A closed-loop system can maintain a pre-set cut length of a material as the material is cut and placed on a web. The system has the ability to measure the actual cut length, compare the average actual cut length to a target cut length, and to adjust web tension or feed roll speed to achieve the target cut length. Actual cut length variation is thereby reduced. Furthermore, short term cut length variation is further reduced by minimizing the tension of the web just prior to the material being cut.