How Small Job Shops Can Master On-Time Completion Without an Expensive ERP

On Time Completion OTC / On Time Delivery OTD

Many small manufacturers and job shops struggle to measure On-Time Delivery and On-Time Completion using complex ERP systems. With so many date fields — promised date, planned ship date, actual finish date — tracking true performance often becomes messy and inconsistent.

When your team can’t trust the ERP data, they waste time fixing reports instead of improving production. A simple, paper-based On-Time Completion tracking method can give any small shop real, reliable insights — no pricey software needed.

The 0–4 On-Time Completion Scoring Method

Use this straightforward scoring system each month to track your job completion performance:

0 – Tracking Only: Job closed just for shipping fees or adjustments.
1 – On-Time Completion: Job finished exactly on the customer’s original promised date.
2 – Rescheduled (Approved): Finished after the promised date but with customer approval.
3 – Late, Minor Impact: Late, causing only minor customer inconvenience.
4 – Late, Major Impact: Late, with serious customer impact like downtime or lost revenue.

Your goal is simple: keep 100% of jobs at 1 or 2, with a healthy target of 98% or better.

Why ERP On-Time Delivery Reports Often Fail

ERPs can generate On-Time Delivery reports, but they depend on perfect data entry and strict discipline. Multiple teams may update different date fields, manual overrides creep in, and custom statuses add confusion.

In the end, a fancy report is only as accurate as the dates you trust. A monthly On-Time Completion score, pulled straight from invoices or job travelers, cuts through the noise. It works whether you run a fully digital job shop system or just a simple spreadsheet.

Why “Completion” Beats “Delivery” for Small Shops

Many shops call this metric On-Time Delivery, but if the customer picks up the job or a shipping partner causes unexpected delays, you lose control of that final handoff.

Focusing on On-Time Completion puts the responsibility where it belongs: did you finish the job on time and make it available for pickup or shipment? This is what your customer really cares about — when they can have the part or product in hand.

Big Benefits for Small Job Shops

No ERP required: a simple spreadsheet works.
Faster feedback: monthly scoring shows trends without waiting for IT.
Better job shop scheduling: pinpoints process weaknesses and delays.
Team accountability: keeps everyone focused on promises, not excuses.

How to Start Tracking On-Time Completion

Pick a consistent day every month to run your check.
Print your invoices, job travelers, or a job list from your basic system.
Score each job from 0 to 4.
Track the percentage that score a 1 or 2 to watch trends over time.

A Simple Metric That Drives Real Results

Small job shops don’t need complex ERP systems to keep On-Time Completion under control. This simple 0–4 scoring method shows exactly how reliably you deliver what you promise. It builds trust with customers, reveals process problems early, and drives continuous improvement where it counts.