Blog
Insights on production scheduling, lean manufacturing, and manufacturing software from 35+ years of industry experience.
What Is Constraint Programming? Definition and How It Powers Advanced Scheduling
Constraint programming (CP) is an optimization technique that finds solutions satisfying all constraints simultaneously — learn why APS software uses it for job shop scheduling.
What Is a Scheduling Heuristic? Definition, Types, and When to Use Each
A scheduling heuristic is a rule-of-thumb that produces a good — not necessarily optimal — schedule quickly. Learn the main dispatching rules, metaheuristics, and when each applies.
What Is Perfect Order Fulfillment? Definition, Formula, and B2B Manufacturing Benchmarks
Perfect order fulfillment measures the % of orders that are on-time, complete, undamaged, and correctly invoiced. Learn the formula, benchmarks, and how scheduling affects it.
What Is Prescriptive Analytics in Manufacturing? Definition and Scheduling Examples
Prescriptive analytics recommends specific actions — not just predictions. Learn how it differs from descriptive, diagnostic, and predictive analytics, with real scheduling examples.
What Is TEEP (Total Effective Equipment Performance)? Definition, Formula, and Examples
Learn what TEEP means in manufacturing, how to calculate it using the OEE × Loading formula, and why world-class plants target 85%+ TEEP.
Inventory Cycle Counting: How It Works and Why It Beats the Annual Stocktake
Inventory cycle counting improves record accuracy, reduces disruption, and feeds better data into MRP and production scheduling. Learn the process, methods, and best practices.
Job Costing in Manufacturing: Track Costs by Work Order and Improve Margins
Learn how job costing tracks materials, labor, and overhead by work order, how to calculate job cost accurately, and how scheduling software improves cost control.
Kitting in Manufacturing: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters
Learn what kitting in manufacturing means, how kitting differs from picking, and how a kitting process improves production scheduling and throughput.
Can You Do Lean Manufacturing in a Job Shop? Yes — Here's How to Adapt It
Lean manufacturing works in job shops — with the right adaptations. Learn which principles transfer directly and which need modification for high-mix, low-volume production.
Lean-MRP Hybrid: How to Combine Pull Scheduling with MRP for Long-Lead Materials
Lean and MRP appear to conflict—but most lean shops still need MRP for long-lead purchased materials. Here's how to combine pull scheduling and MRP at the right decoupling points.
Make-to-Stock vs Make-to-Order vs Assemble-to-Order: Production Strategies and Scheduling Requirements
Full comparison of MTS, MTO, and ATO production strategies — what each means, when to use which, and how scheduling requirements differ across all three approaches.
Manufacturing Overhead: Allocation Methods, Cost Drivers, and Scheduling Impact
Learn how manufacturing overhead is classified, allocated, and controlled. Discover how scheduling software reduces overhead absorption variances and improves product costing.