Schedule compliance is one of the main logistic objectives of production systems. In order to achieve high schedule compliance, different control variables of a job shop production system can be adopted. This paper focuses on the relationship between such control variables in make-to-order processes. It provides a quantitative model to describe the effect of safety time as well as the impact of lateness distribution of the production system on schedule compliance, stock level of finished goods and delivery time. Furthermore, the applicability of this model is demonstrated by describing the results of an industry project. In this project, the model was applied to design the supply chain of a metal manufacturer to increase the capability to produce on time.