Multi-Project Planning with valantic waySuite

Project planning refers to the scheduling, resource allocation, and management within a single project – from creating the project network and defining task dependencies to assigning capacity for the individual work packages.

Multi-project planning (also known as multi-project management) is the overarching planning, coordination, and management of multiple projects running in parallel. It focuses on tasks that individual projects cannot solve on their own: balancing shared resource pools, setting priorities when deadlines compete, and identifying dependencies between projects early on.

valantic waySuite maps both levels in a single software solution. Individual projects are planned using classic network scheduling techniques; at the same time, SCM departments gain cross-project planning visibility across all projects. When multiple projects draw on the same resources, waySuite reveals the dependencies and automatically identifies scheduling and capacity conflicts.

waySuite’s functionality is based on classic network scheduling techniques. Tasks can be scheduled forward or backward, individual tasks can be fixed in place, or aligned with the entire network based on their precedence relationships. Results – such as a project’s critical path – are available instantly thanks to real-time processing, as are the effects on other projects involving the same resources.

Unlike many traditional planning tools, when one user edits a project network, the plan is not locked for others. Only changed elements are updated; each user can integrate other users’ changes into their own project network and assess their impact.

Before alternative planning scenarios are permanently adopted, they can be tested in the Scenario Center: planning states are copied from the production system and reviewed before being published.

Planners familiar with Microsoft tools will find the planning interface intuitive right away – within just a few days, they can independently set up projects in waySuite, identify conflicts, and create realistic plans. Among other features, the module includes preconfigured and customizable views and lists that can also be shared with colleagues, and it always keeps the displayed data up to date.

Depending on role and requirements, the planning is displayed at different hierarchy levels. Management sees aggregated overviews of selected or all projects, sorted by the most important phases. Those responsible for individual phases, in turn, see only their own tasks and the corresponding dependencies in waySuite.

Conventional tools often only manage deadlines and dependencies while neglecting the actual capacity situation on the shop floor. Project planning within waySuite, by contrast, links strategic project planning directly with operational resource availability. You don’t just plan when something should be finished – you know immediately whether machines and personnel are actually available at that point in time.

valantic waySuite was specifically designed to communicate seamlessly with common ERP systems such as SAP. Data is synchronized via certified standard interfaces – without fundamentally changing your existing system architecture.

Yes, this is a core feature. Before committing to a new order, you can load it into your existing multi-project landscape as a simulation project. waySuite immediately shows you the impact on all ongoing projects and identifies potential bottlenecks in critical resources. This way, you make decisions based on facts rather than gut feeling.

The project planning module in waySuite is designed as an integration solution. Master data and transaction data (such as work plans, inventory levels, and production confirmations) are synchronized via standardized interfaces. For IT, this means a stable, low-maintenance system that meaningfully complements your existing architecture – instead of encouraging isolated solutions and error-prone Excel lists.

The measurable benefits include significantly higher on-time delivery rates (up to 95%+), shorter lead times through optimized sequencing, and a massive reduction in costly rush actions and overtime. In addition, work-in-progress (WIP) inventory decreases, as material and capacity are only committed when they are actually needed in the course of the project.

Absolutely. The multi-project planning module in waySuite is built for complex environments. It enables planning and managing resources across departments, plants, and sites. This way, you always maintain full visibility of overall capacity and critical paths – even with globally distributed project teams.

When multiple projects draw on the same resources, waySuite directly reveals the resulting dependencies and identifies scheduling and capacity conflicts – including their impact on the critical path of the affected projects.

Yes, the module also works as a standalone solution for project planning and multi-project planning. Linking it to production planning makes sense as soon as the scheduling of purchased and manufactured parts becomes relevant in your planning context.

It is particularly relevant for companies with project-based make-to-order or small-batch manufacturing and customer orders running in parallel – for example, in machinery and plant engineering or shipbuilding. These are industries in which multiple projects regularly compete for the same resources.