Advanced Planning Tool Generation Using Template Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development and implementation of advanced planning tools (APTs) for operations analysis and management are complex, requiring specialized expertise, are time-consuming, and not easily adaptable across different businesses or domains, limiting accessibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An APT generation system that accepts multimodal input, including natural language questions, to automatically generate customized APTs with documentation and implementation code, enabling non-experts to develop and modify APTs without coding knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If APTs are developed manually by support consultants with specialized expertise, then the functionality and customization of APTs are improved, but the development time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses template-based generation where pre-defined APT templates are automatically copied and customized for specific business scenarios. This allows rapid replication of proven APT patterns without manual development, reducing development time while maintaining customization through parameter substitution in the templates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables operations planners to self-generate APTs using natural language descriptions without requiring support consultant intervention. The automated generation engine interprets user requirements and produces customized APTs independently, eliminating the time loss associated with expert consultation while maintaining adaptability through intelligent parsing of natural language inputs.
2Reliability
If support consultants develop APTs with specialized programming skills, then the functionality and reliability of APTs are improved, but the complexity and difficulty of verification increase
Solution Approach 1:
Pre-verified APT templates with known reliability are copied and adapted rather than creating new code from scratch. The template verification process is reused across multiple instances, reducing verification complexity while maintaining reliability through proven patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automated verification that provides feedback on generated APTs, checking for correctness and consistency. This automated feedback loop reduces verification complexity by systematically validating outputs against defined criteria, eliminating manual verification burden while ensuring reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If APTs are highly specific to particular businesses or domains, then the precision and effectiveness of APTs are improved, but the adaptability to different businesses or domains decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates APTs with universal structures that can function across different businesses and domains while maintaining domain-specific precision through configurable parameters. The same underlying APT framework adapts to various contexts by substituting domain-specific data and rules, achieving both universality and precision simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves adaptability by changing parameters within the APT framework rather than restructuring the entire tool. Domain-specific precision is maintained through parameter configuration (data sources, business rules, metrics) while the core APT structure remains universal and reusable across different businesses and domains.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual development methods are used for APTs, then the customization capability is improved, but the productivity and efficiency of APT generation decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system copies and adapts proven APT templates automatically, maintaining customization capability through parameter substitution while dramatically increasing productivity by eliminating manual coding. This template-based approach generates customized APTs rapidly without sacrificing adaptability to specific business needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated generation engine enables operations planners to self-serve APT creation using natural language inputs, achieving both customization and high productivity. The system processes user requirements automatically and generates customized APTs without manual intervention, simultaneously improving efficiency and maintaining adaptability through intelligent requirement interpretation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for automated generation of an advanced planning tool (APT) for an advanced planning system (APS) are described. One or more input questions for an operations plan are received. A generic APT contract that is relevant to a given one input question is retrieved. The generic APT contract is customized by mapping parameters defined in the data schema associated with the operations plan to placeholders in the generic APT contract. Generic APT code corresponding to the generic APT contract is customized by replacing placeholders in the generic APT code with parameters defined in the data schema, in accordance with the mapping. The customized APT code is deployed to obtain the executable customized APT. Verification of the customized APT is performed by automatically performing test executions of the customized APT using test inputs automatically generated using the data schema. The customized APT contract is outputted to a user device.