Capacity Planning in Practice
- Define Work Centers — Set up your work centers with available capacity — hours per day, shifts, and available days. Account for planned maintenance and holidays.
- View Load Charts — The capacity planner shows scheduled load versus available capacity for each work center across your planning horizon — daily, weekly, or monthly.
- Identify Constraints — Red zones highlight work centers exceeding capacity. FactorySync ranks bottlenecks by severity so you address the biggest constraints first.
- Rebalance Load — Use the visual scheduler to move work between work centers or reschedule to different dates. The capacity chart updates in real-time as you make changes.
- Track Utilization — Monitor actual versus planned utilization over time. Build the data needed to justify equipment investments or shift changes.
Real-World Example: Contract Manufacturer
A contract manufacturer needs to quote lead times accurately to win business. Before FactorySync, quotes were based on gut feel — sometimes they over-promised and missed delivery dates, other times they quoted conservatively and lost bids. With capacity planning, the sales team can see real work center availability and quote lead times based on actual capacity. Win rates improved because quotes were both competitive and achievable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does capacity planning account for setup and changeover time?
Yes. When routing operations include setup times, FactorySync factors these into the capacity calculations. This ensures load charts reflect true available production time, not just runtime.
Can I model what-if scenarios?
Yes. You can model the impact of accepting new orders, adding overtime, or changing production schedules before committing. This helps sales teams quote accurately and production managers plan proactively.
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FactorySync / Capacity Planning
Capacity Planning & Resource Management for NetSuite
FactorySync's capacity planning module gives NetSuite manufacturers the tools to understand, manage, and optimize their production capacity. See work center loads at a glance, identify bottlenecks before they cause delays, and make informed decisions about scheduling and resource allocation.
The Capacity Visibility Gap
Without capacity planning, manufacturers fly blind. They over-commit resources, miss delivery dates, or leave equipment idle. NetSuite tracks work orders but doesn't show you how much load each work center is carrying or when you're about to hit capacity constraints. FactorySync fills this critical gap.
Key Capabilities
Work Center Load Analysis
See how much load each work center is carrying — today, this week, this month. Visual load charts show available capacity versus scheduled work, making it easy to spot over- or under-loaded resources.
Bottleneck Identification
FactorySync automatically identifies work centers and resources that are constraining your throughput. Know which bottlenecks to address for maximum production improvement.
Resource Utilization Tracking
Track how effectively your equipment and labor are being utilized. Compare planned versus actual utilization to identify opportunities for improvement and justify capital investments.
What-If Analysis
Model the impact of adding new orders, changing priorities, or adjusting schedules before committing. FactorySync shows you how changes affect capacity across all work centers.
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