Ensure all your operations run efficiently and production lines keep moving, all from one place, accessible via the cloud, with Sutton.
See the progress and reprioritize manufacturing orders at a glance, with clear timelines for every production run.
Sutton helps ensure manufacturing goes according to plan by identifying gaps in demand and supply to avoid production stoppages.
Here's how it works:
Every operator knows exactly what tools and equipment they need to use and what’s available, eliminating downtime on the shop floor.
Sutton lets you assign jobs directly to your team's smart devices, so they can get to work and you can better manage capacity.
Here's how it works:
Without materials available, you have no production. Sutton provides real-time updates on inventory levels and movements.
Every time a manufacturing order is created, materials are automatically committed to production.
Here's how it works:
Find out the exact status of every job without having to go down to the shop floor to manually chase down updates.
Track planned versus actual output as it happens, so waste and inefficiency get caught and dealt with before they eat into profit.
Here's how it works:
Whether you’re following an MTO, MTS, or ATO workflow, Sutton helps you meet demand without stocking excess inventory.
Know exactly where every item is and whether it’s enough to fulfill orders, with stock levels that update in real time.
Here's how it works:
No matter how you build, Sutton adapts to your process instead of forcing you to work around it. Switch or mix production styles without switching systems, so operational changes don't slow you down. Here's how it works:
Sutton gives you more control over your shop floor by breaking down every step, so nothing gets skipped or done out of sequence.
Operators know exactly what's next and the status of the job ahead of them, reducing confusion and idle time on the floor.
Here's how it works:
Give each team member exactly what they need to do their job, nothing more, without exposing them to sensitive data.
Keep costs, margins, and admin settings protected while shop floor staff get full access to the tools they actually use.
Here's how it works:
Bring every sales channel and accounting tool together in one system with seamless syncing and flexible API access.
Keep your inventory, production, and finances working together with production planning and scheduling software built for manufacturers, so everything in your business stays up to date.
100+ manufacturers and distributors have replaced spreadsheets and legacy ERPs with Sutton.
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“I don't wanna use the word magical, but you can just communicate like you're communicating with a person.”
Andrew Pedersen
“If I can capture two seconds across 19 machines across a 24-hour span, I'll save the customer thousands of dollars.”
Chris Johnson
“The impact Sutton has had has been enormous, saving a lot of time, capturing a lot of data, streamlining a lot of processes, with a system that everyone loves to use.”
Tanner Thomas
“Sutton has given us the insight into current and upcoming stock on our ingredients and raw materials needed for production. This allows us to procure more before we stock out and to be confident that we have enough to finish any upcoming production run.”
Adam Davis
"Sutton is the most adaptable, user-friendly software we have ever used."
Joe Watkins
Your most frequently asked questions, all in one place. If you don’t see what you need, reach out to us.
The best production scheduling software helps manufacturers plan, organize, and track every job in real time.
It makes sure people, machines, and materials are used efficiently while keeping work on schedule. Modern production planning and scheduling software does much more than just build a calendar. It connects data from across the business to keep production running smoothly.
The most capable production management software will be able to help manufacturers turn forecasts into simple, connected production plans.
It brings together material planning, scheduling, and labor management in one place so you can stay organized and keep production on track. Here are some of the main features to look for:
MRP stands for Material Requirements Planning.
An MRP looks at what you plan to make and figures out the parts you need to make it. It checks your bills of materials, your stock on hand, and any open purchase orders. Then it tells you what to buy, how many to buy, and when to buy it so the parts arrive on time. The goal is simple: do not run out of materials, and do not pile up too much extra.
For example, if the plan says you will build 100 bikes next week, MRP will count how many frames, wheels, chains, and bolts you have, subtract what is missing, and suggest purchase orders with the right due dates.
Production scheduling handles the work on the shop floor.
It takes the orders and the materials that MRP plans and then decides the exact order of tasks. It answers which machine runs first, which team runs it, how long each step should take, and when each job starts and finishes. It also respects real limits like machine capacity, changeover time, and worker availability. Using the bike example, scheduling chooses which press forms the frames at 8 a.m., which line does painting at 11 a.m., and when final assembly should start so shipping can happen on time.
Here’s how Sutton does both MRP and production scheduling in one connected manufacturing scheduling platform.
Sutton brings material planning and production scheduling together so everything runs in sync. It starts by turning your production plan into clear material requirements, checking each BOM, open PO, and inventory level. From there, Sutton automatically generates purchase and manufacturing orders, making sure you always have the right materials at the right time without overstocking.
Once materials are in place, Sutton schedules every job down to the machine, tool, and operator. You can see all work orders in a live Gantt timeline that updates as progress is logged on the floor. If a part is delayed, Sutton adjusts the plan, updates purchase needs, and reschedules work to keep things moving. When a machine goes down, it automatically reorders the queue or reassigns the job to available equipment.
Because Sutton connects MRP and scheduling in real time, every decision reflects what’s actually happening on your shop floor. Materials, machines, and people stay aligned, so production runs smoothly from planning to completion.
With Sutton, you get total visibility across purchasing, inventory, and manufacturing. You can plan smarter, restock only what’s needed, and start every job on time. Instead of juggling multiple systems or spreadsheets, Sutton keeps everything, from material planning to job execution, in one simple, live view.
Production planning and production scheduling sound similar, but they do different jobs in a factory.
Planning is the big picture. It looks months or weeks ahead and decides what to make, how much to make, and where it should be made. Planning considers demand, capacity, resources, machines, and materials. The goal is to balance supply and demand, set targets, and make sure the production line will have what it needs when the time comes.
Scheduling works closer to today. It turns the plan into a detailed timeline for the next hours, days, or a week. It answers who will do the work, which machine will run, and the exact start and finish times for each step. It also watches the floor in real time and reacts when things change, like a late delivery, a sick worker, or a machine breakdown. The goal is to keep work moving, avoid bottlenecks, and ship on time.
Let’s use an example of making ice cream (since everyone loves ice cream). The plan says we will make 10,000 cups of vanilla ice cream this week. It checks that we have enough milk, sugar, cups, people, and freezer space. Scheduling decides when to mix each batch today, which freezer gets used at 9 a.m., who runs the filler at noon, and when packaging starts so the last boxes are ready before pickup.
Both pieces must work together. Strong planning gives clear goals and makes sure resources are ready. Strong scheduling uses those goals to build a smooth daily plan and to fix problems fast. If planning is weak, the schedule will always chase missing parts or time. If scheduling is weak, even a good plan will slip. The best factories do both well so every day fits the bigger plan. That way, customers get what they ordered, costs stay under control, and teams work with less stress.
