Waterloo Manufacturing Software

What Waterloo Manufacturing Software does

Waterloo Manufacturing Software (legal entity Visim Incorporated, d/b/a Waterloo Manufacturing Software and WMS) is a privately held US software vendor headquartered in Wellesley, Massachusetts, founded in 1992 after acquiring commercial rights to the TACTIC finite capacity scheduling research tool from the University of Waterloo in Ontario. The company develops and licenses TACTIC, an Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) and Finite Capacity Scheduling (FCS) platform that explicitly considers limited capacity of machines, tooling, labor, and material to generate achievable production schedules. It serves discrete and batch industrial manufacturers globally with a horizontal segmentation approach, and operates with a small internal team of 11-50 employees.

TACTIC's technical architecture centers on a constraint-based scheduling engine that performs bill-of-material explosions with inventory netting, supports capable-to-promise (CTP) calculations, and produces Gantt-chart visualization, tables, and comparison graphs via a visual interactive what-if tool. The platform is modularized into four configurable components (Scheduling, Viewing, Order Promising, and Shop Floor) and is supplemented by a no-code data integration engine that connects to relational databases, spreadsheets, ASCII files, and XML without writing custom code. Deployment is on-premises via server or individual PC install. The integration approach is explicitly complementary to existing ERP/MRP II systems rather than replacement.

The business model combines recurring software licensing and annual maintenance subscription revenue with professional services revenue from pre-sale and post-sale consulting, custom report development, scheduling rule authoring, on-site training, and remote operation support. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct enterprise sales through US offices plus a worldwide channel network of value-added resellers, system integrators, business system vendors (notably a Plex Online SaaS ERP integration partnership), and regional resellers such as Mahmoud Fouad Co covering Egypt and Algeria. Customer concentration is in enterprise manufacturing verticals including automotive fasteners (McGard), pneumatics (SMC Pneumatics), packaging (Menasha, Package Products), pharmaceuticals (Perrigo), machined components (Tibor Machine Products), gauges (LA Gauge), and enclosures (Bud Industries, Western States Envelope). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; quotes are custom based on implementation scope, users, and rules development.

Name

Waterloo Manufacturing Software

Legal name

Visim Incorporated

Website

https://waterloo-software.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Waterloo Manufacturing Software develops and licenses TACTIC, an Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) and Finite Capacity Scheduling (FCS) platform that generates achievable production schedules for discrete and batch industrial manufacturers globally, distributed via direct US sales and worldwide channel partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Production Scheduling Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Process & Batch Control Software (Recipe Management, ISA-88) (IMAGABAH)

Keywords

• Production scheduling software
• Finite capacity scheduling
• Advanced planning scheduling
• Manufacturing scheduling software
• Production planning software

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellesley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing: TACTIC production scheduling software is sold as a licensed product to manufacturers. The software can be installed on servers or individual PCs with client/server architecture.
2. Consulting Services: Pre-sale and post-sale consulting services including implementation planning, data provision planning, integration specification, custom report creation, and scheduling rule development.
3. Training Services: General and application-specific training courses for TACTIC users, conducted at customer sites or other facilities.
4. Annual Maintenance Program: Telephone support and software maintenance program providing product enhancements, updates, and technical support.
5. Remote Operation Support: Online collaboration software tools allowing consultants to demonstrate concepts and remotely operate TACTIC systems for customers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Waterloo Manufacturing Software develops and sells TACTIC, an Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) and Finite Capacity Scheduling (FCS) software platform for batch and discrete industrial manufacturers. TACTIC simultaneously considers limited capacity of machines, tooling, labor, and material to generate achievable production schedules, and provides a visual interactive what-if tool for delivery promising, capacity planning, and shop-floor decision support. The software is sold as a licensed product, deployed standalone or integrated with existing ERP/MRP II systems, and is supported by implementation consulting, training, and an annual maintenance program.

Product overview

Waterloo Manufacturing Software offers TACTIC as a unified Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) and Finite Capacity Scheduling software platform. The product line encompasses TACTIC core scheduling capabilities with four configurable modules (Scheduling, Viewing, Order Promising, and Shop Floor), plus supporting components for data integration and concepts/training. TACTIC replaces or complements ERP/MRP II finite capacity limitations by providing what-if analysis, Gantt chart visualization, and simultaneous consideration of machine, tool, labor, and material constraints. The software is available via direct sales through U.S. offices and through vendor partners worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TACTIC: Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) software for discrete and batch industry manufacturers. TACTIC provides finite capacity scheduling, production planning, and what-if analysis capabilities.

Products and services

• TACTIC Production Scheduling Software Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) and Finite Capacity Scheduling (FCS) software platform for batch and discrete industrial manufacturers. TACTIC simultaneously considers limited capacity of machines, tooling, labor, and material to generate achievable schedules, provides a visual interactive what-if tool with Gantt charts, and supports delivery promising, capacity planning, and shop-floor dispatch. Configurable modules include Scheduling, Viewing, Order Promising, and Shop Floor, with manual override at any time.
• TACTIC Data Integration Data integration module for TACTIC that enables electronic data transfer from ERP/MRP II systems, engineering databases, maintenance systems, and other sources into TACTIC using generic file transfer formats (relational databases, spreadsheets, ASCII files, XML). Provides drag-and-drop graphical layout for multi-step, multi-source data extraction and transformation projects without writing code.
• Implementation Consulting Services Pre-sale and post-sale consulting services for TACTIC customers covering implementation planning, data provision planning, integration specification, custom report creation, and scheduling rule development. Conducted at customer sites or other facilities.
• Training Services General and application-specific training courses for TACTIC users covering production scheduling software concepts and use, delivered at customer sites or other facilities.
• Annual Maintenance & Support Program Annual telephone support and software maintenance subscription providing TACTIC product enhancements, updates, and ongoing technical support, including online remote collaboration tools allowing consultants to remotely operate customer TACTIC systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced man-hours for scheduling by 50% at SMC Pneumatics
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and supporting.

• Plex OnlinecoreTechnology or IntegrationPlex Online is a fully integrated Software as a Service (SaaS) ERP solution that connects and manages the entire manufacturing process. TACTIC integrates with Plex Online to provide enhanced production scheduling and advanced planning capabilities for manufacturers using the Plex Online platform.
• Mahmoud Fouad CoregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMahmoud Fouad Co is a Waterloo partner who sells TACTIC Production Scheduling and Advanced Planning and Scheduling Solution in Egypt and Algeria (Africa). They provide project implementation, pre-sale and post-sale services, maintenance and SLA agreements, software training, and software upgrades.
• Consulting PartnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWaterloo partners with consultants to help assess benefits and risks of APS technology and manage implementation. Partners include implementation consultants, system integrators, and educators who assist with integration, training, and ongoing use of TACTIC.
• System IntegratorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSystem integrators partner with Waterloo to implement TACTIC, integrate with existing business systems (ERP/MRP II), and ensure smooth deployment and data transfer.
• Business System VendorscoreTechnology or IntegrationBusiness system vendors partner with Waterloo to provide TACTIC as an integrated scheduling solution that complements existing ERP/MRP II investments.
• Shop Floor System VendorssupportingTechnology or IntegrationShop floor system vendors partner to integrate TACTIC with shop floor control systems for enhanced production reporting and scheduling execution.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PlanetTogether: PlanetTogether offers APS and finite capacity scheduling software targeted at discrete and batch manufacturers, directly overlapping with TACTIC's core product positioning and buyer persona (plant schedulers, operations managers).
• John Galt Solutions (Atlas Planning): John Galt Solutions provides APS and demand planning software for manufacturers and distributors, competing head-to-head with TACTIC in finite capacity scheduling and order promising use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Preactor (Siemens Opcenter APS): Preactor, now part of Siemens Opcenter, is a long-standing APS suite for SMB and mid-market manufacturers, representing the broader incumbent offering TACTIC must differentiate against in finite scheduling.
• Aspen Technology: AspenTech supplies MES, APS, and asset performance software primarily for process and batch manufacturers, overlapping with TACTIC's batch manufacturing focus at a much larger scale.
• Dassault Systèmes DELMIA / Quintiq: DELMIA and Quintiq (acquired by Dassault) provide production planning, scheduling, and optimization solutions for manufacturers, competing with TACTIC in finite capacity scheduling at enterprise scale.
• SAP (PP/DS and IBP): SAP's Production Planning/Detailed Scheduling and Integrated Business Planning modules embed APS functionality inside the dominant ERP for large manufacturers, positioning them as a substitute for standalone tools like TACTIC.
• Siemens Opcenter Execution: Siemens Opcenter (formerly Camstar / Simatic IT) is a comprehensive MES suite whose scheduling components compete with TACTIC for the same discrete and batch manufacturing buyers.
• AVEVA (Schneider Electric) MES / Historian: AVEVA's MES and operations portfolio includes production tracking and scheduling for batch and process manufacturers, representing a larger incumbent alternative to TACTIC, especially in regulated industries.

Emerging players

• AIMMS (now Gurobi-optimized supply chain apps): AIMMS provides an optimization platform widely used to build production scheduling and planning applications, competing in the same APS use cases TACTIC addresses through a developer-tool model rather than a packaged product.
• Plex Systems (Rockwell Automation): Plex (now part of Rockwell Automation) is a cloud-native MES/ERP for manufacturers and is a named TACTIC integration partner, making it both a collaborator and a competitor as Plex expands its own scheduling capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WaterlooMfgSftw
• Facebookfacebook.com/10
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waterloo-manufacturing-software

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Waterloo Manufacturing Software