Manufacturing production planning

Scheduling the right resources in the right amount and at the right time is one of the great challenges of manufacturing and supply chain management. This section provides expert advice, news and case studies on manufacturing production planning, including topics such as material requirements planning, demand-driven MRP and advanced planning and scheduling software, and manufacturing production planning software, to enable the most-effective production schedule and planning.

June 19, 2015 19 Jun'15
Quality management software boosts Cascade Engineering's process

Manufacturer implemented QAD quality management software and tied it to QAD ERP for document control and workflow.
April 08, 2014 08 Apr'14
Q&A: Customer experience management software for manufacturing

In this Q&A, learn why more manufacturers are focused on customer experience management software.
October 03, 2013 03 Oct'13
Manufacturers see competitive power in service excellence, IDC says

An IDC-Infor study reveals that more manufacturers are turning to service excellence as a revenue driver and customer strategy.
November 17, 2011 17 Nov'11
Applying lean techniques to quality control

Dr. Michael Grieves, a professor at the University of Iowa, explains how Lean Six Sigma can be used to analyze and redesign quality-control workflows and automate them for greater accuracy and efficiency.

Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content

sales and operations planning (S&OP)

Sales and operations planning (S&OP) is a process for better matching a manufacturer's supply with demand by having the sales department collaborate with operations to create a single production plan. Continue Reading
Why craft beer makers are tapping into ERP for brewery software

As with other process manufacturers, ERP software can help craft breweries maintain quality, while better managing growth and unexpected success. Here's a look. Continue Reading
value stream mapping

Value stream mapping is a Toyota lean manufacturing visualization tool for documenting all the processes that are required to bring a product to market. Continue Reading

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

How are companies solving the last-mile delivery problem?

The process of getting goods delivered from the transportation hub to their final destination is undergoing radical transformations thanks to e-commerce. Here's a look. Continue Reading
How lean production systems cut the fat out of manufacturing, ERP

From its introduction, the lean approach has influenced manufacturing efficiency, and ERP systems have incorporated its concepts to a greater and greater degree. Here's a look at how lean and ERP have grown increasingly intertwined. Continue Reading
Why is OEE a popular manufacturing operations KPI?

Getting a big picture indication of how well plant processes are doing is important for manufacturing. Here's how OEE can help you determine just that. Continue Reading

Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.

How is inventory management for e-commerce challenging?

The inventory challenges of adding e-commerce to your supply chain are considerable. Here's a look at what they entail and how you might overcome them. Continue Reading
Smart manufacturing technology is a dumb idea without good leadership

A manufacturing CEO explains why the IT-driven revolution in the factory won't amount to much without an educated, engaged workforce and credibility and respect from top managers. Continue Reading
What's an overlooked cost in customer order management?

Managing customer expectations about order schedules is one critical element of achieving profit goals. Here's a look at why finance needs to be involved. Continue Reading

We’ve gathered up expert advice and tips from professionals like you so that the answers you need are always available.

How does material intensity help measure sustainability?

One important foundation of sustainability is using fewer materials and less energy. Using the material intensity measure can help determine the success of those reduction efforts. Continue Reading
What are some elements of sustainable product design?

With waste from electronics, plastics and other materials growing at a frightening rate, manufacturers can help address the problem with sustainable product design efforts. Continue Reading
What are the biggest concurrent engineering advantages?

A critical goal of supply chain management is to foster alignment and collaboration. Here's how concurrent manufacturing can help. Continue Reading