In this series, we’re uncovering how to choose the right production system for your manufacturing operation. The software that supports this process often falls into three categories: Manufacturing Execution Software (MES), Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) or Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP). Each serves a unique purpose, but the foundation remains the same: giving you visibility into every part of your production process and control over the work that’s being planned, done, and even completed.
Last week, we explored key questions to ask your vendor about inventory management. Today, we’re diving into the next critical element: your production schedule. Once you know you have the right materials on hand, the next question is whether your team is working on the right things at the right time.
A production schedule is your plan in action, what your team needs to do today, tomorrow, and in the future. It outlines priorities, divides work, and anticipates what could go wrong (because something always will). Unless your shop floor is fully automated or running lights-out production, your schedule will constantly change. The very nature of asking people to do work will have jobs that move faster (or slower) in some areas than others. People work at different speeds, encounter different issues, and solve problems differently. That variability means your schedule needs to move with you.
If you’re still relying on a whiteboard, huddle board, bulletin board, or team wall / area to post the latest schedules and production information, you’re missing critical agility. Your team may gather around in the morning and leave aligned, but the moment a machine goes down, a part runs short, or a job finishes early, that schedule becomes outdated and all bets are off. You need a system that adapts in real time.
Maybe someone on your team has already built a Microsoft Excel sheet or Access database that tracks jobs and progress. That’s a step forward, but it also creates dependency. The individual in charge of that file has a full time job on their hands keeping it current. Every change required communication: “This job is done.” “That one’s delayed.” “We need to move this up.” If you want accurate data, it becomes an every-minute update cycle.
Some manufacturers take it a step further with Google Sheets or shared online trackers, allowing multiple users to make updates. It’s a smart move, but it’s still not a true production scheduling system. These solutions offer surface-level automation but lack the dynamic intelligence needed to respond to real-world shop floor changes.
Curious about exploring practical, manageable ways smaller manufacturers can start to automate their shop floor? Join CIMx Software and Info-Tech Research Group this week as we speak with a leading industry analyst to dive into what's next for manufacturing (and what you really need to know). This is your chance to ask questions and walk away with steps you can apply right away!
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The most important thing your production schedule should do is automate itself without constant input from your team. That might sound simple, but it’s not. A strong scheduling system must understand:
When you combine these variables with the inventory conversation we had last week and you really have some movement on your hands that’s going to make it very difficult for the team member that organizes that (or even the small automation you created) to handle.
One of the biggest failures we see in basic automation tools is that they only focus on jobs, not people. Your operators are your profit drivers. How efficiently they can work, adapt, and respond determines your success. A true MES scheduling system recognizes that. It uses real-time performance data to balance workloads, adapt priorities, and deliver immediate feedback when things change.
When evaluating production scheduling software or an MES vendor, ask these questions to understand how flexible and intelligent their system really is:
Buying an MES or production scheduling system can feel overwhelming, especially when you don’t know what questions to ask. That’s why we’re breaking it down piece by piece In this series.
If you recognize challenges like the ones we’ve discussed (disconnected schedules, missed updates, or manual tracking that can’t keep up), you’re not alone. We know that it’s a bit scary to go down this road when you don’t know what you don’t know. We’d love to talk about what’s happening on your shop floor and help you uncover where automation could save time, improve visibility, and eliminate costly surprises.
Takeaway: Before investing in an MES, make sure you're asking the right questions. The right production scheduler should be able to remove the chaos of misaligned jobs and delayed communication, not add to it. Reach out and ask us how we can help
Connect with us or continue reading the series for more insights into buying and implementing an MES solution that fits your business. Subscribe down below to be updated as we explore!