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Pipe extrusion scheduling

Constraint-aware production scheduling for pipe extrusion

Turn HDPE and PVC pipe orders into a line-feasible schedule that accounts for diameter, SDR, resin, pounds per hour, die changes, and delivery dates.

30 days free · No credit card required · No automatic charge

Who this is for

Built for the people accountable for the next run

Production managers balancing pressure pipe, conduit, and specialty runs across a mixed line fleet.

Schedulers replacing a workbook or whiteboard that only one person fully understands.

Plant managers and owners who need a reliable view of delivery risk without launching an ERP project.

Real scheduling constraints

Open hours are not the same as usable capacity

01

Diameter and SDR capability

A 2-inch conduit order and an 18-inch SDR 11 pressure-pipe order cannot be treated as interchangeable hours. Match each SKU to lines with the right extruder, downstream sizing, cooling, haul-off, and cut or coil capability.

02

Resin and color sequence

Sequence HDPE grades, PVC compounds, color, and regrind rules deliberately. A line that is technically capable may still be a poor next choice when purge time, contamination risk, or material availability is considered.

03

Variable pounds per hour

Store realistic throughput by line and product instead of one plant-wide rate. Output changes with diameter, wall section, formulation, cooling limits, and quality requirements.

04

Die, tooling, and downstream changes

Reserve the setup window for die and pin changes, calibration or sizing changes, printer setup, and downstream adjustments before promising the next run.

Order-to-schedule example

From demand to a traceable production run

  1. 1 · Capture the order

    Order: 120,000 ft of 6-inch HDPE SDR 11 pressure pipe, natural PE4710, due Friday. The item master carries weight per foot so footage can be planned against a pounds/hour line rate.

  2. 2 · Build the plan

    RunMark filters to the lines approved for 6-inch SDR 11, applies the selected line’s throughput, places the die/tooling change ahead of the run, and shows the calculated start and finish against the due date.

  3. 3 · Release and label

    The floor receives one production record with line, timing, quantity, and run identity. Unit or bundle labels are generated from that same record so schedule and traceability data are not retyped.

One connected workflow

The production facts stay attached to the run

Line capability

Define which pipe SKUs, diameter ranges, materials, and product families each line can run.

Throughput

Use line- and SKU-specific output rates in pounds/hour or a consistently converted production quantity.

Changeovers

Place setup time between incompatible resin, color, SDR, diameter, die, and downstream configurations.

Due dates

See whether calculated run timing supports the customer promise before the order reaches the floor.

Traceability

Generate labels carrying product, line, run, production date, order reference, and unit sequence from the scheduled run.

Spreadsheet scheduling compared

Replace fragile cells with shared production context

Spreadsheet workflowRunMark workflow
Line eligibility lives in notes, color coding, or the scheduler’s memory.Line/SKU capability is explicit and reusable.
Run duration is manually recalculated when footage, weight, or rate changes.Timing follows the selected line’s configured throughput.
Labels are recreated in another template after scheduling.Labels start from the same persisted production run.
Rush orders overwrite cells and hide the reason for a delivery move.The live schedule keeps order, line, timing, and status together.

Relevant RunMark capabilities

Enough structure for the floor, without ERP overhead

  • Excel order import
  • Line-to-SKU capability rules
  • Line-specific production rates
  • Visual production schedule
  • Order and run status
  • PDF traceability labels
  • Team workspace

Start with one real week of production

Start with the pipe products, lines, and active orders you already maintain. RunMark is a focused scheduling and traceability workspace—not an ERP implementation—and the trial does not require a credit card.

Frequently asked questions

Practical questions from extrusion teams

Can RunMark schedule both HDPE and PVC pipe?

Yes. Configure products, materials, eligible lines, and production rates separately so HDPE and PVC work follows the constraints you define.

Can I plan in footage when my line rate is pounds per hour?

Keep a consistent production quantity for scheduling and use the product’s weight-per-foot relationship when converting. The public capacity calculator also requires demand and throughput to use the same selected unit.

Does RunMark optimize die-change sequencing automatically?

RunMark records capabilities, rates, and schedule timing. Teams can use those facts to place compatible runs together; it does not claim a fully autonomous changeover optimizer.

What can appear on a pipe traceability label?

Available label fields include product, production date, line, run number, unit number, order reference, part number, and company identity.

Do we need to replace our accounting or ERP system?

No. RunMark is designed as a focused production scheduling and traceability layer and can start from direct entry or Excel order imports.

How long is the free trial?

The trial provides 30 days of access with no credit card and no automatic charge.