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.
Supplier Relationship Management for Manufacturers
Build stronger supplier relationships that reduce costs and risk. Covers supplier scorecards, strategic partnerships, performance metrics, and communication best practices.
Supply Chain Risk Management for Manufacturers: A Practical Guide
Build supply chain resilience with proven risk management strategies for manufacturers. Covers risk identification, mitigation, dual-sourcing, and scheduling contingency planning.
Supply Chain Visibility: The Manufacturer's Complete Guide
Learn how supply chain visibility transforms manufacturing operations. Covers real-time tracking, data integration, KPIs, and how scheduling software connects the dots.
Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI) for Manufacturers: Complete Guide
Learn how vendor-managed inventory works in manufacturing. Covers VMI setup, benefits, risks, KPIs, supplier agreements, and integration with production scheduling.
CAPA in Manufacturing: Corrective and Preventive Action Guide
Implement effective CAPA processes in manufacturing. Steps, forms, common mistakes, and how CAPA connects to root cause analysis, scheduling, and ISO 9001 compliance.
Control Charts in Manufacturing: Types, Rules, and When to Use Each
Complete guide to manufacturing control charts. X-bar R, p-charts, c-charts, Western Electric rules, and practical implementation for shop floor quality monitoring.
Cost of Quality in Manufacturing: How to Measure and Reduce It
Understand and measure the cost of quality. Prevention, appraisal, internal failure, external failure costs, and strategies to shift spending from failure to prevention.
FMEA in Manufacturing: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis Guide
Complete guide to FMEA for manufacturers. Process FMEA steps, RPN scoring, severity-occurrence-detection ratings, examples, and integration with quality systems.
Incoming Quality Inspection: Protecting Your Production From Bad Material
How to implement incoming material inspection. Sampling plans, inspection criteria, supplier management, and integration with production scheduling and quality systems.
ISO 9001 for Manufacturers: Requirements, Benefits, and Certification Path
Complete ISO 9001 guide for manufacturers. Requirements breakdown, certification process, costs, common pitfalls, and how scheduling supports quality management.
P Chart in Quality Control: Formula, Control Limits, Example
How to build a p chart for proportion defective: the p-bar and UCL/LCL formulas, a worked example with varying sample sizes, and when to use a p chart.
Root Cause Analysis in Manufacturing: Methods That Actually Work
Master root cause analysis for manufacturing. 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, fault tree analysis, and practical problem-solving frameworks for shop floor quality issues.