Manufacturing and Job Shop

Strategies to Optimize Manufacturing Production

Written by Nancy Phillippi | Jul 3, 2023 5:08:43 PM

Are you curious about the strategies used by leading manufacturers to optimize their production processes and resources? Have you ever wondered how your competitors manage to cut costs, improve cash flow, and still keep their customers satisfied? Do you want to know their secret to avoid common obstacles like high inventory levels, wastage, low yield, and poor delivery performance?

If you're nodding along, then we have something exciting to share with you. We have a solution that can help you optimize your production processes, reduce costs, increase efficiency, and most importantly, boost your profit margin. This secret lies in a production scheduling software module, an essential component that should be a part of your ERP solution.

Production scheduling software, also known as enterprise resource planning (ERP), is a powerful module that enables manufacturing owners to effectively manage various aspects of production, inventory, supply chain, quality, and service management. When combined with other modules that cater to areas like sales and financials, this software acts as a centralized system that communicates with different departments, providing clear visibility throughout your organization and helping you manage your business efficiently.

Let's dive into the key ways in which a production scheduling module can benefit your organization:

1. Efficient Inventory Management: With a production scheduling software module like Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain, you gain access to an inventory optimizer. This tool helps you reduce costs by grouping inventory items based on selected attributes and identifying excess inventory that may become obsolete. It also notifies key personnel and suppliers about stock levels, tracks lead time and inventory performance and projects future inventory levels.

2. Cost Accounting and Lean Manufacturing: The software includes a transparent cost accounting module that allows you to revalue inventory based on changes in labor, material, and overhead costs influenced by economic downturns. Additionally, it offers a work-in-process variance analysis, which evaluates expenses and identifies opportunities to decrease manufacturing costs by optimizing time. Lean manufacturing features such as cellular manufacturing, batch size reduction, product leveling, value mapping, and visual management further aid in reducing manufacturing costs by up to 30 percent.

3. Accurate Planning: Say goodbye to guesswork and reliance on gut feelings. Production scheduling software accurately predicts order creation, production scheduling, capacity planning, and load balancing, optimizing throughput, resource constraints, productivity, and waste reduction. It also assesses initial time and cost estimates to determine the most profitable manufacturing methods. Once the most suitable solutions are identified, the software helps implement and communicate changes across your organization.

4. Enhanced Purchasing Efficiency: Unlike outdated manual data entry systems that may lead to inappropriate purchases, an ERP solution facilitates electronic data interchange between you and your suppliers, improving purchasing efficiency. The software tracks purchases, stock levels, and associated costs in real time, enabling you to make the most profitable purchase decisions.

5. Streamlined Process Control: The production scheduling software can be utilized to control the manufacturing process for purchased services. By generating a report based on job orders, the system defines necessary operations, specifies tools, and establishes part characteristics. This report enables you to order the required materials, machinery, and tooling for completing specific operations.

6. Increased Financial Savings: An ERP solution optimizes receivable functions, helping you improve consumer collections and credit management. Additionally, integrated accounts payable features assist in controlling purchases, analyzing vendor performance, identifying price variations, and uncovering supplier discounts.

7. Effective Supply Chain Communication: The production scheduling software provides a foundation for objective dialogues with your suppliers, based on cost and time metrics. It enables you to select the most advantageous offers and focuses on cost reduction and process improvement strategies.

More Benefits

In addition to these benefits, Microsoft now Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain software includes post-operation examination features that double-check quote accuracy, process time, convenience, and routing. This meticulous examination helps identify further opportunities for cost-cutting and cash flow optimization. 

So, if you're ready to take your manufacturing operations to the next level, a production scheduling software module is the key to unlocking your organization's full potential. Reach out to our team at Clients First at 800.331.8382 or email info@cfbs-us.com