Preactor

What is preactor

Preactor is a family of advanced planning and scheduling (APS) products used to create finite-capacity production schedules, sequence work, and test what‑if scenarios for manufacturing operations. Historically developed as Preactor APS and now offered through Siemens’ portfolio, the product suite focuses on shop‑floor sequencing, constraint-based planning, and visual schedule management. It is targeted at production planners, operations managers, scheduling engineers, and IT teams that need greater control over dispatching rules, resource constraints, and order sequencing than standard MRP systems provide.

Preactor is typically deployed in environments that require detailed sequencing — job shops, make‑to‑order and mixed‑mode manufacturers, assembly lines with constrained tooling, and multi-site operations where finite capacity and lead‑time accuracy are critical. The solution emphasizes graphical Gantt boards, automated heuristics and optimization engines, and integration interfaces that connect scheduling decisions to ERP and MES systems.

Preactor supports a range of deployment models from on‑premise installations to cloud-hosted or hybrid implementations. Implementations are frequently handled through Siemens resellers or system integrators who configure scheduling rules, integrate with existing enterprise systems, and tune heuristics to local business rules.

Preactor features

What does preactor do?

Preactor produces detailed, finite‑capacity production schedules that take into account resource availability, tooling constraints, setup/changeover times, material availability, and customer due dates. The software can run automatic sequencing and optimization routines, present live graphical schedules for planners, and export dispatch lists to downstream systems such as MES or shop‑floor data collection.

Key functional areas include capacity leveling, constraint management (tools, machines, operators), sequencing to minimize setups and changeovers, and multi‑site synchronization for transfer batches and shared resources. It also supports scenario simulation so planners can compare outcomes (throughput, inventory, on‑time delivery) before committing to a plan.

Preactor is designed to be configurable: rule sets, custom fields, and plugins allow companies to map real shop‑floor logic into the scheduling engine. The user interface emphasizes interactive Gantt charts and drag‑and‑drop re‑sequencing, enabling planners to apply local changes quickly while preserving global feasibility validated by the engine.

Other notable feature areas:

• Advanced sequencing algorithms and heuristics for minimizing tardiness and changeovers
• Visual scheduling boards with zoomable timelines and constraint highlighting
• What‑if simulation and version comparison tools for alternative plans
• Integration adapters for ERP systems (common connectors to SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and MES
• Data import/export via CSV/Excel, ODBC/SQL, and web services
• Reporting, KPIs and dashboarding for schedule adherence, utilization and lead‑time analysis

For a closer look at the product family and capabilities, review Preactor’s official product pages on the vendor site and the Siemens advanced planning materials.

Preactor pricing

Preactor pricing is primarily offered by quotation and varies with deployment type, number of scheduling engines, and the level of configurability and support required. Typical commercial models include perpetual licenses with annual maintenance, subscription (SaaS) for cloud-hosted scheduling, and modular pricing for additional connectors or optimization modules. For firm pricing and licensing options, contact Preactor through their official contact channels or reseller network.

Because Preactor is commonly sold to mid‑size and enterprise manufacturers, costs vary widely by scope: small pilot deployments and single‑line schedulers will have a much lower entry cost than multi‑site, multi‑resource implementations that require extensive integration and customization.

Check the Preactor product pages and Siemens APS information for the latest licensing model options and to request a tailored quote from an authorized reseller.

How much is preactor per month

Preactor monthly costs are typically provided as custom subscription quotes rather than fixed published monthly prices. Small cloud subscriptions for limited-seat or single-line use often fall into a lower monthly range, whereas enterprise cloud subscriptions include higher service, integration and support costs. To get a precise monthly cost estimate, request a subscription quote from Preactor or an authorized reseller via the vendor contact pages.

How much is preactor per year

Preactor yearly pricing is quoted per deployment and commonly combines license/subscription fees with annual maintenance and support charges. Annual costs for production pilots or small installations can be modest relative to full enterprise rollouts; larger multi-site deployments typically include one‑time implementation fees plus recurring annual fees for support and hosting. Contact the vendor to obtain a customized annual price and a breakdown of recurring services.

How much is preactor in general

Preactor pricing typically ranges from entry pilot costs up to enterprise deployment budgets depending on scope and integrations. In general, expect costs to reflect three main components: software licensing or subscription, implementation and integration services, and ongoing maintenance or cloud hosting. Assessing your specific needs — number of resources, complexity of routing and setup rules, integration depth with ERP/MES — is essential to produce a reliable budget.

What is preactor used for

Preactor is used to convert business-level demand and order information into executable, constraint‑checked production schedules. Companies use it to shorten lead times, improve on‑time delivery performance, and reduce inventory by making scheduling decisions that reflect actual machine, tooling, and labor limitations.

Typical uses include sequencing complex assemblies to minimize setup time, coordinating shared bottleneck resources across multiple product lines, and synchronizing production across plants when product flows cross site boundaries. It is also used for master scheduling in environments where MRP alone cannot provide feasible, realistic start/finish dates due to capacity limits.

Operational benefits come from replacing ad‑hoc or spreadsheet-based scheduling with deterministic, auditable schedule outputs that drive MES and dispatch systems. Planners gain visibility into downstream impacts when changing an order priority or committing overtime, and managers can test capacity additions and compare the expected ROI before making investments.

Pros and cons of preactor

Pros:

• Deep finite‑capacity scheduling capabilities that model real shop‑floor constraints and sequencing complexities.
• Strong visual tools (Gantt boards, drag‑and‑drop sequencing) that speed planner decision making and reduce errors.
• Flexible configuration and extensibility to implement site‑specific rules and custom heuristics.
• Proven in a wide range of industries — discrete manufacturing, electronics, food & beverage, and more — with integration paths to major ERP systems.

Cons:

• Pricing and licensing are vendor‑quoted, which can make initial comparison shopping difficult without direct engagement with sales or partners.
• Implementations often require systems integrator assistance for non‑trivial integrations and rule customization, increasing time to value.
• For organizations that need a lightweight, out‑of‑the‑box scheduler for a single small production line, Preactor’s configurability can be more than needed and introduce complexity.
• Realizing full benefits requires good source data (accurate routings, true setup times), so companies with poor master data may need a data‑cleanup project first.

Preactor free trial

Siemens and Preactor resellers typically offer product demonstrations, pilot projects, and proof‑of‑concept (PoC) engagements rather than open, self-serve free trials. These pilots allow planners to load a subset of live data, validate scheduling rules, and assess benefits before committing to a full rollout.

Pilots are commonly structured as short engagements where a consultant or integrator configures key rules and adapters, runs sample schedules, and compares baseline performance against optimized schedules. This approach helps quantify improvements in throughput, lead time, and on‑time delivery before larger investments.

To arrange a demo or pilot, contact Preactor through their vendor pages or work with an authorized Siemens partner that specializes in APS implementations.

Is preactor free

No, Preactor is not available as a free, fully featured product. Licensing or subscription fees apply for standard deployments; however, trial demos and short pilot engagements can be arranged through the vendor or reseller network to evaluate the software with representative production data.

Preactor API

Preactor provides integration mechanisms to connect scheduling data to ERP, MES and third‑party reporting systems. Typical integration channels include direct database access (ODBC/SQL), CSV/Excel import/export for batch transfers, and web services or REST APIs where available. The product also supports programmatic automation via COM/OLE automation or vendor SDKs in some versions, enabling custom connectors and triggers.

Common integration patterns implemented in the field:

• Exporting optimized start/finish dates and sequence information to MES or shop‑floor terminals
• Importing live order, routing and resource availability data from ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics)
• Bi‑directional synchronization so that changes made on the shop floor (actual start/stop, scrap) feed back into the scheduling model
• Custom plugins to implement complex business rules, composite heuristics, or external optimization engines

For technical details on supported interfaces and developer resources, consult Preactor’s integration documentation and contact their technical team or authorized partners to obtain SDKs and API references specific to the version you plan to deploy.

10 Preactor alternatives

Paid alternatives to preactor

• Siemens Opcenter APS — A broader Siemens manufacturing operations suite that includes advanced planning and scheduling for larger digital manufacturing transformations and factory-level integration.
• Asprova — High-speed APS focused on detailed scheduling and constraint optimization with strong Gantt visualization for discrete manufacturers.
• PlanetTogether — APS software that emphasizes what‑if analysis and collaborative scheduling with integrations to common ERP systems.
• Kinaxis RapidResponse — Cloud-native supply chain planning and S&OP platform that includes scenario planning and constraint analysis for larger supply chain problems.
• Infor Advanced Scheduling — Module within Infor’s suite that provides finite capacity scheduling and integration with Infor ERPs for multi-site and process environments.
• Plex Manufacturing Cloud — Includes scheduling and MES capabilities for manufacturers looking for integrated cloud ERP + scheduling.

Open source alternatives to preactor

• OptaPlanner — Constraint solver project (Red Hat) used to build customized scheduling and rostering solutions; requires development to create a complete APS product.
• ERPNext — Open source ERP with basic manufacturing scheduling and work order management that can be extended for simpler scheduling needs.
• Odoo (Community) — Modular open source ERP that includes manufacturing and MRP components; suitable for small manufacturers that can accept simpler scheduling features or extend via development.
• OpenTCS — Primarily focused on transport control systems, but can be part of an open architecture for coordinating material flows and scheduling in automated environments.

When evaluating alternatives, compare the following factors: depth of finite‑capacity modeling, ease of integration with your ERP and MES, availability of local partners for implementation, and the extent of prebuilt industry templates.

Frequently asked questions about Preactor

What is Preactor used for?

Preactor is used for finite‑capacity production planning and detailed shop‑floor scheduling. It creates executable schedules that account for machine capacity, changeovers, tooling constraints and due dates so planners can produce realistic timelines and reduce late deliveries.

Does Preactor integrate with SAP?

Yes, Preactor commonly integrates with SAP through connectors or custom interfaces. Integration typically synchronizes orders, routings and material availability and exports scheduled start/finish dates back to SAP or MES for execution.

How much does Preactor cost per user?

Preactor pricing is quoted per deployment rather than a fixed per‑user list price. Costs depend on number of scheduling engines, modules, integrations and support levels; contact the vendor or reseller for a tailored per‑user or per‑site quote.

Can Preactor do real‑time scheduling?

Yes, Preactor supports near‑real‑time scheduling when connected to live MES/ERP feeds. With proper integration it can re‑run scenarios and update schedules to reflect actual start/finish events and resource status.

Is Preactor suitable for small manufacturers?

Yes, but suitability depends on complexity and budget. Small manufacturers with limited lines may prefer lightweight schedulers, while those with constrained resources or complex sequencing needs can gain significant benefits from Preactor when the implementation scope is kept focused.

Does Preactor support what‑if analysis?

Yes, Preactor includes what‑if and scenario comparison tools. Planners can create multiple schedule versions, compare KPIs such as throughput and tardiness, and evaluate the impact of decisions like adding shifts or changing routing rules.

Can Preactor reduce lead times?

Yes, Preactor helps reduce lead times by optimizing sequencing and exploiting available capacity more efficiently. By modeling constraints and minimizing unnecessary setups or waits, it can shorten production cycles when combined with accurate routings and setup times.

What technical skills are needed to deploy Preactor?

A mix of scheduling expertise and IT integration skills is required for full deployments. Successful projects typically involve production engineers to define rules and routings, and IT or integrators to set up data flows, connectors and database access.

Does Preactor offer cloud hosting?

Yes, Preactor can be deployed in cloud or hybrid models through Siemens or partner hosting. Cloud deployments often come with subscription pricing and managed services for uptime, backups and version updates.

Where can I get technical support for Preactor?

Technical support is available from Siemens and authorized Preactor partners. Support options typically include maintenance contracts, priority helpdesk access, and on‑site consulting services for upgrades and customizations.

preactor careers

Preactor‑related careers are usually found within Siemens or among authorized resellers and systems integrators. Roles commonly include implementation consultants, scheduling analysts, application engineers, and project managers who specialize in APS deployments and ERP/MES integrations.

preactor affiliate

Preactor does not typically offer a public affiliate program in the consumer sense; instead, the vendor works through a global network of authorized partners and resellers. Organizations interested in referring business or reselling Preactor solutions should contact the vendor to discuss partner programs and referral arrangements.

Where to find preactor reviews

Independent reviews and case studies for Preactor are available through industry publications, manufacturing technology forums, and Siemens case study pages. For peer feedback, search manufacturing and supply chain communities, LinkedIn groups focused on APS, and trade publications that cover production planning tools. For validated customer stories, review the Preactor/Siemens case studies and reference materials on the vendor site.