Blog
Insights on production scheduling, lean manufacturing, and manufacturing software from 35+ years of industry experience.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) — Manufacturing Glossary
Learn what Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is, how ERP systems work in manufacturing, a practical example, and why ERP needs dedicated scheduling software.
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.