Faster production
There are two ways to build faster. The first is to build Robotic Factories, Morale Stations, and Robotic Workers. This way, more people will want to work. The other way is to speed up game time. Sometimes your selected governor (hero on the planet) may help to boost production and morale.
Level skipping
On the first level of the third episode (Counterstrike), instead of building and deploying a Military Base (as briefing suggests), build up a full fleet and attack the Kariak planet (Khiirzask Prime). As you got near, the objectives will change into conquering the planet. Doing so will skip the next level (Taking Khiirzask). The same trick of skipping works with the first level of the fifth episode(Darzok intrigue): by helping the Kariak Government in defeating Mohr'Thep will skip the next level (Rebirth of the Kariak Empire). Both of them makes sense, because the skipped levels are consisting of doing the same.
Selecting Production when in battle
If you are being attacked at your planet and the game is going slowly, pause game play. Select what you want to buy and resume the game.
Faster production...