The best companies focus on production scheduling. Even though Production Schedulers aren't typically highly paid positions, the function will make or break your ability to serve customers, improve operational performance and accelerate cash flow. Thus, it should be a key priority if you want to achieve profitable growth.
At its simplest, labor scheduling is determining which people (and which skills) you should have at which sites at which work centers at what time (shift) to ensure the right products can be delivered to the right customer at the right time.
In a business environment marked by inflation, rising interest rates, and economic uncertainty, inventory decisions have never carried more weight. The challenge is no longer simply managing inventory—it is right-sizing it to align with demand, service expectations, and financial goals.
During times of volatility including inflation and recession, forecasting future sales becomes even more vital than it is during regular business cycles. Emerging from the pandemic, the global markets have experienced rising costs and significant demand. In the U.S. [...]
Manufacturing has struggled to produce what customers want on-time without spending a fortune and tying up excess cash unnecessarily in the wrong, "just-in-case" inventory. It is a tough environment spiraling out of control with supply chain chaos.
As executives continue to navigate these volatile economic conditions, the focus on inventory management increases. It is especially tough to determine what to do if you don't know if sales opportunities will dramatically increase as the competition falters and consumers drive demand or if sales will tank as recession fears increase and business optimism falters.
Since the pandemic, it has been a constant battle to ensure material availability, let alone to proactively manage cost and service. Even the most proactive and successful clients have experienced brief shortages of key materials and extended lead-times. The rest have been plagued with these issues.
Lisa Anderson, manufacturing and supply chain expert and president of LMA Consulting Group states there are operational and supply chain priorities required to be ready to absorb additional sales". One of the most important components is to have planning and scheduling processes required to be ready to absorb capabilities.
Every production planner has the challenging job of managing a complex set of conflicting priorities - meeting customer requested ship dates and new product trials, supporting manufacturing and logistics performance objectives, and addressing finance's objectives as it relates to inventory levels and cash flow.
At least 80% of clients contact us to find out how to predict the unpredictable. This is especially true in custom manufacturing, high growth and promotion-heavy industries; however, it remains accurate across the broad spectrum of manufacturing and distribution companies. Predicting the unpredictable demand plan starts by asking common [...]
