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
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
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
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
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
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
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
*HAMPTON, NH — January 23, 2018 — *LillyWorks, a well-known developer of highly popular scheduling systems for manufacturers Manufacturing application developer LillyWorks is stepping up its efforts to recruit solution providers who are looking for ways to stand out in the crowded ERP software market. LillyWorks develops ERP applications geared toward small and midsize manufacturing… READ MORE
Rocky Hill, CT – January 25, 2017 — PDQ, Inc., manufacturer of precision-machined components for the aerospace industry joins the fast-growing list of users of LillyWorks’ revolutionary new cloud-based software. It’s Manufacturing ERP reimagined™. According to Ron Gronback, Jr., PDQ, Inc. President, “our company was launched in 1989 at the request of the Vice President of… READ MORE
Reuters has recently published an eye-opening report on the effect of the steel tariffs implemented by the Trump administration. Reuters reports: “The tariffs, which came into effect on March 23, have driven up raw material costs and caused supply delays, rendering the manufacturers’ “Made in the USA” products uncompetitive against their foreign rivals.” (Source: As Trump’s… READ MORE
Dick Lilly has worked through the computer revolution, step by step, from mainframes to minicomputers to microprocessors, and now into the cloud – and at age 85 he has no intention of slowing down. Click here to read the full article in New Hampshire Business Review Magazine.
These articles are portions of a lecture presented to APICS by our friend Gene Caiola. In our last segment titled “The First Programs: Where it all began” we left off after MRP failed to account for the workers when planning out production… Enter Finite Scheduling As the 1980’s and 1990’s brought minicomputers and the personal… READ MORE