Are there any production scheduling software tools that handle ERP and scales integration for pet food plants?

Yes — there are production scheduling / MES / APS tools that can be integrated with both ERP systems and weigh scales for pet food plants. The exact fit depends on whether you need:

• finite production scheduling
• batch/recipe execution
• direct scale integration for weighing / batching
• ERP order and inventory sync
• plant-floor traceability / lot control

Common software categories to look at

1. APS (Advanced Planning & Scheduling)

   • Focus on optimizing production schedules and capacity.
   • Often integrates with ERP, but scale integration is usually via MES or custom interfaces.
   • Examples: PlanetTogether, Asprova, Preactor/Siemens Opcenter Scheduling.

2. MES / batch execution systems

   • Better for process manufacturing and batch plants like pet food.
   • More likely to support recipes, genealogy, lot tracking, and plant-floor equipment integration.
   • Examples: Ignition-based MES solutions, Siemens Opcenter Execution Process, Rockwell FactoryTalk / Plex, BatchMaster, Schneider Electric AVEVA MES.

3. Process manufacturing ERP with scheduling

   • Some ERPs have stronger native support for formulas and batching.
   • Examples: BatchMaster ERP, Deacom, Aptean process manufacturing ERP, Infor CSI / M3 in some deployments, SAP PP-PI.

Scale integration

For scales, plants usually use one of these approaches:

• OPC UA / OPC DA
• serial/ethernet scale protocols
• PLC integration
• digital weigh terminals
• middleware / SCADA layer
• custom integration through Ignition, Kepware, or similar

A scheduling tool alone typically does not talk directly to scales; the integration is usually handled by:

• an MES
• a SCADA/data layer
• an integration middleware
• or a custom interface

Good-fit vendors/solutions to investigate

For a pet food plant, these are worth evaluating:

• Siemens Opcenter (scheduling + execution, strong manufacturing integration)
• Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform
• BatchMaster
• Deacom
• Aptean Process Manufacturing
• Ignition + third-party scheduling/ERP integration
• Rockwell/FactoryTalk ecosystem
• AVEVA MES
• Kepware + APS/MES/ERP combination

What to ask vendors

When you talk to vendors, ask:

• Do you support process manufacturing / batch scheduling?
• Can you integrate with our ERP via API, database, flat file, or middleware?
• Do you support direct scale integration or weigh ticket capture?
• Can we handle formula/recipe management, lot traceability, allergen control, and rework?
• Do you support finite capacity scheduling for cookers, mixers, extruders, packaging, etc.?
• Can you manage changeovers and cleaning constraints?

If you want, I can also give you a shortlist of specific products by plant size (small, mid-market, enterprise) or help you design an ERP + scheduling + scale integration architecture for a pet food plant.