1. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising: accessing a part-process matrix containing data associated with a plurality of parts and a plurality of machines of a mixed-model manufacturing system; converting the data from a non-binary to a binary representation; sorting the data according to at least one characteristic associated with the plurality of machines; sorting the data according to at least one characteristic associated with the plurality of parts; converting the sorted data back to the non-binary representation; and generating a modified part-process matrix containing the sorted data associated with the plurality of parts and the plurality of machines of the mixed-model manufacturing system.