11 August 2008

New York-based manufacturer Belmont Metals is implementing the PlanetTogether advanced planning and scheduling (APS) solution to help manage its complex production planning tasks. Founded in 1896, Belmont is a speciality manufacturer of non-ferrous metals and alloys, located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York.

Belmont makes more than 3,000 metal formulations and shapes from its 80,000 square foot facility. With multiple production scheduling considerations at play and industrial real estate at a premium, the company needs to make efficient use of every minute and every square foot to remain competitive.

To help increase efficiency, Belmont decided to invest in production scheduling software. PlanetTogether was selected for its powerful optimisation tools, graphical drag-and-drop scheduling board, and flexible Microsoft .NET architecture. PlanetTogether partner NexTec was selected to implement the solution. “Belmont Metals evaluated a number of options and ultimately decided on PlanetTogether, Sage MAS 500, and O2 Process Manufacturing. Together these three products provide an integrated, comprehensive manufacturing solution capable of scaling with Belmont as its business needs expand and change,” said Andrew Nunez, the general manager of NexTec’s northeastern offices.

“The majority of the company's growth must come through efficiency rather than expansion,” continued Nunez. “That's where PlanetTogether comes into play. By using the real-time information, what-if analysis, and dynamic scheduling tools, it is realistic to expect that Belmont can increase operating efficiency by 15-20 per cent.”