4. From software packages to APS

The evolution of planning structures has been accompanied by that of the management software packages associated with planning, from CAPMs to APS.

Computer-aided production management (CAPM) systems were mainly used for individual or isolated industrial units. They were interfaced with other specific applications (accounting, sales management, etc.), which communicated via periodic interfaces. This led to data redundancy and generally distorted content.

They did not allow for efficient management when the organization had multiple, dispersed production units.

To achieve the responsiveness demanded by the market, supply chain management requires the ability to integrate all the information needed for global planning - information from the various entities making up the supply chain.

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