============ Key features ============ Browse the documentation by functional areas, and dig into the topics you are interested in. * :ref:`demand_forecasting` * :ref:`production_planning` * :ref:`capacity_modeling` * :ref:`routing_and_bom` * :ref:`user_interface` * :ref:`integration` * :ref:`odoo_integration` * :ref:`deployment` * :ref:`technology` * :ref:`pricing` | .. _demand_forecasting: Demand forecasting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Feature | Description | Read more | +=========================================+============================================================================+===============================================================================+ | **Statistical | The forecasting algorithm implements forecast methods for: | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/plan-analysis/forecast-report` | | forecast** | | - Example :doc:`examples/forecasting/forecast-method` | | | - Constant demand (single exponential smoothing) | - Example :doc:`examples/forecasting/middle-out-forecast` | | | - Trending demand (double exponential smoothing) | | | | - Seasonal demand (Holt-Winters additive method) | | | | - Intermittent demand (Croston method) | | | | - Moving average. | | | | | | | | The system automatically selects and tunes the best method that gives | | | | the lowest forecast error. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Outlier detection | Automatic detect and to exceptionally low or high demands: | - Video :doc:`a-day-in-the-life/demand-forecasting/filter-outliers` | | and correction** | | | | | The algorithm also implements a filter to reduce the impact of outliers | | | | on the generated statistical forecast (net forecast). | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Multi-dimensional and | Review forecast and demand history at any level of item, location, | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/plan-analysis/forecast-editor` | | hierarchical review** | customer, and time hierarchies. | - `Live demo `__ | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Automatic disaggregation of edits** | Enter values at higher levels of the item, location, customer, | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/plan-analysis/forecast-editor` | | | and time hierarchies. The values are automatically distributed to lower | - `Live demo `__ | | | levels. | - Video :doc:`a-day-in-the-life/demand-forecasting/share-forecast` | | | | - Video :doc:`a-day-in-the-life/demand-forecasting/upload-forecast-values` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Forecast consumption** | Sales orders consume from the gross forecast. | - Example :doc:`examples/forecasting/forecast-netting` | | | | | | | The sales orders and the remaining net forecast make up a complete and | | | | consistent demand for the complete planning horizon. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | .. _production_planning: Production planning & scheduling ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Feature | Description | Read more | +=========================================+============================================================================+===============================================================================+ | **Production planning** | The supply chain model spans end-to-end from raw material suppliers | | | | till the finished goods across multiple production locations, warehouses, | | | | distribution centers, subcontractors, and suppliers. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Capacity planning** | FrePPLe's capacity plan provides a timely visibility of upcoming capacity | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/plan-analysis/resource-report` screen | | | bottlenecks, giving you the opportunity to evaluate different scenarios. | - Video | | | As such, it can be used in mid-term capacity planning processes. | :doc:`a-day-in-the-life/production-planning/identify-bottleneck-resources` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Production scheduling** | Use frePPLe to generate detailed short-term production schedules. You can | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/plan-analysis/plan-editor` | | | then visualize your plan in an interactive Gantt chart and make final | - `Live demo `__ | | | adjustments. | - Video | | | | :doc:`a-day-in-the-life/production-planning/optimize-plan-in-gantt-chart` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Make-to-order, | Make-to-order, make-to-stock and assemble-to-order products are all | - Example :doc:`examples/buffer/make-to-order` | | make-to-stock and | supported. | | | assemble-to-order** | | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Exception based workflows** | Improve the planner's productivity by focussing the work on problem | - Video :doc:`a-day-in-the-life/production-planning/identify-expedite` | | | areas in the plan. | - Video | | | | :doc:`a-day-in-the-life/production-planning/check-impact-of-rush-orders` | | | | :doc:`a-day-in-the-life/production-planning/review-late-orders` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Theory of constraints** | A supply chain can only be as fast as the most constraining link. | | | | | | | | FrePPLe generates plans that will follow the pace of the bottleneck: | | | | | | | | - Capacity is not allocated until all materials are available. There is no | | | | point in reserving capacity for operations that can't start. | | | | - Material schedules are aligned with the available capacity. | | | | Don't feed components to an assembly line faster than the | | | | production rate. | | | | - Coordinate subassemblies i.e. if one of the components or subassemblies | | | | is constrained and late, the schedule of the other components are | | | | aligned to match its availability. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **DDMRP (Demand Driven MRP)** | FrePPLe aligns well with the principles of DDMRP and implements the base | | | | concepts. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Backward and forward | In backward scheduling mode, the planning algorithm counts backward from | | | scheduling modes** | the due date of the demand for a just-in-time completion of the order. | | | | | | | | In forward scheduling mode, the planning algorithm tries to deliver each | | | | order ASAP. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Constrained and | FrePPLe can generate different plan types: | - `Plan generation `_ | | unconstrained modes** | | - Video | | | - Simple unconstrained plan: similar to a simple MRP run in an ERP. It | :doc:`a-day-in-the-life/production-planning/unconstrained-requirements` | | | plans all demands on time but overloads resources and plans operations | | | | in the past. | | | | - Fully constrained plans: all constraints are met and demand is planned | | | | late or short in shortage situations. | | | | - Smart unconstrained plan: intelligently searches all alternates to meet | | | | demand on time respecting all constraints, and only plans the portion of | | | | the demand that can absolutely not be met on time in an unconstrained | | | | way. This results is an unconstrained plan that shows only the "real" | | | | shortages. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Fast heuristic solver | FrePPLe uses a heuristic planning algorithm, that can provide constrained | - Doc :doc:`developer-guide/planning-algorithm` | | algorithm** | and unconstrained plans. | - Example :doc:`examples/demand/demand-priorities` | | | | | | | The algorithm goes through the following loop: | | | | | | | | 1) first order all the demands by priority, then by due date | | | | 2) loop over each demand in the list: | | | | | | | | a) search backward from the due date for all capacity and material | | | | that the demand requires. This search will net any existing | | | | inventory, then evaluate alternative operations and capacity. | | | | b) if the above search didn't find a feasible solution to deliver the | | | | demand on time, the search is repeated in forward scheduling mode | | | | to deliver ASAP with minimal delay. | | | | | | | | This approach results in a fast plan generation that intelligently | | | | allocates constrained supply to the most important and urgent demands. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | .. _odoo_integration: Odoo integration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Feature | Description | Read more | +=========================================+============================================================================+===============================================================================+ | **Maintain all data in odoo** | All master data and transactions are managed by Odoo. | - Doc :doc:`odoo-connector/overview` | | | The frepple connector is an Odoo addon that synchronizes all planning | | | | to frePPLe. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Publish manufacturing orders | Publish planning results back to odoo. | - Doc :doc:`odoo-connector/overview` | | and purchase orders** | With a simple click the planners can create manufacturing orders and | | | | purchase orders in odoo. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Integrated user interface** | The frepple user interface is integrated in odoo. Users log in Odoo and | - `Live demo Odoo 17 `__ | | | can navigate from Odoo to all frepple screens. | - `Live demo Odoo 18 `__ | | | | - `Live demo Odoo 19 `__ | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | .. _capacity_modeling: Capacity modeling ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Feature | Description | Read more | +=========================================+============================================================================+===============================================================================+ | **Resource types** | Different types of capacity constraints can be modeled: | - Doc :doc:`model-reference/resources` | | | | - Example :doc:`examples/resource/resource-type` | | | - capacity limit expressed as the number of simultaneous tasks | | | | - available capacity expressed as quantity per time bucket | | | | - available capacity expressed as hours per time bucket | | | | - unconstrained infinite-capacity resources or unconstrained) | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Working hours and vacations** | Define calendars based on working hours, shifts, factory shutdowns, | - Example :doc:`examples/calendar/calendar-working-hours` | | | holiday periods, etc. | - Video :doc:`a-day-in-the-life/production-planning/define-operator-shifts` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Resource pools** | Group identical/similar resources (machines or operators) in an aggegrated | - Example :doc:`examples/resource/resource-alternate` | | | pool of resources. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Resource skills** | Assign skills to machines and operators and set them as necessary to | - Example :doc:`examples/resource/resource-skills` | | | perform specific operations. As a result, only a subset of the available | - Doc :doc:`model-reference/skills` | | | resources will be qualified to do the operation. | - Doc :doc:`model-reference/resource-skills` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Alternate resources** | The planning and scheduling algorithm can choose among alternative | - Example :doc:`examples/resource/resource-alternate` | | | resources from a pool. The selection can be priority-based or cost-based. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Setup matrix** | Include changovers in your planning process. Sequence-dependent changeover | - Doc :doc:`model-reference/setup-matrices` | | | time corresponds to cleaning, configuration, or tool changing time that is | | | | required when switching between different resources (machines or | | | | operators) during the production process. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | .. _routing_and_bom: Routing and bill of materials ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Feature | Description | Read more | +=========================================+============================================================================+===============================================================================+ | **Operation types** | Operations of different types can be modeled: | - Doc :doc:`model-reference/operations` | | | | - Example :doc:`examples/operation/operation-type` | | | - operations with a fixed duration, regardless of the quantity. | | | | - operations with a variable duration, proportional to the quantity. | | | | - routing operations that represent a sequence of operations. | | | | - alternate operations that represent a choice among alternatives. | | | | - split operations that proportionally distribute across alternatives. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Alternate operations** | Products can be manufactured in different ways: | - Example :doc:`examples/operation/operation-alternate` | | | | | | | - multiple routings to produce the same item | | | | - different versions of the bill of material | | | | - make-or-buy: choose whether to produce in-house or buy from a supplier | | | | - make-or-outsource: choose whether to produce in-house or to outsource | | | | an operation to a subcontractor. | | | | | | | | FrePPLe can plan these and automatically make a smart selection between | | | | the alternatives. The selection can be priority-based or cost-based. | | | | | | | | Alternates can be date-effective and quantity restrictions. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Alternate materials** | You can plan different versions of a bill of materials and include | - Example :doc:`examples/buffer/alternate-materials` | | | alternate materials in a same bill of material. | - Doc :doc:`model-reference/operation-materials` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Date effective bill of materials and | FrePPLe can suggest different versions of the bill of material with | - Doc :doc:`model-reference/operation-materials` | | operations** | valid start and end dates. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Co-products** | Operations can produce multiple items. | | | | Examples: | | | | | | | | - a sorting operation that produces items of different quantities or sizes | | | | - an operation that produces a by-product in addition to the intended | | | | item. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Minimum, maximum, | Some operations can only be scheduled within certain quantity constraints. | - Doc :doc:`model-reference/operations` | | and multiple operation | This applies to purchase orders, distribution orders and manufacturing | | | size** | orders. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Post-operation delay** | The plan can include delays between operations. These add buffer time and | - Example :doc:`examples/operation/operation-posttime` | | | robustness in the schedule to account for unexpected events. | | | | | | | | The post-operation delay is a soft constraint, which means we can generate | | | | plans with a shorter delay if that is required to deliver a customer order | | | | on time. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Operation dependencies** | Operations are chained together through bill of materials (typical for | - Example :doc:`examples/operation/operation-dependency` | | | most manufacturing environments) or through operation dependencies | | | | (typical for project-oriented manufacturing environments). | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | .. _user_interface: User interface ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Feature | Description | Read more | +=========================================+============================================================================+===============================================================================+ | **Web-based user interface** | No installation is required on user's computers. | | | | | | | | FrePPLe supports Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and other modern | | | | web browsers. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Multi-lingual** | Available in English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, | - `Live demo `__ | | | Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, simplified and | - Doc :doc:`developer-guide/translating-the-user-interface` | | | traditional Chinese. | | | | | | | | The language is detected automatically from the user's browser, and can be | | | | overriden as a user preference. | | | | | | | | Our user community often contribute translations for other languages. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Collaborative workflows** | Integrates efficient and intuitive collaboration capabilities. | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/getting-around/inbox` | | | | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/getting-around/messages` | | | The user interface allows users to get notifications on changes in the | | | | plan. Notifications can be inline in the application, or through emails. | | | | | | | | Users can comment on the plan and attach documents. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Excel import and export** | You can easily export the contents of all reports in Excel or CSV. | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/getting-around/exporting-data` | | | | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/getting-around/importing-data` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Customizable screens** | Each user can customize the reports to his/her needs and taste: visibility | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/getting-around/customizing-a-report` | | | and order of the columns, column width, sorting and filtering. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Role-based permissions** | Specify read, write, and view permissions per user or per user role. | - Doc | | | | :doc:`user-interface/getting-around/user-permissions-and-roles` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **What-if scenarios** | A scenario is a complete sandbox copy of the database. You can change any | - Doc | | | data element in a scenario without impacting the other scenarios. | :doc:`user-interface/what-if-scenarios` | | | | | | | Typical use cases: | | | | | | | | - Simulating different business scenarios | | | | - Separate long-term planning process (S&OP) and short-term scheduling | | | | processes | | | | - Use scenarios for business units that are completely unrelated | | | | (i.e. no shared materials or resources). | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Dashboard for KPIs** | The main screen is a dashboard that displays key metrics of the plan. | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/cockpit` | | | | | | | Customize your own dashboard easily to fit your decision process and | | | | business KPIs. You can organize the layout to visualize the KPIs that are | | | | relevant for your role and responsibility. | | | | | | | | The dashboard can be customized with addon. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | .. _integration: Integration ~~~~~~~~~~~ +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Feature | Description | Read more | +=========================================+============================================================================+===============================================================================+ | **Integrated data maintenance** | Data that is not maintained in external systems can be managed in frePPLe. | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/data-maintenance` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Excel import and export** | Import and export Excel data files for all reports. | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/getting-around/importing-data` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **CSV import and export** | Import and export CSV data files for all reports. | - Doc :doc:`user-interface/getting-around/importing-data` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **REST API** | A web-based JSON-REST API allows frePPLe to be integrated online with | - `Live demo `__ | | | other applications. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Packaged connectors | Generic standard connectors for Odoo, Openbravo and Etendo are available. | | | with ERP systems** | | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Remote automation** | All administrative tasks can be remotely managed through a web-based API. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | .. _deployment: Deployment ~~~~~~~~~~ +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Feature | Description | Read more | +=========================================+============================================================================+===============================================================================+ | **Cloud deployment** | Our secure cloud infrastructure allows to get up and running in a fast | | | | and scalable way. The majority of our customers use the Cloud Edition. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **On-site deployment** | For security or policy reasons, you can install frePPLe on your own | | | | servers. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Monthly release | The frequency of major releases is about one per year. | - :doc:`release-notes` | | cycle** | A minor or patch release is available about once a month. | | | | | | | | Migration scripts are available to move the database to a new release | | | | without reloading or losing data. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | .. _technology: Technology ~~~~~~~~~~ +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Feature | Description | Read more | +=========================================+============================================================================+===============================================================================+ | **Built on open-source stack** | The front-end web application is based on HTML, jquery and AngularJS. | | | | The back-end infrastructure is written in Python, Django, and PostgreSQL. | | | | The planning algorithms are implemented in C++ and can be scripted with | | | | Python. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Extendable platform | You can code addons to extend the application with custom reports, data | - Doc :doc:`developer-guide/creating-an-extension-app` | | with apps** | fields, and custom planning logic. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Designed for Linux and the cloud** | Deploy on-premise on Ubuntu or as a Docker container. | - Doc :doc:`installation-guide/docker-container` | | | Or use the Cloud Edition hosted by us. | - Doc :doc:`installation-guide/linux-binaries` | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | .. _pricing: Pricing ~~~~~~~ +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Feature | Description | Read more | +=========================================+============================================================================+===============================================================================+ | **Free open-source | The core product is available in an open-source Community Edition. | | | Community Edition** | | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Cloud and Enterprise | These editions provide extra features, plus enterprise-grade support. | | | Editions** | | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Free trial period** | You can try out the cloud edition for 30 days for free. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Free for academic | The Cloud Edition with all features is available for free for academic | | | use** | use. Contact us to apply. | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Pricing is based on | Check out the `price calculator `_ | | | the model size and the | on our website. | | | modules chosen** | | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Unlimited number of | The price is independent of the number of users. | | | users** | | | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+