Blog
Insights on production scheduling, lean manufacturing, and manufacturing software from 35+ years of industry experience.
Material Requirements Planning (MRP) — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what Material Requirements Planning (MRP) is, how MRP calculates material needs and timing, a step-by-step example, and why MRP is foundational for production scheduling.
Mixed-Model Production: Multiple Products on One Line
Learn what mixed-model production means in manufacturing — producing different product variants on the same line in a leveled sequence to reduce inventory and lead time.
Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP II) — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what MRP II is, how it extends MRP with capacity and financial planning, a practical example, and how MRP II evolved into modern ERP systems.
Muda: The Seven Wastes of Lean Manufacturing
Learn what Muda means in lean manufacturing — the seven types of waste that consume resources without creating value, and how to systematically eliminate them.
Mura: Eliminating Unevenness in Manufacturing
Learn what Mura means in lean manufacturing — the waste of unevenness and inconsistency in production workloads, and how leveling eliminates it.
Muri: Stopping Overburden Before It Breaks Your Shop
Learn what Muri means in lean manufacturing — the waste of overburden that pushes people and machines past their limits, causing breakdowns and defects.
Net Change MRP — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what net change MRP is, how it differs from regenerative MRP, a practical example showing faster replanning, and when to use net change versus full regeneration.
Net Requirements — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what net requirements are in MRP, the netting formula with a worked example, and why net requirements drive purchase orders and production orders in manufacturing.
One-Piece Flow: The Ideal State of Lean Production
Learn what one-piece flow means in lean manufacturing — producing and moving one unit at a time through each operation to minimize WIP and lead time.
PDCA Cycle: Plan-Do-Check-Act for Manufacturing
Learn what the PDCA cycle means in lean manufacturing — the four-step continuous improvement framework for testing changes and solving production problems.
Pegging — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what pegging is in MRP, how it traces component demand to parent orders, a practical example, and why pegging helps planners make better scheduling decisions.
Planned Order — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what a planned order is in MRP, how planned orders differ from released orders, a step-by-step example, and why planned orders drive manufacturing scheduling.