FitFactory Scheduler

Overview

FitFactory Scheduler is a production planning tool for subcontract manufacturers that need to coordinate work across machines and finite capacity. It is most relevant to shops managing shifting priorities, resource constraints and delivery commitments. Its strongest case is the combination of capacity planning and production analysis; buyers should weigh custom subscription pricing and separately charged training against that operational fit.

Key features

The scheduler maps jobs across machines to show booked work, clashes and available capacity. That gives planners a basis for checking whether a proposed delivery date is achievable before promising it to a customer. Automatic scheduling prioritises jobs according to requirements, while drag-and-drop rescheduling provides a direct way to respond when priorities change.

Resource planning accounts for work groups, holidays, absences, shift patterns and subcontracting. Support for finite capacity, materials and labor constraints makes it more suitable for production environments with competing resource limits than for teams looking for a simple task calendar. What-if scenarios let planners consider alternatives before changing the schedule.

Production analysis can help identify long-running jobs and tasks, along with orders that regularly miss targets. Shop-floor updates are supported, and Scheduler can be combined with Fitfactory’s Machine Monitoring and shop-floor data capture modules. Fitfactory says its MES modules, including scheduling, can integrate with any ERP/MRP system through an open API, a useful route for shops that want scheduling alongside existing business systems.

Pricing

Fitfactory Scheduler is a paid subscription with custom pricing. The subscription covers the software, support, online help manuals, customer ticketing and ongoing updates. Training is charged separately at £955+VAT per day, and Fitfactory recommends at least two days for new purchases; buyers should therefore include a recommended minimum of £1,910+VAT for training in their initial cost assessment.

UK-based support is available Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm. That is a defined weekday window rather than round-the-clock coverage, which may matter to manufacturers operating outside standard business hours. Fitfactory also displays a Cyber Essentials Plus badge, says it uses encryption where appropriate, and retains customer data for 14 days after a service agreement ends before deletion.

Platforms

FitFactory Scheduler is available on Android, iOS and Windows. Its support for ERP/MRP integration is through an open API; platform availability should not be read as a guarantee of a particular deployment or integration setup.

Who it's for

Scheduler is aimed at subcontract manufacturers, including the kinds of UK businesses Fitfactory identifies as customers: precision engineers, fabricators, treatment houses and machine shops. It is a stronger fit for planners who need machine-level capacity visibility, resource constraints and production-performance insight than for organisations seeking a general-purpose project scheduler.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Machine-level capacity visibility and finite-capacity planning help teams assess delivery commitments before accepting them.
• Pro: Scheduling includes material and labor constraints, resource calendars and what-if scenarios, giving planners several ways to account for production realities.
• Pro: Production analysis highlights long-running work and orders that regularly miss targets, extending the tool beyond schedule creation.
• Con: Subscription pricing is custom, so buyers cannot judge software cost without requesting a quote.
• Con: Training costs extra at £955+VAT per day, with at least two days recommended for new purchases, adding a meaningful onboarding expense.
• Con: Support is limited to weekday hours of 8am–5pm UK time, which may not suit every shift pattern.

Alternatives

Compare production scheduling software if you want to review a broader set of tools for this category.

• frePPLe is worth considering if a free open-source edition or a free trial is a priority; its Cloud plan is limited to six scenarios.
• Phoenix APS offers a free beta evaluation, but its temporary license is not licensed for production use, so it is an evaluation option rather than a free production substitute.
• GE Vernova Proficy Plant Applications is an alternative for buyers considering hosted or on-premises deployment across process, discrete and mixed manufacturing.
• NETVIBES is another paid option, with a free plan and free trial.
• Accevo APS offers a choice between a perpetual license with optional annual maintenance and a subscription license.
• Asprova APS may suit buyers who want to request a distributor quote and have a free trial available.
• DELMIA Demand Planning is an alternative for buyers seeking a quote based on package, business size, contract duration and requirements.
• PlanetTogether APS offers subscription or perpetual licensing, with subscription fees paid annually in advance.

Verdict

FitFactory Scheduler is a strong candidate for subcontract manufacturers that need to coordinate machine capacity, constraints and delivery priorities while tracking production performance. Its capacity checks, rescheduling and analysis provide a focused reason to choose it; look elsewhere if you need transparent upfront software pricing, lower onboarding costs or support outside weekday UK hours.