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How to Calculate and Manage Aggregate Inventory Range
Determining appropriate inventory levels is one of the most important and challenging tasks that supply chain managers face. Carry too much inventory, and you have more money tied up in working capital than necessary. Carry too little, and you’ll likely run into...
Managing Capacity and Inventory
In two previous posts by Pete King (Optimizing Safety Stock and Optimizing Cycle Stock), we discussed the fundamentals of inventory management and setting cycle and safety stock targets for individual materials. In this post, we will talk about using the targets to...
Elevate Your Production Heartbeat
The production schedule is the heartbeat of process manufacturing. It’s the schedule that specifies when, where and how much to make of every product. It’s therefore the schedule that orchestrates production. It’s the schedule that specifies the sequence of...
Reinventing The Production Scheduling Wheel
For supply chains to be fully effective, manufacturing links must be stable, predictable, agile and responsive. One way to accomplish these goals is with product wheels. These scheduling tools organize the variety of products made on any asset in order to optimize...
A Quick Start Guide to Improving Your Scheduling
Taken a Good Look at Your Scheduling Processes Lately? Maybe you Should. The hidden costs of scheduling are often overlooked. Rush orders, equipment breakdowns, and component shortages cause changes to the schedule. Some inventories are too high, incurring costly...
Why Scheduling Alone Can’t Fix a Bad Plan
I wrote this article several years ago. With today’s disrupted production and supply chains, it is even more relevant than when first published. The example is of insufficient manufacturing capacity to meet customer demand, but the message is the same regardless of...
How to Optimize Production Scheduling to Reduce Cost and Increase Throughput
Even companies that do a good job of week-by-week production scheduling can see an increase in profitability by truly optimizing the scheduling process. Product Wheel Scheduling is a thorough, clearly defined, proven way to do that, enabling companies to reach higher...
Managing Inventory for Process Manufacturers; Optimizing Safety Stock
This article is adapted from an article published February 3, 2021 by SCM Now, and is published with permission of the Association for Supply Chain Management. This is the second of two articles discussing good inventory managing practices. The first described the...
Managing Inventory for Process Manufacturers; Optimizing Cycle Stock.
This article is adapted from the Q4 2020 issue of SCM Now, and provided with permission of the Association for Supply Chain Management. Determining appropriate inventory levels is generally one of the most important and challenging tasks that operations managers face:...
Production Strategy: Don’t Overdrive Your Headlights
I’ve often seen unreasonable demands and expectations get in the way of production efficiency and customer service. Here is an example. During an advanced planning and scheduling implementation at a large plant in Germany, the site was complaining that their new...
AFP Success Story
AFP is a food manufacturer headquartered in New Holland, PA where its main plant is situated. AFP is one of the world’s foremost foodservice, co-pack and private label manufacturers of aseptically packed cheese sauces, puddings, dips and soups. AFP, an operating...
Manufacturers Need Capacity Management to Deal with Supply Chain Disruption
In our previous blog we described how supply chain disruption is a huge problem for manufacturers, and how tough choices need to be made when there is insufficient capacity to meet demand. Capacity management is an essential prerequisite for successful scheduling....
Supply Chain Disruptions are an Inconvenience for Consumers, a Major Headache for Manufacturers.
Learn how Phenix Software can ease your planning and scheduling pain. The great toilet paper shortage was our first clue. Then shortages of frozen foods, RVs and puppies. Changing demand was disrupting supply chains and our consumer dream of ‘same day shipping’ was...
What You Gain by Using Structured, Repetitive Production Scheduling
The shop floor is all too often the victim of schedules that are poorly sequenced, causing unnecessary changeovers which result in impaired line efficiency. These schedules create unnecessary chaos which drain the energy and performance of shop floor teams. This is...
Strategies for Success in Production Scheduling
Moving Forward from Excel. But, to What? My last post emphasized how companies often fall short - and put themselves at risk - when relying on Excel for production scheduling. If you are ready to move off of Excel, adopting Product Wheel or Repetitive Flexible...
Should Your Company Still Use Excel For Production Scheduling?
The answer is no. We have a better way – and it’s easier and more impactful than you likely think. Many companies use Excel for production scheduling – a mission critical activity. Some believe that it is effective. Some realize that it is cumbersome and ineffective...
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Popular Posts
How to Calculate and Manage Aggregate Inventory Range
Determining appropriate inventory levels is one...
Managing Capacity and Inventory
In two previous posts by Pete King (Optimizing...
Elevate Your Production Heartbeat
The production schedule is the heartbeat of...