Blog
Insights on production scheduling, lean manufacturing, and manufacturing software from 35+ years of industry experience.
Planning and scheduling practice that applies whichever system you run.
FEFO (First Expired, First Out): Inventory Rotation for Shelf-Life Materials
Learn how FEFO inventory rotation works in food, pharma, and chemical manufacturing, how it differs from FIFO, and how to implement it in your facility.
Finished Goods Inventory: How to Optimize Levels and Reduce Carrying Costs
Learn what finished goods inventory is, how to calculate optimal stock levels, and how production scheduling software reduces waste and stockouts.
What Is Cash Conversion Cycle in Manufacturing? Formula, Benchmarks, and How to Improve It
Cash conversion cycle (CCC) = DIO + DSO − DPO. For manufacturers, cutting lead time by one week removes 7 days from DIO. Learn the formula, benchmarks, and the scheduling connection.
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.