Shop floor chaos
How to Avoid Shop Floor Chaos: Bring Order Back to Production

Shop floor chaos can feel inevitable when priorities change by the hour and everyone is chasing the latest crisis. Why does it keep happening, and can you actually stop it? Yes – when you give people clear, real-time priorities they can trust. At LillyWorks, we see the same pattern in discrete manufacturers of all sizes.… READ MORE

increase throughput
Increase Throughput by Fixing the Real Constraints on Your Shop Floor

The Misunderstanding About Throughput Most manufacturers equate an increase in throughput with running machines faster or adding capacity. But that approach often leads to more work-in-process (WIP), more chaos, and the same output at the end of the day. The truth is, throughput in manufacturing isn’t just about doing more – it’s about keeping flow… READ MORE

Key Performance Metrics for Manufacturing
The Key Performance Metrics for Manufacturing That Really Matter: On-Time and In Control

Manufacturers today are often inundated with dashboards displaying a dizzying array of key performance metrics for manufacturing. From overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and yield rates to first-pass quality and inventory turnover, the sheer volume of data can be overwhelming. But amidst all the numbers and charts, which key performance metrics for manufacturing truly signal the… READ MORE

Don’t Just Calculate Process Capacity
Don’t Just Calculate Process Capacity. Control the Flow That Actually Delivers

Every manufacturer knows they need to calculate process capacity to understand their production limits – how many units can a machine produce per hour, how many orders can a work center handle in a day. These calculations provide a theoretical ceiling, a benchmark against which performance is often measured. But knowing your theoretical maximum is… READ MORE

Shopfloor Management Isn’t About More Data — It’s About Smarter Priorities
Shopfloor Management Isn’t About More Data — It’s About Smarter Priorities

Today’s manufacturers are awash in shop floor data. Sensors, systems, and reports generate more information than ever—machine performance metrics, real-time inventory levels, and employee productivity tracking. The promise is that this wealth of data will deliver greater visibility and more effective shop floor management. But is it really improving decision-making and outcomes? Or are we… READ MORE

Advanced Planning and Scheduling Can’t Fix What Real-Time Flow Management Can
Advanced Planning and Scheduling Can’t Fix What Real-Time Flow Management Can

Many manufacturers invest in sophisticated advanced planning and scheduling (APS) systems, hoping to create the perfect production blueprint – a meticulously crafted sequence of operations designed to optimize resources and ensure timely completion. The promise of these systems lies in their ability to foresee potential bottlenecks and proactively allocate capacity. But what happens when the… READ MORE

Eliminating the Bottlenecks in Manufacturing with Scheduling Software

In the world of manufacturing, efficiency is paramount. One of the biggest hindrances to a smooth manufacturing process is what’s known as a ‘bottleneck’. This term refers to the point in the production line where work accumulates faster than it can be processed. Fortunately, scheduling software has emerged as a powerful tool to address and… READ MORE

Integrating Protected Flow Manufacturing to Infor Syteline 9 Yields Speedy Improvements

Jeff Cederstrom, President of the Cutting Tool Division of Arch Global Precision, talks about how Protected Flow Manufacturing helps to resolve the production scheduling priority battles they face having both make-to-order and make-to-stock jobs fighting for similar shop floor resources. Read the success story. “I’m gonna spend a few minutes and share our experience with Protected Flow Manufacturing, again… READ MORE

Transforming Your Never Fun Meeting

Every manufacturing company has a meeting that is never fun. It is held at least weekly but usually more often. It involves at least three people but often many more, depending on the size of the company. People from the purchasing, production control, and sales departments participate, as do people from upper management and perhaps… READ MORE

Top Six ERP Vendors for Manufacturing

Solutions Review article lists LillyWorks with Protected Flow Manufacturing as one of the top six ERP vendors for manufacturing. When you need to be able to deliver on time, in less time, everytime – you need Protected Flow Manufacturing from LillyWorks.

Time: The Silent Killer of Shop Floor Production

Delivering jobs on time is a constant challenge for manufacturers. Too little buffer time, and a work order will be delivered late. Too much, and the shop floor might be flooded with too many jobs in WIP, causing more delays. While it’s not as obvious or visible as a broken machine or an employee absence,… READ MORE

Think You Need to Master Shop Floor Scheduling? Think Again

With the smorgasbord of ERP and APS-based scheduling options available today, why are so many manufacturers still relying on whiteboards and spreadsheets? Because even with all their bells and whistles, these scheduling systems fall far short in their claim to “better shop floor scheduling.” From inherent lag to unreliable estimates, ERP and APS-based scheduling software are… READ MORE