Optimizing Production Planning with an Advanced Planning and Scheduling Software: A Case Study of Ciemme Alimentari Srl

This thesis is the result of an internship carried out at Sanmarco Informatica S.p.A., an IT consulting company recognized for its expertise in designing, developing, and implementing software solutions across multiple industries. The work concentrated on the deployment of Sanmarco Informatica’s Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) software at Ciemme Alimentari S.r.l., a leading Italian food producer based in Barletta (Puglia), widely known for its high-quality potato gnocchi. The introduction of the APS solution aimed to strengthen production planning by improving the alignment of capacities and resources, ensuring consistent data integration, and supporting the synchronization of operations. The thesis explores the phases of the APS deployment, with particular attention to the configurations tailored to Ciemme’s operational setting and the adjustments made to optimize its integration into the production system. In addition, it examines how the expected benefits described in academic literature translated into practice and reflects on the challenges that emerged during the process. The study shows how digital transformation can provide tangible improvements in production planning and resource management, while offering practical lessons that may be applied to similar software projects in other manufacturing companies.