Getting work through.
WHAT DETERMINES THROUGHPUT
Machine availability Bench and assembly space Finishing and curing time Staff Material availability
WHY CURING TIME DOMINATES
It occupies space and cannot be accelerated.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
How many pieces can be in finishing at once.
WHAT TO PLAN
Work so that finishing is not the constraint.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Realistic lead times from actual experience.
WHY REALISTIC
Furniture is ordered for dates, and late delivery is a serious failure.
WHAT TO QUOTE
A date you can meet with margin.
WHAT TO TRACK PER ORDER
Stage reached What it is waiting for Promised date
WHY BY STAGE
It shows what is at risk before it is late.
WHAT TO SEQUENCE
Machining for several jobs together, where setups are shared.
WHY
Setup time is substantial and repeated setups waste capacity.
WHAT TO BALANCE
Batching against orders waiting.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT MATERIAL
That it is ordered early enough.
WHY
Timber and specific hardware have lead times, and they stop work.
WHAT TO PLAN FOR
Seasonal peaks: festive periods, school openings, moving seasons.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
A cut-off for orders to be completed by a given date.
WHAT TO DO WHEN AN ORDER WILL BE LATE
Tell the customer immediately.
WHAT TO MEASURE
Lead time actually achieved Orders late, by cause
