Optiant, a producer of inventory planning and optimization software, has enhanced its PowerChain suite of applications. Version 6.2 increases security by requiring authentication, improves configuration management with historical audit trails, and improves various administration functions, including the ability to see who is currently logged in and using each module. In the process, users can determine who changed which configuration settings and when. Optiant has enhanced its PowerChain Planner app by providing additional ways to automate target generation; included are new controls which specify limits and calculation behaviors of demand and forecast error statistics. Automation capabilities are balanced by greater control over additional exception types for reorder points and kanban cards. Supply chain planners can accept or reject targets on a SKU-by-SKU basis, determining which items get exported to their advanced planning or enterprise resource planning systems. Recent enhancements to PowerChain Inventory, Optiant's application for strategic analysis and policy setting, include new currency capabilities which can be used in various stages of a global supply chain model, along with performance improvements in analysts' workflows. Users can also import and export with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Additional features offer support for more complex supercession scenarios, which are useful for managing seasonal demand.
