Autor: Agnes Pechmann

Production planning and control (PPC) software schedules the availability and optimal use of human and operation resources. The system must allocate the operation steps and operation resources to the machines in the right order under the control of qualified personnel. The scheduling takes place according to customer-specific objectives such as adherence to delivery dates. These objectives compete against the cost-specific objectives such as high workload of the machines. For the cost specific objectives, the topic of resource and energy efficiency become the focus of attention.

The economic benefits of photovoltaic systems under Germany’s current legislative conditions (EEG 2017) were investigated in two small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The energy demand of the case SMEs is very distinct in volume, type, and profile. With the aid of a simulation, direct consumption of expected renewable energy generation and resulting energy exchange with the grid were calculated. The results were analysed from an economic viewpoint using economic indicators.