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Production Schedule Intelligence Guide

Production Schedule Intelligence is one of MachineMetrics' four core MES capabilities, providing real-time visibility into your production schedule and enabling dynamic adjustments directly from the shop floor.

Note: Production Schedule Intelligence is included in the MES package and is not part of the standard machine monitoring license.

Overview​

Production Schedule Intelligence bridges the gap between your ERP system and shop floor execution by:

  • Pulling the plan from ERP — Jobs, standards, expected start times, quantities, and due dates
  • Visualizing the schedule — Gantt-style view showing all jobs across every machine
  • Calculating estimated completion — Real-time ETC based on actual cycle times, not just standards
  • Highlighting risks — Visual indicators for jobs that are late or expected to be late
  • Enabling adjustments — Drag-and-drop interface for rescheduling and reassigning jobs
  • Communicating changes — Updates flow directly to operator tablets

Accessing Production Schedule Intelligence​

  1. From the main menu, click Production
  2. Select Schedule

You'll see a Gantt-style view with:

  • Machines listed vertically (left side)
  • Timeline horizontally (showing scheduled jobs)
  • Unassigned jobs (jobs not yet assigned to a machine)

Understanding the Schedule View​

Job Cards​

Each job on the schedule displays:

ElementDescription
Job/Work Order NumberThe identifier from your ERP system
Operation NumberWhich operation in the routing (e.g., Op 10, Op 20, Op 30)
Part NumberThe part being produced
QuantityNumber of pieces to produce
Estimated Time to Complete (ETC)Calculated completion time based on actual performance
Required DateWhen the job is due

Color Coding​

Jobs are color-coded to indicate their status:

ColorMeaning
GreenOn track — job will complete before the required date
OrangeAt risk — job is expected to be late based on current performance
RedLate — job has already missed its required date
GrayNot ready — previous operations haven't completed yet

Operation Readiness​

Production Schedule Intelligence tracks multi-operation jobs:

  • Ready jobs — All prior operations are complete; the job can be started
  • Not ready jobs — Previous operations (e.g., Op 10, Op 20) are still in progress
  • Example: If viewing Op 30, but Op 20 hasn't finished, the job shows as "not ready to be started"

Estimated Time to Complete (ETC) Calculation​

The ETC is a dynamic calculation that provides an accurate prediction of when a job will finish. Unlike simple standard-based calculations, MachineMetrics factors in:

Data Sources​

  1. Actual Cycle Times

    • Uses real performance data from completed parts
    • Accounts for machine-specific variations
    • More accurate than ERP standards alone

  2. Remaining Quantity

    • How many parts are left to produce
    • Updates as parts are completed

  3. Schedule Assumptions

    • Expected running shifts
    • Planned breaks and downtime windows
    • Machine availability

  4. Current Performance

    • If a machine is running slower than expected, ETC adjusts
    • If running faster, completion time moves earlier

ETC Updates​

The estimated time to complete recalculates:

  • When parts are completed
  • When jobs are moved or reassigned
  • When shift schedules change
  • Continuously based on real-time machine data

Making Schedule Adjustments​

Production Schedule Intelligence replaces manual tools like spreadsheets and whiteboards with a digital drag-and-drop interface.

Assigning Unscheduled Jobs​

Jobs that haven't been assigned to a machine appear in the Unassigned Jobs area:

  1. Locate the job in the unassigned section
  2. Drag the job card
  3. Drop it onto the desired machine's timeline
  4. The job will be added to the end of that machine's queue
  5. Click Save Changes to confirm

Rescheduling Jobs​

To move a job to a different position or machine:

  1. Drag the job card from its current position
  2. Drop it:
    • On a different machine to reassign
    • At a different position in the queue to reorder
  3. The ETC for affected jobs will recalculate automatically
  4. Click Save Changes to confirm

Load Balancing Example​

Scenario: A job on Machine A is showing as late (red), but Machine B has availability.

  1. Identify the at-risk job on Machine A
  2. Check if Machine B is capable of running this job
  3. Drag the job from Machine A to Machine B
  4. Watch the ETC update — if the job now shows green, the move solved the problem
  5. Save changes

Communicating Changes to Operators​

When you save schedule changes:

  • Updates are sent to operator tablets automatically
  • Operators see the new job sequence when starting their next job
  • No manual communication or paper updates required

Best Practices​

Daily Schedule Management​

  1. Start of shift review

    • Open Production Schedule Intelligence
    • Review any jobs showing orange or red
    • Identify bottlenecks and make adjustments

  2. Throughout the day

    • Monitor ETC updates as jobs progress
    • Reassign jobs if machines fall behind
    • Use drag-and-drop to respond to machine breakdowns

  3. End of shift

    • Verify upcoming jobs are in the correct order
    • Ensure operators know their priorities for the next shift

Responding to Late Jobs​

SituationAction
Job turning orangeCheck if another machine has capacity; consider reassigning
Job turning redEscalate to supervisor; evaluate overtime or expediting options
Machine breakdownDrag affected jobs to alternative machines
Rush order arrivesInsert job and adjust surrounding schedule

Maximizing Accuracy​

For the best ETC predictions:

  • Keep ERP data current — Job standards should be reasonably accurate
  • Run scheduled shifts — MachineMetrics accounts for planned operating hours
  • Use automatic production matching — Ensures actual cycle times are captured
  • Review standards periodically — Update ERP if actual times differ significantly

Integration with Other Features​

Operator Dashboard​

  • Operators see their job queue on the tablet
  • Next job is highlighted based on schedule
  • Changes made in Production Schedule Intelligence appear immediately

Production Analytics​

  • Compare actual vs. scheduled performance
  • Identify patterns in schedule deviations
  • Use data to improve future scheduling

Max AI​

  • Ask Max AI questions about schedule status:
    • "Which jobs are at risk of being late?"
    • "What machines have capacity this week?"
    • "How is our on-time delivery trending?"

ERP Sync​

  • Schedule pulls from ERP automatically
  • Changes can be synced back to ERP (if configured)
  • Keeps planning and execution aligned

Troubleshooting​

Jobs Not Appearing​

IssueSolution
Job missing from scheduleVerify ERP integration is active and job is dispatched
Job shows on wrong machineCheck machine mapping in ERP Data Studio
New jobs not syncingCheck ERP connector status in Integrations

ETC Seems Incorrect​

IssueSolution
ETC too optimisticCheck if actual cycle times are being captured; verify machine is mapped
ETC too pessimisticReview shift schedule settings; ensure breaks are configured correctly
ETC not updatingVerify machine is connected and sending data

Drag-and-Drop Not Working​

IssueSolution
Can't move jobEnsure you have the required permissions
Changes not savingCheck for unsaved changes; click Save Changes
Job snaps backMay be a dependency issue; check operation sequence

Frequently Asked Questions​

Q: Can operators make schedule changes?

A: This depends on your permission settings. Typically, supervisors and planners have edit access, while operators have view-only access. Contact your administrator to adjust permissions.

Q: How often does the schedule sync with ERP?

A: Sync frequency is configurable. Most customers sync every 5-15 minutes. Real-time sync is also available for supported ERP systems.

Q: What happens if I make a change but don't save?

A: Unsaved changes are not communicated to operators. Always click Save Changes to confirm your adjustments.

Q: Can I undo a schedule change?

A: There's no automatic undo. If you need to revert, manually drag jobs back to their original positions before saving.

Q: Does this replace my ERP scheduling module?

A: Production Schedule Intelligence complements your ERP by providing real-time visibility and shop floor adjustments. The initial schedule still comes from your ERP.