The paper describes the principles of load-oriented manufacturing control as a new solution for job shops and its successful implementation in a plastic leaves factory. The idea of load-oriented manufacturing control is to limit and balance work-in-process inventory on a level as low as possible in order to accomplish a high workcentre utilization as well as a rapid and in-time flow of orders. As the new system keeps actual lead times on a planned level in a self-regulating way it allows reliable due date scheduling. Furthermore, it points out the bottlenecks and performs applicable mid- and short-term capacity planning.