Manufacturing Articles & Guides — page 4
MES, ERP, OEE, quality, maintenance and shop-floor software for factories.
Gemba Walks for Plant Managers: How to Learn From the Shop Floor Every Week
What a gemba walk is and isn't, how to plan a walk with a theme, what to observe, the questions to ask operators, how to record and follow up observations, and how leaders build the habit without turning it into an inspection.
Read article
Standard Work in Manufacturing: The Foundation for Consistent Quality and Improvement
What standard work is — takt time, work sequence and standard WIP — how to create it with operators, standard work sheets and combination tables, training with job instruction, auditing, and using standard work as the baseline for improvement.
Read article
Heijunka (Production Levelling): Smoothing Mix and Volume to Cut Inventory and Overtime
What production levelling is, why uneven schedules cause inventory, overtime and quality problems, how to level volume and product mix, the role of changeover time, heijunka boxes, and how small manufacturers can start.
Read article
Make-to-Order vs Make-to-Stock: Choosing the Right Strategy for Each Product
The differences between make-to-stock, make-to-order, assemble-to-order and engineer-to-order, how to classify products by volume and variability, the effect on lead time, inventory and planning, and running a hybrid strategy.
Read article
What Is OEE and How Do You Calculate It? A Practical Guide for Factories
OEE explained simply: availability, performance and quality, how to calculate OEE with a worked example, the six big losses, and how software tracks it automatically.
Read article
Maintenance Software (CMMS) for Small Factories: Moving Beyond Registers and Excel
How small and mid-sized factories use CMMS maintenance software for breakdowns, preventive maintenance, spare parts and machine history — and how to roll it out.
Read article
MES vs ERP: What's the Difference, and Which Does Your Factory Need?
MES vs ERP explained for SME manufacturers: what each system does, where they overlap, signs you need one or both, and how to start without a big-bang project.
Read articleLet's build software that fits your business
Tell us about your process or idea. You'll get a free consultation and a clear, fixed quote — no obligation.
- Free consultation
- Prototype before you commit
- Fixed, itemised quote
- You own the software