Pressure on packaging operations has never been higher: tighter margins, faster delivery expectations, and a growing need for plant-wide coordination. For corrugated, folding-carton and specialty-packaging converters, the competitive edge increasingly lies in orchestration. Real-time, end-to-end control over scheduling, production, shipping and forecasting has become a critical differentiator.
More than 15,000 machines are connected using Kiwiplan. It brings purpose-built automation to the packaging floor. The platform empowers manufacturers to maximize throughput, integrate shipping and production planning, and improve product accuracy and delivery.
Let’s explore how these five AI-powered features from Kiwiplan help make that possible, and why they matter for operational performance and profitability.
1. CSC: Next-Level Scheduling Power
Managing corrugator schedules, feeders, board grades and tooling changes is highly complex. Kiwiplan’s Corrugator Scheduling module (CSC) uses AI to evaluate thousands of possible combinations across board types, order priorities and trim profiles in minutes. This high-speed computation enables planners to sequence hundreds of jobs quickly, minimizing waste and maximizing throughput.
Why this matters:
- Reduces idle time and trim by selecting the most efficient run order
- Speeds up planning workflows with instant decision support
- Optimizes for both material use and operational cost
CSC turns traditional planning from a manual exercise into a data-optimized advantage.
2. CASE VUE: Always-On Corrugator Scheduling
Manufacturing conditions are fluid. Orders change, materials arrive late, downtime occurs. CASE VUE responds to this reality with 24/7 AI-driven corrugator scheduling. It updates every 15 minutes based on live production conditions to keep board flow steady and efficient. Take your scheduling to the next level with proactive, data-driven adjustments that keep production ahead of disruptions.
Key advantages:
- Maintains schedule accuracy as conditions shift throughout the day
- Reduces disruption by reacting quickly to bottlenecks or line slowdowns
- Helps standardize output and improve utilization across shifts
CASE VUE ensures the corrugator doesn’t operate on static plans. It aligns production with real-world conditions in real time.
3. PCS VUE: Smarter Production Control
The Production Control System (PCS VUE) takes the principles of smart scheduling and applies them to shift planning, tooling constraints and delivery performance. With a rolling 90-day outlook, PCS VUE auto-schedules updates every 15 minutes. This ensures production plans stay aligned with both short-term capacity and long-term demand.
Operational benefits:
- Supports planning of shifts, maintenance and labor around real capacity
- Links scheduling intent with plant execution
- Improves service levels by maintaining delivery alignment even as shifts evolve
PCS VUE connects people, machines and timelines in one real-time environment.
4. TSS: Shipping in Sync with Production
Production is only part of the puzzle. Product still has to move efficiently out the door. The Transport Scheduling Solution (TSS) uses AI to align shipping logistics with live production. It optimizes truck routing and loading, reducing freight costs and ensuring orders ship as soon as they’re ready.
Value delivered:
- Minimizes idle freight time by matching shipments to production flow
- Reduces partial loads and underutilized trucks
- Improves delivery precision and customer satisfaction
TSS ensures that shipping becomes a fluid part of plant operations, not a disconnected afterthought.
5. Supply Chain Simulator: See the Future, Act Today
Demand volatility, supply disruptions and planning uncertainty are constant challenges. The Supply Chain Simulator enables converters to simulate up to 12 months of demand, test strategy scenarios and plan inventory confidently.
What this enables:
- Forecasts shifts in demand and adjusts production proactively
- Models what-if scenarios across inventory, material inputs and shipping
- Strengthens cross-functional planning by aligning procurement, scheduling and logistics
Simulation becomes a strategic capability, helping manufacturers stay one step ahead of change.
Why This Suite Matters
Each of these modules delivers strong benefits on its own. Together, they form a closed-loop automation system that covers scheduling, execution, logistics and forecasting. Kiwiplan connects once-disparate functions into a single intelligent platform, from the corrugator to the shipping dock.
Packaging manufacturers gain:
- Real-time visibility across scheduling, production and shipping
- Automated responses to changing orders, material inputs or equipment availability
- Higher throughput, reduced waste and more predictable delivery
- A strategic planning advantage through forecasting and simulation tools
Kiwiplan replaces manual effort and disconnected systems with synchronized automation. It gives operations teams greater confidence in daily decision-making and equips executives with data to drive long-term improvements.
Final Thoughts
Packaging manufacturers no longer need to choose between speed, accuracy and agility. Kiwiplan delivers all three through its integrated AI automation suite. It transforms planning into execution, reaction into anticipation, and siloed systems into one connected operation. Kiwiplan provides the operational foundation to scale and adapt for converters navigating labor shortages, market unpredictability and performance pressure. From the first order on the board to the final mile of delivery, Kiwiplan helps plants run smarter, faster and more profitably.
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