What Is Co-Packing or Contract Packing?

Co-packing means having a specialized packing company package your manufactured goods into their final selling form. Using a co-packer helps small manufacturers focus on their core competencies, save money on packaging equipment, labor, and logistics, and sell their products in higher-quality packaging.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

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.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

Success Story: Foga Shakes Finds a New Level of Smoothness with MRP software

Smoothie blends producer Foga Shakes has undergone a rapid business transformation from a kitchen table operation to an efficient manufacturing company. MRPeasy has helped to make the transition as smooth as a fruit shake.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

Procurement Planning – A Simple Guide

A thoroughly planned procurement process helps to ensure that a company’s purchases arrive in a timely manner and in the right quantities, from the best vendors and with good prices. A well thought out procurement plan helps businesses stay in control of the product manufacturing cycle and avoid last-minute surprises.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

Make-to-Stock Manufacturing Workflow and Best Practices

Make-to-stock (MTS) is a manufacturing workflow that uses the push system. This means that goods are produced to stock by “pushing” them through the supply chain according to anticipated demand. In this post, we will look at the pros and cons as well as best practices for utilizing MTS.

Make-to-Order and Assemble-to-Order Manufacturing Workflows

Make-to-order (MTO) and assemble-to-order (ATO) are manufacturing workflows that use the pull system, meaning that production starts when an order comes in. As such, they are mostly used by companies that manufacture customizable products. In this post, we go over their differences, pros and cons, and production management considerations.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

Distribution Management Basics for SMEs

Distribution management is an integral part of any well-functioning business that sells physical products. Although the actual shipping of goods takes a central role in the process, distribution management includes many other processes that support timely and cost-effective deliveries.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

Capacity Utilization – A Simple Guide

Capacity utilization is an important KPI for manufacturing companies. It represents the percentage of production capacity (or productivity) that a factory, enterprise, or economy is operating at compared to its maximum potential capacity.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

BigCommerce Inventory Management Basics

E-commerce is reaching new heights, much thanks to platforms such as BigCommerce that make opening a webstore easier than ever before. Managing a growing e-commerce company, however, becomes increasingly difficult and soon merchants discover that they need more advanced tools than what is available on BigCommerce.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

What Is Pipeline Inventory?

Pipeline inventory consists of goods that a company has ordered but which have not yet arrived in the facility. Managing this type of inventory can help schedule production or shipments in advance, reduce standing inventory levels, and avoid stock-outs.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

Discrete Manufacturing vs. Process Manufacturing

Discrete manufacturing implies producing distinct items that require assembly along a production line, whereas process manufacturing produces goods in bulk, with the raw materials being mixed together in the manufacturing process. In this article, we will explore key differences between the two and look at examples of each.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

Quality Control in Manufacturing – An Introduction

Quality control is the process of fulfilling and checking the conformance to quality standards. There are many different approaches to quality control, but an important part of every one of these is regular inspection of the goods. Besides dedicated QMS software, some ERP/MRP systems offer the required functionality to small businesses.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

Inventory Valuation Methods – Finding the Right Approach

For the financial departments of manufacturing companies, few things are as important as inventory valuation. Due to the effect on the gross profit of a company, choosing the right inventory valuation method is a crucial step in ensuring the financial health of your company.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

Incoterms – A Simple Guide

Incoterms or International Commercial Terms are used to facilitate and standardize trade processes, especially logistics and shipping. As of today, there are 11 different Incoterms that all allocate different responsibilities to both parties of a transaction.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

Inventory Optimization Methods and Techniques

Inventory optimization is the act of balancing inventory costs, service levels, and the complexity of inventory management. While there is no single magical solution for keeping your stock optimized, different methods and techniques are brought together in ERP/MRP systems.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

What Is Decoupling Inventory?

Decoupling inventory is the strategic buffer stock of subassemblies and WIP that could be used when suppliers are unavailable, when there are internal disruptions like machinery breakdown, or when demand is greater than expected. It allows companies to prevent all-around stoppages and mitigate the bullwhip effect.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

WooCommerce Inventory Management Basics for SMEs

While e-commerce is growing at a break-neck pace, companies are looking for better inventory management solutions than what e-commerce platforms are offering in their basic packages. WooCommerce is one platform that is continuously expanding its selection of third-party extensions.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

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.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

QuickBooks Commerce (TradeGecko) Sunset and What You Can Do

Intuit has announced that they will be retiring their inventory management system QuickBooks Commerce (previously known as TradeGecko) in June 2022. Here is what will happen and what the options are for their current user base.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.

How to Keep Perfect Batch Records?

Batch records are documents that detail the journey of raw materials becoming batches of finished goods. Even though the term is mostly associated with process manufacturing, especially the pharma industry, every company that manufactures its products in batches or series can benefit from keeping batch records. Here is how to do it.

You can learn more about it from this episode or read the article here.