PPSimple is a production planning and paperless manufacturing solution designed for manufacturing companies with 10 to 200 employees. It is ideal for businesses in mechanical engineering, metalworking, toolmaking, machine tool manufacturing, special-purpose machinery, and skilled trades that want to digitize their production processes without the complexity of a traditional ERP system.
Developed by SDZ GmbH, the cloud-based solution provides real-time visibility into production orders, machine utilization, and production progress. PPSimple can be deployed without a dedicated IT project and is typically up and running within 3 to 5 business days.
Production Schedule
Enables structured and digital production planning. Production orders can be easily managed, prioritized, and adjusted within an intuitive and user-friendly workspace.
- All production orders centralized, prioritized, and visible to everyone in real time.
- Last-minute order changes can be rescheduled in minutes, not the next day.
Dashboard
Provides real-time visibility into all key production metrics, including machine and workforce utilization, active production orders, bottlenecks, and more.
- Bottlenecks become visible before they turn into problems—not only when delivery dates are already at risk.
- Sales teams can provide customers with reliable order status updates at any time—without having to check with production first.
Production Monitor
Displays the planned production sequence directly at the machine or on the shop floor, while enabling real-time digital progress reporting. Eliminate paper-based processes and keep production fully digital.
- Operators can view their current jobs directly at the machine—no printing, no distribution, no searching.
- Production progress is captured digitally, ensuring that production schedules are always up to date.
Excel shows yesterday. PPSimple shows now.
Many manufacturers still rely on Excel spreadsheets or paper-based planning. It doesn’t work. As soon as someone asks, “When will this order be completed?”, the searching, phone calls, and guesswork begin. No one has a reliable view of the actual production status.
The production manager doesn’t know which jobs should actually be running. The planner struggles with outdated schedules. And the operator on the shop floor is waiting for a work order that may not even have been printed yet.
PPSimple provides real-time visibility for everyone involved. Managers track utilization on the dashboard. Planners work digitally without chasing updates. Operators access their jobs directly on the Production Monitor—no paper, no delays, no waiting.
✅ With PPSimple
- All production orders centralized and updated in real time—for everyone involved.
- Machine and workforce utilization at a glance—no need to ask around.
- Sales and management teams have real-time access to the current status of every order.
- Real-time order status visibility—for internal teams and customers alike.
- Bottlenecks are identified early—before delivery deadlines are at risk.
- Up and running in 3–5 days—without process changes or a lengthy implementation project.
❌ Without PPSimple
- Excel spreadsheets are never truly up to date—every change has to be entered manually.
- Lack of visibility: Who is working on what, and which machines are currently at capacity?
- Sales cannot provide customers with reliable delivery dates.
- Every status update takes time—searching, asking around, and piecing information together.
- Capacity bottlenecks only become visible when it’s already too late.
- Implementing new software typically means lengthy projects, consultants, and process workshops.
No servers. No IT project. Just get started.
- No dedicated IT infrastructure required: PPSimple runs entirely in the browser—on PCs, tablets, and smartphones.
- Access production data anytime, from anywhere: Production managers, planners, and executives always see the same up-to-date information—wherever they are.
- Automatic updates: New features and security enhancements are deployed automatically—no installation required.
- Built to scale: As your business grows, PPSimple grows with you—no additional infrastructure required.
- No high upfront costs: PPSimple is offered as a monthly subscription, with no license fees and no hidden charges.
Which companies is PPSimple designed for?
PPSimple is built for manufacturing companies with 10 to 200 employees that are too large to manage production effectively in Excel, yet too small to justify the complexity of a traditional ERP project.
Many manufacturing companies struggle to provide reliable delivery commitments because the status of production orders is unclear. PPSimple creates complete transparency across production, giving everyone involved real-time access to the same up-to-date information.
Industries That Trust PPSimple: Mechanical Engineering | Metal Fabrication | Toolmaking | Machine Tool Manufacturing | Special-Purpose Machinery | Skilled Trades
Contract Manufacturer | 80 Employees | Changing Production Orders, Limited Visibility
“We used to start every morning by updating Excel spreadsheets, yet no one really knew the exact status of each order. Since implementing PPSimple, everyone has real-time visibility into production, priorities are managed automatically, and we meet our delivery deadlines far more reliably.”
Thomas R., Production Manager
Improved on-time delivery performance from 71% to 94%.
Mechanical Engineering Company | 100 Employees | Complex Production Orders, Paper-Based Job Folders
A mechanical engineering company with around 100 employees manages its production using printed job folders that are often out of date. Production feedback is communicated verbally or recorded on paper, and bottlenecks typically become visible only when delivery deadlines are already at risk. With PPSimple, operators access their jobs directly through the Production Monitor at the machine and report progress digitally in real time. Production managers have complete visibility into the current status of all production orders at any time—without chasing updates and without stacks of paperwork.
Paper usage eliminated, production reporting time cut in half.
Growing Manufacturing Company | From 40 to 120 Employees | Outgrown Excel, Not Ready for an ERP Project
A plastics manufacturer grows from 40 to 120 employees within just two years. Excel is no longer sufficient to manage production, yet a traditional ERP system would require a six-figure investment and at least a year of implementation. With PPSimple, production planning is digitized in just five days—without process changes, external consultants, or a dedicated IT project. New employees become productive immediately because the software supports existing workflows rather than forcing companies to change the way they work.
Production Planning Digitized in Just 5 Days — No ERP Project Required
+15% Productivity
Greater planning transparency and faster response times lead to measurably improved order execution—an outcome commonly achieved by customers within 3–6 months of implementation.
−30% Planning Time
No manual scheduling, no printing, and no distributing paper work orders. Jobs are displayed directly at the machine, and production progress is reported digitally.
−5% Inventory Levels
Optimized production control reduces unnecessary inventory and lowers working capital requirements through improved capacity planning.
+25% On-Time Delivery Performance
Real-time visibility into production and order progress enables delays to be identified early and managed proactively. This reduces unplanned disruptions and leads to measurable improvements in on-time delivery performance.
Everything You Need to Know About Production Planning with PPSimple
Get Up and Running Fast. No Lengthy Implementation Required.
- No Hidden Costs – A Standardized Solution Without Expensive Customizations
- More Visibility, Less Paper – Your Production at a Glance
SDZ GmbH – Your Partner for Innovative Production Planning Software
PPSimple Production Planning – Frequently Asked Questions
PPSimple is typically up and running within 3–5 business days. As a cloud-based SaaS solution, it requires no hardware, software installation, or complex IT project. Once your account has been activated, the SDZ team assists with setting up your machines, employees, and initial production orders. Training for planners and shop floor operators typically takes no more than half a day.
No. PPSimple is a fully cloud-based solution that can be accessed through any modern web browser—whether on a desktop PC in the office, a tablet on the shop floor, or a smartphone on the go.
There is no need for dedicated hardware, software installation, or an in-house IT department. All updates, new features, and security patches are deployed automatically.
Your data is securely hosted in certified German data centers and protected by state-of-the-art security technologies.
Yes. PPSimple is designed as a standalone production planning solution and can operate entirely without an ERP integration. For companies already using an ERP system, integrations can be implemented depending on the software in use. Integration options are evaluated jointly during the demo process to determine the most suitable approach. Many of our customers use PPSimple alongside their existing ERP system to digitally connect and manage their production operations.
Traditional ERP systems are designed to manage the entire business, including accounting, purchasing, inventory, sales, and production. While this makes them powerful, it also makes them complex, costly, and time-consuming to implement, with projects often taking 12 to 24 months. PPSimple takes a different approach. It focuses exclusively on digitizing production planning and paperless manufacturing. As a result, it can typically be deployed in days rather than months and at a fraction of the cost of a traditional ERP implementation. For small and mid-sized manufacturers looking to digitize their production operations without taking on a major ERP project, PPSimple provides a faster and more practical path forward.
PPSimple is designed to work with existing production processes, eliminating the need for disruptive process changes. Its user interface follows familiar planning workflows, making the transition from Excel straightforward and intuitive. The software supports planners with automated scheduling features while allowing users to review, adjust, and override planning decisions at any time. This interactive approach combines automation with full user control. As a result, complex customizations are typically unnecessary. PPSimple provides the flexibility manufacturers need without the cost, effort, and maintenance associated with heavily customized software solutions.
In practical terms, this means there are no lengthy customization projects, no costly development work for special requirements, and no extended lead times before implementation. Instead, PPSimple has been designed from the ground up to support the typical workflows of small and mid-sized manufacturing companies. There is no need for detailed specifications, extensive process workshops, or complex implementation projects before getting started. The result is a solution that can be deployed quickly, adopted easily, and deliver value from day one.
What can be configured? While PPSimple does not require custom development, the software can be configured to match your production environment. Machines, work centers, employees, shift models, and production order types are set up according to your company’s specific requirements during implementation. User permissions can also be assigned based on roles and responsibilities. For example, production managers have access to different views and information than machine operators, ensuring that each user sees exactly what is relevant to their role.
What PPSimple does not provide: PPSimple is intentionally designed as a standardized solution. It does not include custom software development, highly specialized industry-specific functionality that falls outside typical manufacturing workflows, or complex ERP integration projects requiring extensive development work. This approach keeps implementation fast, costs predictable, and ongoing maintenance simple. Companies with highly specialized requirements, unique production processes, or the need for custom-built planning and simulation capabilities may be better served by a tailored solution. For these scenarios, SDZ GmbH also offers custom simulation and optimization solutions designed to meet specific business requirements.
The goal of PPSimple is speed and cost efficiency: a production planning solution that can be up and running within a week and start delivering value immediately.
PPSimple is used across a wide range of manufacturing industries, including mechanical engineering, metal fabrication, plastics processing, contract manufacturing, food production, and electronics manufacturing. The key factor is not the industry itself, but the company’s operational structure. PPSimple delivers the greatest value to manufacturing businesses with 10 to 200 employees that need to manage production orders, allocate resources, and plan capacity efficiently. If your company relies on production schedules, machines, and employees to fulfill customer orders, PPSimple can help you gain real-time visibility and improve production performance.
PPSimple is offered as a monthly subscription with no large upfront investment and no hidden license fees. Pricing depends on the size of your company and the modules you choose. You can receive a non-binding pricing estimate directly after requesting a live demo. There are no long-term commitments, and the subscription model scales with your business as your requirements evolve.
Your production data is hosted in German data centers and managed in accordance with German and European data protection regulations, including GDPR requirements. Access to PPSimple is secured through user authentication, and permissions can be assigned based on roles and responsibilities. This ensures that users only have access to the information relevant to their role. Automatic backups help protect against data loss and support business continuity. The infrastructure operated by SDZ follows industry-standard security practices commonly used in modern enterprise software environments.
Tanja Kernjak
Key-Account-Managerin
Phone: +49 160 99029606