See's Candies automates scheduling process to meet seasonal demand.
Founded in 1921, See's is headquartered in South San Francisco, with one plant there and another in Los Angeles. During peak seasons-Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter-See's has more than 6,000 employees. More than 100 varieties of chocolates and candies are sold through 200 See's shops in the West. While the variety attracts customers, it poses a major challenge since each type of candy has a unique shelf life. For example, chocolates and truffles have a shelf life of 55 days; for firmer candies like caramels, it's closer to 70 days and for lollipops, 180 days. With such dramatic variances, it is critical to plan the manufacturing process perfectly to avoid stale products and stock-outs.