Blog
Insights on production scheduling, lean manufacturing, and manufacturing software from 35+ years of industry experience.
What Is RCA (Root Cause Analysis)? Definition, Methods, and Manufacturing Examples
RCA (Root Cause Analysis) is a systematic process that identifies the fundamental cause of a problem so corrective actions prevent recurrence, not just fix symptoms.
What Is SCM (Supply Chain Management)? Definition and Manufacturing Guide
SCM (Supply Chain Management) is the active coordination of planning, sourcing, production, delivery, and returns to maximize customer value and competitive advantage.
OEE-Adjusted Capacity Planning: How to Model Planned and Unplanned Downtime
Most capacity plans assume machines run at 100%. OEE tells you they don't. Learn how to build realistic OEE-adjusted capacity models that account for downtime.
Schedule Adherence vs. On-Time Delivery: Why You Need Both Metrics (They Measure Different Things)
Schedule adherence measures plan accuracy; on-time delivery measures customer satisfaction. Learn why tracking both reveals root causes that neither metric shows alone.
Shift Scheduling and Production Scheduling: The Link Most Planners Miss
How 2-shift vs. 3-shift decisions directly impact production schedule throughput. Learn available capacity math, bottleneck shift strategies, and when to add a shift vs. add equipment.
The Bullwhip Effect in Manufacturing: Why Small Demand Changes Wreck Your Supply Chain
Understand the bullwhip effect in manufacturing supply chains — why a 5% demand change becomes a 40% swing upstream, and how to dampen it with better scheduling.
Perfect Order Fulfillment: The Composite KPI That Drives B2B Customer Satisfaction
Perfect Order Fulfillment measures on-time, complete, undamaged, and correctly invoiced orders. Learn the formula, benchmarks, and how scheduling accuracy drives POF.
Queue Time: The Biggest Scheduling Lever You're Not Managing
In most job shops, queue time is 80-90% of total lead time. Learn how to manage queue time, apply Little's Law, and use finite capacity scheduling to cut it.
Schedule Nervousness: Why Your Planners Ignore the Production Schedule (And How to Fix It)
Schedule nervousness destroys planner trust and floor execution. Learn what causes it, how time fences fix it, and why a stable 90% schedule beats a volatile 100%-optimal one.
Activity Based Costing in Manufacturing: A Practical Guide
Learn how activity based costing allocates overhead more accurately than traditional methods, and how scheduling data powers ABC in discrete manufacturing.
Andon-Triggered Rescheduling: How Real-Time Machine Alerts Should Change Your Production Schedule
Andon alerts signal a production problem — but most plants stop at the alert. Learn the complete andon-to-reschedule workflow that protects delivery commitments when things go wrong.
Backorders in Manufacturing: Causes, Customer Management, and How Finite Capacity Scheduling Prevents Accumulation
What causes backorders in manufacturing, how to manage customer backorder situations effectively, and how finite capacity scheduling stops backorder accumulation before it starts.