenthal GmbH° - H&R Lube Blending GmbH° - H&R Wasag AG° - H&R Ölwerke Schindler GmbH° - H&R ChemPharm GmbH° - Hameln Pharmaceuticals GmbH° - Heinrich Hamker GmbH & Co. KG - Heyl Chemisch-Pharmazeutische Fabrik GmbH & Co KG° - Huntsman Advanced Materials° - Laborchemie Apolda GmbH° - Logistikamt der Bundeswehr° - Lonza AG° - MAPA GmbH - Mepha AG - Merck + CIE KG Schweiz - Merck KGaA - Oechsler AG - OMYA GmbH° - PCI Augsburg GmbH - profine GmbH - Q-Cells AG - ratiopharm GmbH (Merckle GmbH)° - Roche Diagnostics GmbH - Sachsenmilch AG° - Sanofi Aventis Deutschland GmbH° - SAP Deutschland AG & Co. KG - Sasol Wax GmbH° - Schering AG - SE Tylose GmbH & Co. KG° - Siegfried Ltd. - Sigma-Aldrich Production GmbH - Staatliche Molkerei Weihenstephan - Swiss Caps AG - Triumph AG° - Umicore AG & Co. KG° - Zentis GmbH & Co. KG