Outsourcing production planning

Production planning (or production scheduling) is the heart but also the Achilles heel of any company that produces goods. However, many companies in the DACH region have either not yet recognized this potential or importance and tend to treat this core area of their company “stepmotherly” according to the motto “Someone can do this alongside their actual work”.
Or you are now faced with a difficult decision: can you continue to solve this complex task internally or outsource it?

While outsourcing has long been established in areas such as IT or logistics, there are often still reservations when it comes to production planning. After all, this involves the control of central processes, where any delay or inaccuracy can have major consequences. Nevertheless, reality shows that outsourcing production planning is not only a sensible option, but in many cases makes all the difference - especially in times of skills shortages and increasing competitive pressure.

1. Why outsource production planning?

Companies today are faced with a variety of challenges that make efficient production planning more difficult. One key factor is the shortage of skilled workers. Experienced planners who know all the ins and outs of production are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Many companies have to work with a thin headcount, which quickly turns planning into a bottleneck.

At the same time, the demands on production are constantly increasing. Customers not only expect shorter delivery times, but also a high degree of flexibility for custom-made products or changes to orders at short notice. Added to this is the increasing complexity of the production processes themselves: Production lines must be constantly changed over to new products, materials must be available on time and in sufficient quantities, and machines must be optimally utilized to avoid unnecessary downtimes - in addition to all this complexity, set-up costs should then also be minimized. All of this is a mammoth task.

Outsourcing production planning offers a solution to these challenges. External experts bring the necessary know-how and technical tools to make planning professional and efficient. This gives companies valuable time and resources back, which they can use for their core business. In addition, planning becomes a variable cost center: instead of investing permanently in software and personnel, companies only pay for the planning runs that are actually used.

2. The typical objections to outsourcing

Even if the advantages of outsourcing are obvious, we repeatedly encounter typical objections in discussions with companies. These are understandable, but are often based on misunderstandings. Here are the most common concerns - and why they do not correspond to reality:

“We are losing control of our planning!”

Many companies fear that they could lose control of important processes by outsourcing production planning. But the opposite is the case: modern service providers such as tetys planning flex focus on maximum transparency.
Regular planning runs keep companies up to date at all times. They can track exactly which machines are scheduled and when, where potential bottlenecks are imminent and which measures have been taken or can still be taken. Planning is also carried out on the basis of clearly defined parameters that are jointly determined in an initial workshop phase. This continuous coordination ensures that companies remain in control.

“External parties don't know our production processes well enough.”

Another objection relates to the concern that an external service provider might not be able to take into account the individual characteristics of production. However, professional planning service providers do not simply start “in the blue”.
All relevant data and processes are recorded in a detailed analysis phase - from production capacities and set-up times to material changes and maintenance cycles. This information flows directly into the planning and is regularly updated to ensure that it is always up to date.

This results in a customized planning solution that is precisely tailored to the needs of the respective company.
A further advantage of this is that the “tunnel vision” that is often found is lost and planning is based on actual circumstances and facts. All with the aim of sustainable and, above all, far-sighted production planning.

“What happens if changes are made at short notice?”

Flexibility is a basic requirement for successful production planning. Many companies fear that an external service provider will not be able to react quickly enough to unforeseen changes.
However, this is where the strength of modern planning services comes into play: tetys planning flex offers close integration with existing systems such as existing MES or ERP software. This means that changes, for example in the order situation or in the production process, can be taken into account in real time. In addition, the continuous collaboration between the company and the planning experts enables plans to be adapted quickly and efficiently.

3. What outsourcing can achieve - and where it is particularly worthwhile

Outsourcing production planning opens up a wide range of opportunities for companies to increase their efficiency and competitiveness. The scalability of the service is particularly relevant here. Companies with highly fluctuating production volumes - such as seasonal businesses - can expand or reduce planning as required. This creates flexibility without having to constantly reorganize internal resources.
Another important point is the expertise of the external planning experts. They not only have in-depth industry knowledge, but also bring best practices from different production environments with them. This enables them to identify potential that often remains hidden from internal staff (which brings us back to “tunnel vision”) - be it through better machine control, optimized material flows or forward-looking capacity planning.

Optimized planning processes can also lead to considerable cost savings. Production downtimes are minimized, rework is reduced and machine and personnel utilization is improved. At the same time, there is no need to invest in expensive planning software or time-consuming training for internal staff.

Conclusion: A strategic decision for the future

Outsourcing production planning is more than just a short-term measure to reduce workload. It offers companies the opportunity to grow strategically, reduce costs and at the same time increase the flexibility and efficiency of their production.
With a solution like tetys planning flex, companies gain powerful support that is perfectly tailored to their needs. This makes production planning a strong success factor - even in an increasingly dynamic market environment.

Interested? Arrange a non-binding consultation and find out how tetys planning flex can make your production fit for the future!