Most scheduling decisions are made once and regretted quietly. A planner moves a run to cover a gap, and only on the floor does the cost appear: a missed changeover window, a short shift, a delayed order two days later. What-if simulation moves that discovery earlier. It lets you try a plan against capacity, materials and labor without committing anything, then compare the results side by side. Planners can try a scenario on a copy of their current schedule and see the consequences before anyone is told to act.
Try the Plan on a Copy Before You Try It on the Floor
iFactory Dynamic Scheduler runs scenario forecasts against capacity, materials and labor without committing the live plan.
The Scenario Loop in Four Moves
A good simulation is quick enough to use during a conversation. The loop below keeps it that way.
Branching From One Base Plan
Each scenario starts from the same schedule and diverges, so differences are caused by the change, not by noise.
Illustrative scenarios. Your own list of questions comes first.
Questions Worth Asking the Simulator
Start with the decisions that are expensive to reverse.
Capacity questions
What if a line is down? What if a new SKU launches next week?
Material questions
What if a delivery is two days late? Which runs lose cover first?
Labor questions
What if three people are absent? What if a shift is added?
Run Your Hardest Planning Question Today
Bring one decision you keep debating, such as a new SKU or a line shutdown. We will simulate it and compare the outcomes live.
Comparing Scenarios on the Same Measures
Use the same few measures for every scenario so the comparison is fair.
| Measure | Why It Matters | How to Read It |
|---|---|---|
| On-time orders | Customer impact | Higher is better |
| Changeover hours | Lost production time | Lower is better |
| Labor hours and overtime | Cost and fatigue | Lower and steadier is better |
| Stock and material cover | Risk of stoppage or excess | Inside planned range |
Sandbox vs Live Schedule
Keeping experiments apart from execution is what makes simulation safe.
What Experienced Planners Look For in a Simulation
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a simulation change the live schedule by accident?
No. Scenarios run in a separate copy, and only an approved scenario updates the live plan. See how the sandbox and live plan stay apart in a short walkthrough.
How accurate are the results?
They depend on the quality of rates, calendars and changeover data. Good inputs give useful comparisons, even if single numbers are never exact. Check outputs against past weeks to build trust.
How many scenarios should we run?
A handful of well-chosen ones beat dozens of unfocused ones. Pick scenarios that reflect real choices. Choose your first three scenarios with our team using your current planning issues.
Who can use the simulator?
Planners, supervisors and sales teams can each view results. Editing rights can stay with planners. Wider access helps decisions that cross departments, such as order promises.
What do we need to get started?
A current schedule, line rates, changeover times and a shift calendar. Check which of these you already have ready and fill the gaps with our team.
Stop Debating Plans and Start Testing Them
Bring your schedule and one open question. We will build the scenarios and compare them side by side.
