Nowadays, staying ahead of the curve requires more than just a good intuition; it needs data-driven insights and actionable intelligence. This is where Opcenter APS can help. And what’s even better than Opcenter APS? When you pair it with Power BI!
Combined, they are transforming the way planners create and tweak production schedules to streamline operations. So, how can using Power BI benefit your business?
What is Power BI?
Before we get too carried away with the benefits of Power BI, let’s take a moment to discuss what it actually is for those who don’t know. If you’re already clued up on Power BI, you can ahead and skip this paragraph!
In short, Power BI is a business analytics tool that has been developed by Microsoft. It allows users to visualise and analyse data. From simple data visualisations to complex predictive analytics, Power BI offers a wide range of capabilities. By transforming raw data into interactive reports and dashboards it helps businesses organise, process and act on what the data is telling them.
When integrated with Opcenter APS, it can help to provide insights into manufacturing operations and streamline production processes.
What are the business benefits of using Power BI?
Right, let’s get to the reason you clicked on this blog; the benefits of using Power BI in your business!
Objective schedule performance measurement
One of the standout features of Power BI is its ability to provide objective measurements of schedule performance. By seamlessly integrating with Opcenter APS, planners can score various schedules based on predefined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and metrics vital to the business.
This provides decision-makers with quantifiable insights into the efficacy of different scheduling scenarios, letting you make informed choices that match with the overarching business goals. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to spot weak areas and tweak schedules to make them more efficient and beneficial to your business.
Enhanced what-if analysis
We’d all love a bit of foresight in our lives, right? Well, Power BI allows for exactly that. With Power BI, what-if analysis reaches new heights of sophistication. Planners can effortlessly model different scenarios, visualising the trade-offs between schedules before committing to a course of action. This not only helps to reduce risks but also encourages innovation by exploring alternative strategies that you may not have previously considered, without disrupting any of your ongoing operations. A double win!
Reporting and dashboards
There’s no denying that visibility is key in manufacturing. Power BI’s advanced reporting capabilities and intuitive dashboards provide planners, managers, and executives with real-time insights into schedule performance.
By tracking trends over time, businesses can identify areas for improvement and quickly jump on opportunities to capitalise from them as much as possible. Whether it’s monitoring production throughput or analysing resource utilisation, Power BI gives businesses the confidence to make data-driven decisions.
Unified decision-making
Siloed data is a huge barrier to efficiency. Power BI bridges this gap by seamlessly integrating data from Opcenter APS with other sources like financials, creating a unified platform for decision-making.
By consolidating disparate datasets into a single point of truth, businesses can gain holistic insights into their operations, enabling cross-functional collaboration and alignment towards common goals. Plus, you’ll have peace of mind that you’re not missing any pieces of the puzzle.
Predictive analytics for informed planning
As historical schedule data accumulates, Power BI can harness this treasure trove of information to generate predictive analytics. By using advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques, planners can anticipate future trends and reduce or avoid potential risks pre-emptively. This proactive approach not only enhances the accuracy of scheduling but also lays the groundwork for continuous improvement.
Final thoughts
Using Opcenter APS alone already offers incredible benefits to your business, but if you’re ready to take it up a notch, integrating Power BI is an incredible way to offer more benefits to your business. When Power BI and Opcenter APS are used together, they help businesses improve their production planning by giving clear insights and predictions. This makes it easier than ever before for companies to manage their production processes, as well as open the door to a wealth of opportunities.
Ready to see how Opcenter APS and Power BI can help your business? Contact us today. With our years of expertise and skills, we’re able to help give tailored solutions for your business. We even have experience working with big brands, so you can be confident that you’re in safe hands.
