How PFM is different from your ERP
How PFM is different from your ERP
Finite Capacity Scheduling (FCS) used by most ERP systems and the Dynamic Production Method (DPM) used by PFM, might generate the same outputs - Gantt charts, work-to lists and promise dates - but they use fundamentally different assumptions about how production flows and how information is presented.
Graphically represents your work orders
Graphically represents your work orders
A picture is worth a thousand words.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Simple diagrammatic representations are used throughout PFM.
We combine your text based routings and bill of material into a graphical bill of manufacture.
At a glance you can see your work order structure, progress and status.
We combine your text based routings and bill of material into a graphical bill of manufacture.
At a glance you can see your work order structure, progress and status.
Manage Variability & Risk
Manage Variability & Risk
so it doesn't manage you
so it doesn't manage you
PFM uses explicit buffers to plan for and manage variation, smoothing out variation and protecting your due dates.
Operation sequences with 'good enough' processing times are the basis for the Execution Plan.
The ratio of work remaining to time protection remaining indicates the risk of missing your due date. We call this 'Threat Level Priority'.
Higher risk = higher priority.
Operation sequences with 'good enough' processing times are the basis for the Execution Plan.
The ratio of work remaining to time protection remaining indicates the risk of missing your due date. We call this 'Threat Level Priority'.
Higher risk = higher priority.
Same challenges, totally different assumptions
Question
ERP - using Finite Capacity Scheduling
PFM - using the Dynamic Production Method
What happens when production doesn't go to plan?
Manually run the scheduling program to recalculate a new plan based on the changes.
Automatically adjusts to the changes in real-time. Ensuring smooth execution without the need for constant replanning.
How does the system handle variability?
Reactively! Small disruptions cause cascading changes, requiring frequent manual intervention.
Proactively - plans for and expects disruptions. Leaving only major disruptions needing intervention.
How does it ensure on-time delivery?
Tries to create the 'perfect' plan and specify exactly when everything must happen. Management focus becomes how to attain perfection all the time. Expensive and unsustainable.
Responds to changes as they happen in our 'imperfect' world. Your resources are continually focused on the most critical jobs. On-time performance, despite the uncertainty.
Same challenges, totally different assumptions
Question
What happens when production doesn't go to plan?
ERP - Manually run the scheduling program to recalculate a new plan based on the changes.
PFM - Automatically adjusts to the changes in real-time. Ensuring smooth execution without the need for constant replanning.
Question
How does the system handle variability?
ERP - Reactively! Small disruptions cause cascading changes, requiring frequent manual intervention.
PFM - Proactively. Plans for and expects disruptions. Leaving only major disruptions needing intervention.
Question
How does it ensure on-time delivery?
ERP - Tries to create the 'perfect' plan and specify exactly when everything must happen. Management focus becomes how to attain perfection all the time. Expensive and unsustainable.
PFM - Responds to changes as they happen in our 'imperfect' world. Your resources are continually focused on the most critical jobs. On-time performance, despite the uncertainty.
Our approach is different
Our approach is different
Production environments are always changing. If your ERP system assumes the future is predictable, every time something changes your whole plan falls apart.
PFM accepts the future as inherintly uncertain and dynamically responds to changes. Automatically adjusting priorities based on threat level, to keep work flowing through your factory.
PFM accepts the future as inherintly uncertain and dynamically responds to changes. Automatically adjusting priorities based on threat level, to keep work flowing through your factory.
Real-time Priorities
Real-time Priorities
So you work on the right things
So you work on the right things
PFM calculates threat level in real-time so you always know which job to work on next.
You don't need to run your scheduling program every time something changes to determine what to do.
No need for Excel, endless meetings and status updates to ensure your resources are processing the most important jobs.
You don't need to run your scheduling program every time something changes to determine what to do.
No need for Excel, endless meetings and status updates to ensure your resources are processing the most important jobs.
Same features, totally different outcomes
Question
ERP - using Finite Capacity Scheduling
PFM - using the Dynamic Production Method
Can it generate a work-to list?
Yes
Yes
Will the work-to list still be relevant in 4 hours?
Probably not
Yes
Does it need constant manual intervention?
All the time
Almost never
Can it tell me which job to start next?
It depends on the re-running of the scheduling program
Always - just follow the priority
Will the team trust the system?
No - That's why you're using spreadsheets and constantly changing priorities in daily production meetings
Yes
Same features, totally different outcomes
Question
Can it generate a work-to list?
ERP - Yes
PFM - Yes
Question
Will the work-to list still be relevant in 4 hours?
ERP - Probably not
PFM - Yes
Question
Does it need constant manual intervention?
ERP - All the time
PFM - Almost never
Question
Can it tell me which job to start next?
ERP - It depends on the re-running of the scheduling program
PFM - Always. Just follow the priority
Question
Will the team trust the system?
ERP - No. That's why you're using spreadsheets and constantly changing priorities in daily production meetings
PFM - Yes
Real-time Tracking
Real-time Tracking
Driving the right behaviour
Driving the right behaviour
Most ERP systems don't give you an overall picture of production. The closest you get is a gantt chart.
PFM's Heat Map shows how production is progressing in real time. This simple chart tells you which jobs require attention and which jobs don't.
Avoid finding out you've fallen behind when there's no time left to do something about it.
Focus your limited resources, drive the right behaviour and get better results.
PFM's Heat Map shows how production is progressing in real time. This simple chart tells you which jobs require attention and which jobs don't.
Avoid finding out you've fallen behind when there's no time left to do something about it.
Focus your limited resources, drive the right behaviour and get better results.
How PFM predicts the future
How PFM predicts the future
By following PFM's real-time priorities, you experience how production is executing in the here-and-now. Simulating this execution into the future provides a realistic prediction of what’s likely to happen—unlike traditional scheduling, which relies on rigid assumptions.
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Future-Proof Production
Future-Proof Production
the future is what you make it
the future is what you make it
PFM’s Predictor™ simulates your production environment using predictive analytics.
See what’s ahead: Predict start and finish dates, pinpoint future delays, and identify whether machines, people, or materials are the bottleneck.
Focus your improvement and investment initiatives where they will make the most difference.
See what’s ahead: Predict start and finish dates, pinpoint future delays, and identify whether machines, people, or materials are the bottleneck.
Focus your improvement and investment initiatives where they will make the most difference.
Which approach is better at predicting the future?
Question
ERP - using Finite Capacity Scheduling
PFM - using the Dynamic Production Method
Can it reliably predict delivery dates?
Only if everything goes exactly as planned, which rarely happens in a dynamic environment
Continuously updates predictions based on execution data, providing more realistic delivery dates
What's different? Don't both system predict the future?
Uses the same capacity loading algorithm in the here-and-now as it does to plan for the future. If it struggles with the present how can you rely on it to predict the future.
In the here-and-now PFM uses threat level to establish a priority. It ignores your capacity.
It only considers your capacity when simulating the future.
It only considers your capacity when simulating the future.
Do both systems produce a schedule?
ERP creates a rigid plan that you most likely won't follow. Hence the production vs scheduler conflict exists. If you can't believe what it says will happen today, how can you believe what is says will happen in a few weeks time?
PFM does not create a schedule. It simulates you executing your priorities into the future. This reflects the way you work and creates a more representative picture of what is likely to happen in the future.
Which approach is better at predicting the future?
Question
Can it reliably predict delivery dates?
ERP - Only if everything goes exactly as planned, which rarely happens in a dynamic environment
PFM - Continuously updates predictions based on execution data, providing more realistic delivery dates
Question
What's different? Don't both system predict the future?
ERP - Uses the same capacity loading algorithm in the here-and-now as it does to plan for the future. If it struggles with the present, how can you rely on it to predict the future.
PFM - In the here-and-now PFM uses threat level to establish a priority. It ignores your capacity.
It only considers your capacity when simulating the future.
It only considers your capacity when simulating the future.
Question
Do both systems produce a schedule?
ERP - Creates a rigid plan that you most likely won't follow. Hence the production vs scheduler conflict exists. If you can't believe what it says will happen today, how can you believe what is says will happen in a few weeks time?
PFM - Does not create a schedule. It simulates you executing your priorities into the future. This reflects the way you work and creates a more representative picture of what is likely to happen in the future.
Unlock your ERP's full potential
Unlock your ERP's full potential
Integrates with your ERP
Integrates with your ERP
Easy to integrate, even easier to implement and use.
PFM accepts data from any source, including standard connectors that integrates directly with your manufacturing ERP software.
No need for double handling - key data is synced from your ERP to PFM. Your data is transformed into actionable insights.
PFM accepts data from any source, including standard connectors that integrates directly with your manufacturing ERP software.
No need for double handling - key data is synced from your ERP to PFM. Your data is transformed into actionable insights.
Why you should care
Why you should care
We measure success by how well our system helps you consistently hit delivery dates with less stress and less firefighting.
Does PFM need constant manual intervention? Almost never.
Can it tell me which job to start next? Always! Just follow the priority, no recalculation or scheduling program required.
Will your team trust the system? Absolutely. No more arguments in endless production meetings.
Can it tell me which job to start next? Always! Just follow the priority, no recalculation or scheduling program required.
Will your team trust the system? Absolutely. No more arguments in endless production meetings.
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Request a consultation
Request a consultation
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(C) 2025 PFM Works - Production Scheduling Reinvented