Blog
Insights on production scheduling, lean manufacturing, and manufacturing software from 35+ years of industry experience.
Everything we have published.
Firm Planned Order - Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what a firm planned order is in MRP, how it locks orders against automatic replanning, a practical example, and why planners use firm planned orders to stabilize schedules.
Flow Production: Continuous Movement Through Manufacturing
Learn what flow production means in manufacturing - a production strategy where products move continuously through operations with minimal waiting or batching.
Gemba: Go to Where the Work Happens
Learn what Gemba means in lean manufacturing - the practice of going to the shop floor to observe processes firsthand and identify improvement opportunities.
Gross Requirements - Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what gross requirements are in MRP, how they are calculated from BOM explosion, a worked example with numbers, and the difference between gross and net requirements.
Heijunka: Production Leveling for Smoother Scheduling
Learn what Heijunka means in lean manufacturing - the production leveling technique that smooths volume and mix to reduce waste and improve flow.
Independent Demand - Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what independent demand is, how it differs from dependent demand, a practical example, and why understanding demand types is essential for MRP and scheduling.
Jidoka: Automation with a Human Touch
Learn what Jidoka means in lean manufacturing - the principle of building quality into the process by stopping production when defects are detected.
Just-in-Time (JIT): Produce Only What Is Needed
Learn what Just-in-Time manufacturing means - a production strategy that minimizes inventory by producing only what is needed, when needed, in the quantity needed.
Kaizen: Small Daily Improvements, Big Results
Learn what Kaizen means in lean manufacturing - the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement through small, incremental changes made by every employee.
Kanban: Visual Signals That Control Production Flow
Learn what Kanban means in lean manufacturing - a visual pull system that controls production and inventory by signaling when to produce and move materials.
Lean Manufacturing: Eliminating Waste to Maximize Value
Learn what lean manufacturing means - a systematic approach to eliminating waste and maximizing customer value in production, originating from Toyota.
Lot-for-Lot - Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what lot-for-lot ordering is, how this MRP lot-sizing method works, a worked example comparing it to EOQ, and when manufacturers should use lot-for-lot planning.