A computer readable medium has computer executable instructions for performing a method that includes accessing a part-process matrix containing data associated with a plurality of parts and a plurality of machines of a mixed-model manufacturing system. The method may convert the data from a non-binary to a binary representation and sort the data according to at least one characteristic associated with the plurality of machines. The method also sorts the data according to at least one characteristic associated with the plurality of parts and converts the sorted data back to the non-binary representation. A modified part-process matrix can be generated containing the sorted data associated with the plurality of parts and the plurality of machines of the mixed-model manufacturing system.