Aggregate Plan Schedule

In the Module Overview, we stated that an “aggregate plan will include the quantity and timing of production for the intermediate future (typically 3-18 months ahead).” Some factors such as demand, pay rate, and the ability to use overtime or subcontract some of the production must be taken into consideration to keep the total cost of production as low as possible.

You have been asked to build the aggregate planning schedule for your factory for the next six months and to determine the best option.

This chart provides the variables and cost for each variable in the Aggregate Plan Schedule.

Variables Cost
Inventory carrying cost $6 per unit per month
Subcontracting cost $25 per unit
Average pay rate $12.50 per hour (8 hours per day)
Overtime pay rate $18 per hour (above 8 hours per day)
Labor-hours needed to produce one unit 1.5 hours per unit
Units per day produced 50
Beginning inventory 0
Planned ending inventory 0
Lost sales per unit $100
This chart provides the demand for the product and the number of production days per month.

Months Demand Production Days
January 1200 22
February 800 18
March 600 21
April 1500 21
May 1400 22
June 1300 20
Complete the steps in each section and then submit your assignment for grading. Submit one spreadsheet containing a tab for each step.

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Step 1: Prepare Your Aggregate Plan
Use the Excel OM Aggregate Planning spreadsheet and the data to prepare your aggregate plan. Produce a graph of your plan. The intent is to use a level strategy (or level scheduling) with no overtime, no safety stock, and no subcontractors.

Hint 1 – Need to consider that it takes 1.5 hours to produce a unit when determining your cost per unit for average and overtime pay.

Hint 2 – To determine regular time production, you need to multiply the units per day produced by the number of production days.

Step 2: Update Your Aggregate Plan Using Overtime
In the plan produced in Step 1, the production rate did not meet the total demand. If you were able to use overtime to meet the shortfall, what would your aggregate plan look like?

Note on Aggregate Plan Schedule

Use the Excel OM Aggregate Planning spreadsheet and the data to prepare an updated aggregate plan.

Step 3: Update Your Aggregate Plan Using Outsourcing
Instead of paying overtime, you might be able to outsource the shortfall in production. Use the Excel OM Aggregate Planning spreadsheet and the data to prepare an updated aggregate plan using outsources instead of paying overtime.

Step 4: Summarize and Submit
On a fourth tab of the spreadsheet, summarize your cost and determine which of the three options produces the lowest overall cost.

Submit one spreadsheet containing a tab for each step. Save your assignment using a naming convention that includes your first and last name and the activity number (or description). Do not add punctuation or special characters.