AccountingManufacturing Tips What Is the Cost of Quality and How to Calculate It? The cost of quality quantifies the total cost of quality-related efforts and issues. While an effective measure to identify cash drains, it can also be used to balance the price and quality relationship of your products. By Madis Kuuse 9 min read
Manufacturing TipsProduction planning What is Cycle Time in the Manufacturing Process? Cycle time is the time it takes to complete a single manufacturing operation. It is a manufacturing KPI used to measure the efficiency of specific production processes and to discover and eliminate bottlenecks. By Madis Kuuse 12 min read
Manufacturing TipsSupply Chain Supplier Performance Management Best Practices Supplier performance management is a vital supply chain process for any manufacturer or distributor that sources its raw materials or other items from external vendors. Effective SPM can bring a wealth of internal benefits and help foster better supplier relationships. By Mattias Turovski 13 min read
InventoryManufacturing Tips Kitting – Benefits, Examples, and Best Practices Kitting is a valuable method to help manage raw material and finished goods inventories and optimize the manufacturing process. There are two main types of kitting and numerous instances in which either of them can prove useful. By Madis Kuuse 15 min read
Manufacturing TipsProduction planning Bill of Materials (BOM) – A Complete Guide with Examples Regardless of the size of the manufacturing operation, a bill of materials (BOM) is vital for production. Manufacturers utilize them as the guide and recipe for creating a final product and as such, they are tied into production, quoting, purchasing and many other areas of manufacturing. By Karl H Lauri 19 min read
Manufacturing TipsProduction planning What Is a Master Production Schedule (MPS)? With Examples The master production schedule (MPS) is a production planning tool that helps to figure out how much of a product needs to be manufactured at different periods. This simple schedule can be used as a basis for further planning and scheduling throughout the manufacturing business. By Madis Kuuse 17 min read
Supply Chain What Is Distributed Manufacturing? In distributed manufacturing, production facilities are scattered throughout an extended geographical area, each one serving their local market, with their work coordinated with the help of cloud-based software. Distributed manufacturing is gradually gaining ground thanks to providing benefits such as shorter lead times and lower distribution costs. By Madis Kuuse 7 min read
Manufacturing Tips How to Communicate Effectively in a Manufacturing Company? An exchange of information is necessary to trigger any kind of action and as such, communication is an essential part of any manufacturing business. Improving your communication process and practices can therefore have a significant effect on the efficiency of your business. By Madis Kuuse 9 min read
InventoryManufacturing TipsSupply Chain Materials Management – Definition, Benefits, Best Practices Implementing proper materials management practices allows businesses to make sure the correct materials with the best price and quality reach the shop floor at the right time and in the correct quantity. Follow these best practices to get more control over this essential segment of the supply chain. By Madis Kuuse 12 min read
InventoryManufacturing TipsSupply Chain What is Traceability and How to Achieve It? Traceability is the ability to track a product or item throughout its entire supply chain, from its origin to the end consumer. Traceability enhances product safety and consumer trust by enabling companies to identify contamination or defect sources, perform targeted interventions and efficient product recalls, and increase transparency regarding the origins and handling of products. By Madis Kuuse 12 min read
ERPManufacturing Tips Paperless Manufacturing – How to Build a Paperless Factory? Paperless manufacturing means managing, coordinating, and reporting production activities purely with digital solutions. A paperless factory typically sees benefits such as the elimination of non-value-added tasks, better traceability, optimized production scheduling, shorter lead times, etc. By Madis Kuuse 9 min read
Production planning Discrete vs. Process Manufacturing – How Do They Differ? Discrete manufacturing implies producing distinct items that require assembly along a production line. Process manufacturing, on the other hand, produces goods by mixing or combining raw materials in a manufacturing process. In this article, we will explore key differences between the two manufacturing types and look at examples of each. By Mattias Turovski 8 min read