Blog
Insights on production scheduling, lean manufacturing, and manufacturing software from 35+ years of industry experience.
Andon: Real-Time Visual Alerts for the Shop Floor
Learn what Andon means in lean manufacturing — a visual signaling system that alerts teams to problems instantly, reducing downtime and improving quality.
Available-to-Promise (ATP) — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what Available-to-Promise (ATP) is, how ATP calculations work, a step-by-step example with numbers, and why ATP helps manufacturers commit accurate delivery dates.
Batch Production: Benefits, Drawbacks, and When It Makes Sense
Learn what batch production means in manufacturing — producing goods in groups or lots, and how it compares to flow production and one-piece flow approaches.
Bill of Materials (BOM) — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what a Bill of Materials (BOM) is, how BOMs work in MRP systems, real examples with numbers, and why accurate BOMs are critical for production scheduling.
Capable-to-Promise (CTP) — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what Capable-to-Promise (CTP) is, how CTP goes beyond ATP by checking capacity and materials, a practical example, and why CTP improves delivery date accuracy.
Cellular Manufacturing: Organizing Machines for Flow
Learn what cellular manufacturing means — a lean production layout that groups machines into cells to process product families with minimal waste and shorter lead times.
Closed-Loop MRP — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what Closed-Loop MRP is, how it adds feedback to material planning, a practical example, and why closed-loop systems improve scheduling accuracy.
Continuous Improvement: The Engine of Lean Manufacturing
Learn what continuous improvement means in manufacturing — an ongoing effort to improve products, processes, and services through incremental and breakthrough changes.
Capacity Requirements Planning (CRP) — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what Capacity Requirements Planning (CRP) is, how CRP validates MRP output against real capacity, a worked example, and why CRP prevents overloaded schedules.
Demand-Driven MRP (DDMRP) — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what Demand-Driven MRP (DDMRP) is, how it differs from traditional MRP with strategic buffers, a practical example, and why DDMRP reduces the bullwhip effect.
Dependent Demand — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what dependent demand is in manufacturing, how it differs from independent demand, a worked example with numbers, and why it drives MRP calculations.
Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) is, the EOQ formula with a worked example, when to use EOQ in manufacturing, and how it relates to MRP lot sizing.