Definition Resource Planning System

What is a Resource Planning System?

A Resource Planning System (RPS) enables the demand-oriented planning of personnel deployment in a company. For this purpose, an RPS addresses the question of which resources are required to what extent in order to fulfil an order, usually within a specified time frame. Based on the processes, the order load as well as the available personnel, the RPS optimises the personnel deployment considering qualitative and quantitative employee capacities. The inclusion of risk factors, such as the unavailability of employees or an unforeseeable high order volume, is also relevant in this context. In addition, vacancies caused by holidays or public holidays as well as on the basis of regular working hours can be considered by the RPS during planning as well.

By determining and visualising suitable key figures, the RPS also supports order-related optimisation of the resources used and enables flexible reactions to potential risk factors.

An RPS not only takes over the short-term planning of personnel deployment and ensures transparency regarding the utilisation and availability of individual resources, but can also support long-term planning and individual employee development. Thus, for example, the further training of employees can be coordinated or, by mapping schedules, the calculation of deadlines in connection with the dispatched capacities can be enabled.

Functionality of a RPS

The majority of RPS users want a customised standard RPS, i.e. the RPS should functionally cover the individual business processes without being an (expensive) individual solution. Suppliers try to meet this demand by developing systems that have a modular structure, can be parameterised (by the customer) and have defined programme routines that integrate individually programmed functions into the system.

A standard RPS has all the functionalities required for planning and optimising the deployment of personnel and resources.

Basically, the user defines the scope of the RPS. Any function that the user deems necessary is part of his RPS.

Core Functions

The core functions belong to the ordinary functional area of each RPS. They are indispensable for the operation of the RPS and belong to the minimum installation scope of each system. A few core functions, e.g. control centre, are also offered separately by specialists as independent modules. Normally, however, the core functions are only supported by modules of the RPS supplier. The core functions support the main area of application of each RPS: from personnel requirements to personnel deployment.