After fifteen years in the production scheduling trenches, we kept encountering the same frustrating reality: extensive academic research on one side, struggling SMB manufacturers on the other, and almost nothing connecting the two worlds.
The academic literature offers thousands of papers on job shop scheduling, theory of constraints, and various both heuristic and optimization algorithms. But try finding practical, hands-on guidance for a 100-person precision manufacturer who needs to move beyond their whiteboard next month, not next decade. That literature barely exists.
We sold our software company, NETRONIC Software, after successfully building and integrating production scheduling solutions for hundreds of SMB manufacturers. Now, we are somewhat in-between our past duties and “the next Karlowitsch thing”.
During this transitional period, we simply have the time and freedom to give back to the community—to distill fifteen years of real-world experience into the resource we wished had existed when we started this journey.
Production scheduling is the operational heartbeat of manufacturing, yet it’s the most underserved topic both in business literature and operational practice. Most manufacturing books focus on lean principles, quality management, or strategic operations—all critical aspects—but none address the daily reality of deciding what to produce when resources are finite.
The few scheduling resources that do exist are either academic (mathematically elegant but practically pretty useless) or enterprise-focused (assuming unlimited budgets and dedicated teams). Meanwhile, SMB manufacturers—the backbone of industrial economies—are left to figure it out on their own.
Through NETRONIC Software, we repeatedly witnessed the same scenario: successful manufacturers hitting growth walls not because of market demand or technical capability, but because their informal coordination methods couldn’t scale. Companies with excellent products, loyal customers, and skilled workers are suddenly struggling with significant profit issues due to unsolved challenges with delivery promises, cost control, and operational visibility.
We are convinced that SMB manufacturers deserve better than trial-and-error approaches to production scheduling. These companies create real value, employ real people, and serve real customers. They deserve practical guidance based on real-world experience, not theoretical models that look good on whiteboards but fail on shop floors.
These businesses don’t need theoretical optimization. They need practical systems that work with real people, real constraints, and real customers who expect their orders delivered on time.
We’ve seen too many capable manufacturers struggle not because they lack skill or commitment, but because they lack systematic approaches to production scheduling that actually work in their environments. This book exists to change that reality, one manufacturer at a time.
Because every manufacturer deserves to move beyond the whiteboard—literally and figuratively.
Our decision to give the book a Business Central flavor stems from both professional experience and community values. Through our scheduling product specifically made for “BC” called Visual Advanced Production Scheduler (VAPS), we’ve worked extensively within the Business Central ecosystem. Plus: Martin hosts the Business Central Manufacturing Show podcast while authoring the annual State of Business Central and Manufacturing Report.
But beyond our professional involvement, the Business Central community embodies a principle we deeply respect: “sharing is caring”. This community consistently prioritizes practical solutions over theoretical perfection, collaborative problem-solving over competitive secrecy, and real-world results over marketing hype.
Business Central represents the sweet spot for SMB manufacturers—sophisticated enough to handle complex manufacturing scenarios, accessible enough for mid-market budgets, and flexible enough to grow with changing business needs. Most importantly, it’s the ERP system many of our target readers are already using or considering, making the book’s lessons immediately applicable.
“The Goal” changed our thinking as students and became required reading for every NETRONIC Software employee. Goldratt proved that complex manufacturing concepts become not just understandable but memorable when wrapped in human stories.
Traditional business books expect readers to translate abstract principles into their specific situations. Business novels do the opposite—they show principles in action, revealing how real people navigate real challenges in recognizable environments. Readers don’t just learn concepts; they experience the decision-making process, the interpersonal dynamics, and the gradual realization that successful solutions require both technical competence and human wisdom.
For our target audience—time-pressed business owners and hands-on consultants—storytelling cuts through the noise. Sarah Martinez’s scheduling crisis feels familiar because every manufacturing professional has lived some version of it. Otto Müller’s practical wisdom resonates because every shop floor has an Otto. Emma Weber’s financial pressure hits home because every SMB owner has felt that weight.
Stories stick. Principles fade. We chose the format that would create lasting impact.
This decision reflects our commitment to thought leadership and pure knowledge sharing rather than commercial gain. We’re not selling software anymore, so we have no ulterior commercial motive. We simply want to raise the bar for production scheduling understanding in the SMB manufacturing community.
Our target readers—Business Central manufacturing consultants and SMB manufacturing owners—often don’t have time for traditional business literature. They’re too busy solving immediate problems to read theoretical frameworks. By removing the purchase barrier and delivering practical insights through engaging storytelling, we hope to reach professionals who might never pick up a conventional scheduling textbook.
The Business Central community’s “sharing is caring” ethos inspired this approach. We’ve benefited enormously from the generous knowledge sharing of others in this ecosystem.
This book is our way of contributing back to a community that has given us so much.
