How Krogsgaard Achieved 99% On-Time Delivery with Proficy Scheduler Without Last-Minute Overtime

Krogsgaard is a subcontractor specializing in CNC machining with a high level of automation. The company primarily supplies medium-sized components in various alloys to a wide range of industries.

Krogsgaard handles both one-off production of complex parts and series production in larger volumes. With Proficy Scheduler, the company has achieved a more stable, flexible and transparent production setup – benefiting customers, employees and the bottom line.

One of the most noticeable effects of Proficy Scheduler at Krogsgaard is improved delivery performance.

Previously, the production plan existed in one person’s head, and when problems arose, they were solved with overtime – often at very short notice. Today, the plan lives in Proficy Scheduler, where everyone who needs it can follow along.

The outcome has been outstanding: on-time delivery in almost all cases, planned overtime instead of spontaneous “firefighting,” better utilization of both employees and machines, and significantly improved customer service and flexibility.

According to production planner Jacob Madsen from Krogsgaard, the biggest benefit of the digital planning solution is the visual overview in Proficy Scheduler across production, orders and machines. This also creates goodwill with customers by enabling the company to see ahead of time if an order risks being delayed.

“We can see the entire production on one screen and react in time instead of at the last minute. That makes a huge difference both for us and for our customers. We only have planned overtime now, because we have the complete picture and can see when we will need extra hours. One of the things we have achieved is that we deliver 99% of our orders on time! That is the biggest advantage of Proficy Scheduler – that we are in control of our time,” says Jacob Madsen.

With Proficy Scheduler, planners gain a visual overview that transforms the way they work. Instead of spending time piecing together data from different systems, they can see the entire production plan on one screen: which machines are loaded, where there are bottlenecks, and where there is free capacity.

This makes it much easier to respond to customers. When a rush order comes in or a customer wants to move a delivery forward, planners can immediately see where there are gaps in the plan and insert the job without jeopardizing other deliveries. Orders can be scheduled as late as possible and still leave room for urgent work, which leads to better utilization of capacity and higher delivery reliability.

With this visual overview, Jacob Madsen can see exactly where there are “gaps” in the production plan and quickly answer whether he can accept urgent jobs or not.

“We schedule all orders as late as possible. If we get rush orders – and we do that almost every week – we can slot them into the gaps. The same applies if a customer wants to bring their delivery date forward. We don’t get stressed anymore! Now we can always look at the plan to see how things are going and when we need to step in,” Jacob Madsen explains.

The benefits of a complete picture are not only financial – they have a direct impact on the working environment. When planners have a visual plan they can trust, they no longer need to “carry the plan in their heads” or constantly put out fires. Instead, they can calmly follow progress, see when something is drifting, and decide exactly where and when they need to step in. This creates a more structured workday with fewer surprises and less stress.

Transparency also improves communication. With a shared visual plan, planners can explain priorities and constraints clearly to both production and sales. Everyone sees the same picture, which reduces misunderstandings and makes it easier to align expectations with customers. Over time, this builds greater confidence in the plan – and in each other.

At Krogsgaard, the planning process has become more collaborative and less stressful, contributing to a healthier, more attractive working environment for everyone involved. Challenges are now solved through planning rather than firefighting. With Proficy Scheduler, they can move orders around, use machine capacity optimally and save both resources and money.

“Our production is characterized by many small orders. When jobs are changed several times a day – both for operators and machines – it is easy to lose the big picture and create stress for the planner. This is where Proficy Scheduler is a very strong tool. It makes it easier to manage the many jobs and keep everything together in one place, so the planner always knows what is happening and what to prioritize. Deliveries are also managed in Proficy Scheduler, which helps ensure that finished orders are shipped on time – reducing last-minute firefighting and pressure on the planning team,” concludes Jacob Madsen.