FREE Webinar on Job Shop and Machine Shop Scheduling

This webinar replay is on exactly how to Get More Jobs Done Faster. It is NOT theory but a specific "how to". This is the same program recommended by Westinghouse to their vendors and recommened internally to Schlumberger plants. To participate LIVE in one of these webinars and to get YOUR questions answered, sign up here: https://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/webinar/ Space is limited to to ensure we get all your questions answered. (replay no longer available, please sign up for our next webinar) If you're looking to  improve your scheduling and you own or run a job shop or machine shop, you don't want to miss these insights!  This video will be taken down, so watch while you can. Dr Lisa Lang (know as Dr Lisa) will be your webinar presenter.  She is a Theory of Constraints expert and recently worked for Goldratt Consulting owned by Dr Eliyahu M Goldratt, author of The Goal and father of Theory of Constraints.  Dr Lisa developed the Velocity Scheduling System Coaching Program to hand hold companies through the process of implementing the Theory of Constraints scheduling technique called Drum Buffer Rope. Leave your questions on Velocity Scheduling System Coaching Program and tell me what you thought of the webinar.   Did you like it?  Did it answer any questions for you? CLICK THE COMMENT LINK ABOVE!!

http://velocityschedulingsystem.wordpress.com/?p=298

Precision Machining Job Shop Scheduling Client Success Story

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Manufacturing and Theory of Constraints Expert Dr. Lisa Lang Shares Client Success Story Tanya DiSalvo, President of Criterion Tool, shares her story of how her precision machine shop used Velocity Scheduling System to achieve record profits.   Green Valley, AZ – November 14, 2012 – “Dr. Lisa” Lang, President of the Science of Business and Theory of Constraints expert, is proud to share one of many client success stories. Tanya DiSalvo is the President of Criterion Tool (founded in 1953) and an active member of both NTMA (National Tooling and Machining Association) and PMPA (Precision Metal Products Association).  Tanya has utilized Dr. Lisa’s Velocity Scheduling System at her machine shop to improve on-time delivery and reduce lead times. Tanya DiSalvo’s case study and success story (written by Mike Touzeau) can be found at https://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tanya_Success_Story_v5.pdf Here is an excerpt: “It’s so different from what we’ve seen in the world of manufacturing that it sounded too good to be true. At first as a team we couldn’t get our arms around it, but Dr. Lisa said she was going to give me my money back if it didn’t work, so we were going to do everything she said.” They liked the homework, but several of her 30 employees, including her dad, who was then  consulting and observing as he neared retirement, bet some real cash against her that it wasn’t going to work. “I was pretty sure they thought this was just another flavor of the month. Before VSS we were all frustrated,” she remembers, because they were always  trying to manage the “slop,” as she calls it—the jobs that got bogged down and often carried into the next month,  with select customers always suffering. Once they saw how the system could facilitate movement of jobs, things started clicking. “As we worked through the Velocity Scheduling process, we got more and more in control. We could focus our resources where we needed them the most. We didn’t have to monitor the jobs, the deadlines, the priorities anymore.” “It was all the  same people just changing their focus.” To learn specifically what Tanya did to improve her machine shop scheduling, watch a 47 minute webinar on “How to Get More Jobs Done Faster” at https://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/webinar/ “Dr. Lisa” Lang is one of the foremost Theory of Constraints experts in the world and a sought after manufacturing expert having been named the 2012 Manufacturing Trendsetter in the USA Today for her inexpensive and guaranteed Velocity Scheduling System Coaching Program that has dramatically improved performance of well over 100 highly custom job shops and machine shops.  She has also appeared in CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, Finance.com, About.com, Gear Technology, CNBC, MoldMaking Technology, The Fabricator, NTMA’s The Record and many others. She is active in helping the reshoring of  manufacturing back to the U.S. and in the NTMA, PMA, and AMT communities having helped member companies to reduce their lead-times and improve due date performance. She worked with Dr. Goldratt who is the father of Theory of Constraints and author of the bestselling book, The Goal. Dr Lisa is the President of the Science of Business specializing in increasing profits of highly custom manufacturers by applying Theory of Constraints, Lean and Six Sigma (TLS) to operations with Velocity Scheduling System and to engineering/design with Project Velocity System and to marketing with her Mafia Offer Boot Camp. ### Contact: Dr Lisa Lang Science of Business, Inc DrLisa@ScienceofBusiness.com   keywords: Dr Lisa Lang, Dr Lisa, Theory of Constraints, Velocity Scheduling System, job shop scheduling, machine shop scheduling, Goldratt, reshoring manufacturing, Success Story, Case Study

http://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/?p=1654

Theory of Constraints Velocity Scheduling System Webinar

WEBINAR:  How to Get More Jobs Done Faster

Each webinar covers  exactly how to get MORE Jobs Done Faster.  We cover how scheduling is traditionally done and then we cover the Velocity Scheduling System approach.  During the webinar you learn what to go do TOMORROW! Sign up here: https://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/webinar/ WARNING: The Velocity Scheduling System Coaching Program is NOT training. This is a go and do program. Only job shops ready to improve due date performance, cut lead-time through thier shop and who seriously want to reduce chaos should sign up. Velocity Scheduling System is based on Goldratt Theory of Constraints Drum Buffer Rope and is for job shops looking for a better way to schedule their shop.

http://velocityschedulingsystem.wordpress.com/?p=449

Dr Lisa and Theory of Constraints featured in Wire Forming Technology International

Dr Lisa was featured in the Fall 2011 Wire Forming Technology International magazine with an article titled: Velocity Manufacturing: Stop focusing on efficiency and focus on velocity to reduce lead and queue times, and to increase lead-time predictability, on-time deliveries, quality and cash flow. The article explains how highly custom job shops and machine shops can schedule and change their thinking using Goldratt's Theory of Constraints to get more jobs done faster with the same people and resources. You can check it out here: WFTI Fall 2011 Velocity Manufacturing Article

http://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/?p=1308

Manufacturing Expert Dr. Lisa Lang Discusses Theory of Constraints in The Fabricator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Manufacturing Expert Dr. Lisa Lang Discusses Theory of Constraints in Article  Dr. Lisa Lang, inventor of the Velocity Scheduling System, featured in a November 2011 article discussing her expertise in Theory of Constraints  Green Valley, AZ – October 10, 2012 – “Dr. Lisa” Lang, President of the Science of Business and inventor of the Velocity Scheduling System is featured in a November 2011 article in The Fabricator and TheFabricator.com, where she was interviewed about Theory of Constraints and Velocity Scheduling System.  The article also highlights two of Dr. Lisa’s clients, CMI Industry America and Guntert & Zimmerman.  The article, titled “High mix, fast delivery--on time: How high-mix, low-volume fabricators adapt the Theory of Constraints,” was written by Tim Heston.  Tim Heston explores how Dr. Lisa helped both clients utilize the Theory of Constraints to keep the chaos of their manufacturing in check, but allow for dealing with emergencies while increasing productivity. Dr. Lisa remarks on the negatives of focusing on efficiency.   Below is an excerpt:

 TOC goes against traditional manufacturing thinking, in which workers produce more than is needed to reduce the number of setups and maximize the efficiency of all resources. The forecast, after all, says these parts will be needed eventually, so why not produce them now? The problem is, of course, that sales forecasts are notoriously inaccurate, so those parts may never be needed. Also, producing so many unneeded parts floods the floor with work-in-process (WIP), while jobs in queue sit for days or weeks waiting for large batches to work their way through.

 Dr. Lisa offers her expertise throughout the article, which explores five main topics: “The Value of Throughput,” “The Importance of Flow,” “Drum-Buffer-Rope for High Mix,” “Full Kit and Accurate Information” and “Enabling Change.” The full article can be found here: http://www.thefabricator.com/article/forceos/high-mix-fast-delivery--on-time “Dr. Lisa” Lang is one of the foremost Theory of Constraints experts in the world and a sought after manufacturing expert having been named the 2012 Manufacturing Trendsetter in the USA Today for her inexpensive and guaranteed Velocity Scheduling System Coaching Program that has dramatically improved performance of well over 100 highly custom job shops and machine shops.  She has also appeared in CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, Finance.com, About.com, NY Daily News, CNBC, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, and others. She is active in helping reshore manufacturing back to the U.S. and in the NTMA, PMA, and AMT communities having helped member companies to reduce their lead-times and improve due date performance. She worked with Dr. Goldratt who is the father of Theory of Constraints and author of the bestselling book, The Goal.  Dr Lisa is the President of the Science of Business specializing in increasing profits of highly custom manufacturers by applying Theory of Constraints, Lean and Six Sigma to operations with Velocity Scheduling System and to engineering/design with Project Velocity System and to marketing with her Mafia Offer Boot Camp. Learn more about Dr. Lisa and job shop scheduling at https://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/ and check out her 47-minute webinar “How To Get More Jobs Done Faster” at www.velocitySchedulingSystem.com/webinar/. ### Contact: Dr Lisa Lang President, Science of Business Inc DrLisa@ScienceofBusiness.com keywords: Dr Lisa Lang, Dr Lisa, Theory of Constraints, Velocity Scheduling System, high mix low volume, drum buffer rope, job shop scheduling, Goldratt Links: http://prlog.org/11996440 http://bit.ly/WSz4zB http://bit.ly/WSA4Ul

http://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/?p=1492

Job Shop Scheduling Software

 

Job Shop Scheduling Software | Machine Shop Scheduling Software

I'm like you.  I invested in job shop scheduling software (we used to own a job shop).  Spent hours and hours getting it setup up only to spend more time continually updating the schedule.  Why does it seem that the moment I print the schedule it's out of date?  And the software itself doesn't lead to an improvement, a little time savings but no real improvement.

Job Shop Scheduling Software - it's NOT working!

There's no question that there is an almost unlimited number of job shop scheduling problems and challenges.  And the scheduling modules that are available don't seem to fully address these problems. To try and solve these problems and challenges, we tend to add more DETAIL. If what we're doing now is not working, we just need to work harder.  Right? We spend more time updating the schedule.  We add more information.  We update more often.  We invest in software or add a module to our ERP systems that provides a way to collect and analyze the data. But, adding more detail is not the answer. Here's an excerpt from a job shop scheduling software article on thefabricator.com.

Sources concede that job shop scheduling is just too complex for software to do all the work. “There is always going to be a human element to the decision-making effort,” Lechleitner said. “I think any APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling software), at its best, will probably get you about 80 percent there.” Liddell agreed. “The software can do 80 percent of the donkey work, which will let the scheduler do 20 percent of the fine-tuning. We’re not trying to create the perfect schedule. We’ve never seen it work.” “I have not seen any magical formula,” said Richard Henning, president, Henning Industrial Software, Hudson, Ohio. “You need to monitor the skills people have for specific operations, what machines people are assigned to work on. These are all complex relationships. You still need a human being to help you see the big picture.”

And those guys are job shop scheduling software vendors.  But in their defense software just can NOT take into account all the variability that job shops encounter.  And yes I know there are some algorithms you can run (and rerun and rerun) that will balance your capacity.  But again, it's a continual updating of the schedule. It really doesn't matter if you're running finite capacity scheduling, infinite capacity scheduling, foward scheduling, or backward scheduling -- it takes constant managing and updating. I'm not saying that you shouldn't invest in the an ERP package or even a APS package, just realize that if you just do what you're currently doing a little faster, it's likely that your productivity will not increase, your lead-time will not reduce, and your due date performance will not get better.  And isn't that the point?

Job Shop Scheduling Software Solution

Velocity Scheduling System (VSS) is NOT software.  It is a visual, manual scheduling system that will work with your existing ERP or no ERP.  It is designed specifically for high mix low volume custom job shops and machine shops whose constraint can move week to week or even day to day and who suffer from a number of the job shop scheduling problems and challenges. VSS is implemented during a 14 week coaching program.  Each shop is different and the system needs to be customized for your specific shop and challenges -- therefore coaching is extremely important and boxed solutions are not used.  Results are realized typically in week 5 but it depends on how fast your team takes action.  (more details and our guarantee below is a shorter summary) We need a list of your jobs including their due date, internal process time estimates, and outside process times (if any). And don't worry if your estimates are not accurate.   That's to be expected in a custom job shop-- we don't need more detail!  We're using the information to come up with a "priority release order".  So as long as they are relative to each other, the order is close enough. By visually managing the jobs that are currently in process and on your visual scheduling board -  Velocity Board, you eliminate the constant re-scheduling. And the Velocity Board is not like any scheduling board you've ever used.  The details of how it works are proprietary, but you get all the specifics in the 14 week coaching program and more importantly we customize it for YOUR custom, complex shop. A good visual scheduling system will help you to see if you have any issues.  Nothing can hide and nothing can fall through the cracks.  If a problem arises, you see it and can deal with it.  There's no rescheduling to do.  There's no one walking around with a schedule in their back pocket -- it's a visual SYSTEM. Jobs that are not yet in process are on your To Be Released Board in "priority release order" so that you can visually manage your backlog.  One thing we like to view visually on our TBR Board is the status of "full kit" on the jobs waiting for their turn to be released. Another component of Velocity Scheduling System is what we call "Detailed Planning".  But detail in this case is much much less.  This is where we come up with priority release order (this where we interface with your ERP or whatever you use) that we've already discussed and then we look to see if there are any issues with that release order.  For example, if we release in that order might we encounter a constraint?  If we release in that order are we likely to meet our due dates?  We predict when each job will start and when it will be completed. We do NOT try to predict when each job will be on each machine.  That level of detail is very likely to be wrong and cause massive re-scheduling.  A macro view of starting and finishing is much more predictable. The order we implement is shown in the graphic below.  But before we get to that we need to make sure that you shop is a good fit.  So I recommend you watch the scheduling webinar which will provide more detail on Velocity Scheduling System.  At the end of that webinar, I'll explain how we can talk to determine if you shop is a good fit and what results are likely.  And if I don't think it would work in your case or your results would not be big enough -- I'll let you know. THE key measure in Velocity Scheduling System is productivity.  The goal is to get more done with the SAME resources (the definition of productivity).  And, if you ship more without increasing costs -- your lead-times reduce, your due date performance improves, and of course, you increase profits.  All with less chaos and less re-scheduling. Sincerely, "Dr Lisa" Lang P.S.  Check out the solution to job shop scheduling software --> How to Get More Jobs Done Faster Webinar! By Dr Lisa Lang This article is copyrighted by Science of Business, Inc. Visit our Re-post guidelines.

http://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/?p=2450

FREE Special Report for Machine Shop Owners

Click the link below to download the free special report for machine shop and job shop owners titled:  "The 9 Biggest Challenges to Scheduling YOUR Job Shop and Why Most Schedules are Dead on Arrival!" by Dr Lisa Lang.

https://www.VelocitySchedulingSystem.com/ebook/

After you read this free special report, please CLICK on "COMMENTS"above and post your comments. I would love to know if you agree or disagree and your reasons!

http://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/site/?p=296

Machine Shop gets BIG results with the Velocity Scheduling System

By Dr Lisa Lang Tanya DiSalvo, President of Criterion Tool & Die, just sent me this email:

Lisa & Brad- We finished off our fiscal year end 10/31..... could have never turned things around w/out the V V S.!!!!!! We finished the year in the black because 'the board' helped us focus on FINISHING! The last 6 months also saw a serious improvement in on time delivery, and an increase in the volume of orders thru our building. We have accepted a long running project, and feel that the self releasing mechanism of "The Board" has allowed us to tackle this type of work effectively while still serving our job shop type customers. No job gets lost in the shuffle no matter how longs its in the building, and the resources (people) have become utility ball players! I have included a snapshot since May of our numbers. Jumped back into Mafia Offer training.... Got the itch to know more!!! THANK YOU! Tanya DiSalvo Criterion Tool

And here are some of their key meterics: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="441"] The Velocity Scheduling System helps this machine shop get on time![/caption] Criterion has almost doubled the dollars out the door. If you ship twice as much and you don't hire anyone or buy any equipment -- what happens to your profits? Tanya is now working on Criterion's Mafia Offer. Because by implementing the Velocity Scheduling System, they have uncovered capacity. So the next step is to sell that capacity. If you need to get your operations in order, you can sign up here: www.VelocitySchedulingSystem.com.  If registration is closed, you will have the opportunity to get on the waiting list to be notified if there is another session.

http://velocityschedulingsystem.wordpress.com/?p=281

30 Job Shops Improve Scheduling

By Dr Lisa Lang

In 2009 we significantly improved the scheduling and operations of 30 custom job shops and machine shops. These 30 shops improved due date performance (DDP) to at least 97%, reduced lead-time by 50%, all while improving communication and reducing chaos. Isn't it time for YOU to do the same? Here's an email that I was copied on just yesterday. It's from one of my VSS clients to someone he is recommending the course to:

Jose, This is the best system for Manufacturing that I have encountered. This is our next step in the cables shop and covers the entire value stream. It is a web based course that you take 2 hours twice a week for a month and the person walks you through your specific implementation and helps you through the problems. We are currently finishing the training and building the new board. Trust me I have seen and implemented many JIT, Lean Six Sigma systems in the past and this is the best. I have copied Dr. Lisa the creator and facilitator of the program. She is top notch. As well I am attaching one of her free reports on how the system compares with other systems. Sincerely, Luis Fernandez Schlumberger Manufacturing Engineer IPC-Cables

It's amazing what can happen when a team of people participate together and acquire a shared vision.

And did I mention that 3 of the companies participating in group 5 were from multi-BILLION dollar conglomerates?

And 4 of the companies in group 5 were Westinghouse vendors because Westinghouse recommended their vendors sign up?

I just laid out my recommendations, the logic and provided a little motivation.  They did all the work.

The next group is starting soon and you can sign up at www.VelocitySchedulingSystem.com.  The Velocity Scheduling System Coaching Program is based on Goldratt's Theory of Constraints.  So if you ever wanted some guidance putting The Goal (and Drum Buffer Rope) into action, now's the time!

https://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/

http://velocityschedulingsystem.wordpress.com/?p=287

Theory of Constraints Results After 1 Year

By Dr Lisa Lang You may remember these graphs from some reported results (a testimonial) on job shop scheduling below. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="441"] The Velocity Scheduling System helps this machine shop get on time![/caption] Well I just got an update from Tanya. Here it is:

SUBJECT: Our One Year Anniversary “Welp it’s Criterion’s one year anniversary with the VSB (Velocity Scheduling System) and WE STILL love it! A few major projects went thru our building: new product launch in Oct- Dec, another new product launch currently under way, reduction of staff thru attrition and increase in work, and in most cases we came thru with flying colors. Attached is our score card. ”

Accenture just released a report in conjunction with the United Nations Global Compact called “A New Era of Sustainability.” The most significant finding was that 93% of the approximately 1,000 CEOs surveyed from across the globe indicated they believe sustainability is important to their companies’ future success. So if sustainability is important to you, maybe the Velocity Scheduling System Coaching Program is a good fit. The Velocity Scheduling System that Tanya uses is based on the Theory of Constraints Drum Buffer Rope. There are 1000s of success stories dating back to the 80s. Build -- Capitialize -- Sustain. We agree that sustainability is important. The key is how to achieve it. The answer is simple -- the Velocity Scheduling System Coaching Program.

http://velocityschedulingsystem.wordpress.com/?p=443

R&D Tax Credit to Improve Job Shop Scheduling

The Tax Extenders Package signed by President Obama on December 17th, 2010 calls for a two year extension, retroactive to 1/1/10 and through 12/31/11 for the R&D Tax Credit. The definition of Research and Development (R&D) is much broader than people realize.  Activities and costs associated with developing and/or improving a product or process can potentially generate R&D Tax Credits. This means that your tuition for the Velocity Scheduling System Coaching Program may be covered -- check with your accountant. So learn a new way to run and schedule your shop, get on-time, get happy customers, get more customers --- and then get a tax credit!  How cool is that! And even if, for some reason, it doesn't apply to you.  Velocity Scheduing System Coaching Program is so reasonably priced it may not be worth the effort to look for a writeoff or funding. Now, the only other question you may have is --- Yes, but will Velocity Scheduling System work for me?  Will it work in my my shop with our unique situations and challenges? I don't know, because even though over a hundred highly custom job shops have had fantastic success, that doesn't mean you will.  But I'm willing to investigate it with you.  So if you'd like a private strategy session to discuss your company, your unique scheduling challenges and how/if our scheduling solution will work for you, you can sign up here, there's no charge:

https://www.VelocitySchedulingSystem.com/private

You'll need to enter your name and phone number so that we can call you to schedule a time to talk.  I am personally doing these sessions and we will be going deep into YOUR scheduling challenges.  I will hold nothing back and give you my best advice, even if it is that you should NOT sign up for VSS.  Time slots are limited SO SIGN UP NOW! Dr Lisa President, Science of Business

P.S. Sign up for the no charge strategy session here:  www.VelocitySchedulingSystem.com/private  This is your first step to getting on-time in 2011 and then to getting a tax credit!

P.P.S.  And some states have their own R&D Tax Credit too.  I know Ohio has one, so check with your accountant on that too.  But don't spend too much time, VSS typically pays back in a couple weeks.  It's based on the Theory of Constraints Simplified Drum Buffer Rope, and it works FAST!

http://velocityschedulingsystem.wordpress.com/?p=504

Job Shop Scheduling for a Custom Material Handling Equipment Manufacturer

By Dr Lisa Lang Here's yet another Velocity Scheduling System testimonial.  This highly custom job shop makes custom material handling equipment.

"We have reduced the time that it takes for a job to go through the shop.  It helped us get control of the schedule, by reducing the scramble of jobs in the shop.  Now we do them in order and everyone in the company knows when to expect a job to be worked on and ready to ship."  Steve, WI.

If you browse the various VSS testimonials, case studies, and results that custom job shops have reported you'll discover that none of the VSS clients are making widgets. None of these shops are doing high volume work of the same widgets over and over. One thing that VSS clients have in common is that they do NOT produce the same things over and over again.  While some jobs, may on occasion, repeat for some of them (or they may make a few things to stock), others don't do any repeat work at all. Job shop scheduling in a custom manufacturing shop is a challenge, to say the least!  But it is this environment that Velocity Scheduling System was developed for. You'll also notice that in some of the testimonials the specific shop is NOT identified.  Why?  Well, Steve in WI and many others don't want their competitors to know how they've managed to gain a competitive advantage.  How is it that they can get more jobs done faster with the same people and resources?  How is it that they've improved on time delivery?  How are they more cash flush and more profitable? To get the results that Steve got or that any of our clients have gotten, you don't need any job shop scheduling software.  VSS is NOT software.  It is a manual, visual scheduling system.  It will work with any ERP software you may use, no ERP, QuickBooks, Excel or whatever software your using now.

http://www.velocityschedulingsystem.com/?p=1815