Scheduling

The purpose of scheduling is to minimize production time and costs.

Learning Objective

Explain the benefits of using modern scheduling tools

Key Points

Production scheduling aims to maximize the efficiency of operations and reduce costs.
Benefits of production scheduling include process change-over reduction; inventory reduction; leveling; reduced scheduling effort; increased production efficiency; labor load leveling; accurate delivery date quotes; and real time information.
Minute-by-minute production scheduling for each manufacturing facility in the supply chain occurs at the operational level of supply chain activities.
Benefits of production scheduling include process change-over reduction, inventory reduction, leveling, reduced scheduling effort, increased production efficiency, labor load leveling, accurate delivery date quotes and real time information.
Production scheduling for each manufacturing facility in the supply chain (minute by minute) takes place at the operational level of supply chain activities.

Terms

Backward scheduling
Backward scheduling is planning the tasks from the due date or required-by date to determine the start date and/or any changes in capacity required.
Forward scheduling
Forward scheduling is planning the tasks from the date resources become available to determine the shipping date or the due date.
maturity date
the time of the final payment of a loan or other financial instrument, at which point the principal (and all remaining interest) is due to be paid

Example

In order to reduce costs, an airline may want to minimize the number of airport gates required for its aircraft. Scheduling software allows planners to determine how this might be done, enabling them to analyze time tables, aircraft usage, or the flow of passengers.

Full Text

Scheduling is an important tool in the manufacturing and engineering industries, where it can significantly impact the productivity of a particular process. In manufacturing, the purpose of scheduling is to minimize production time and cost by telling a production facility when to make a product and with which staff and equipment.

Production scheduling aims to maximize the efficiency of an operation and reduce its costs . Modern scheduling tools greatly outperform older, manual scheduling methods. Today's tools provide the production scheduler with powerful graphical interfaces, which can be used to visually optimize real time work loads in various stages of production. Further, pattern recognition software reveals scheduling opportunities that might not be apparent without this view into the data.

Scheduling Visualization

This Gantt chart aids in scheduling by visualizing and relating phases of production.

For example, in order to reduce costs, an airline may want to minimize the number of airport gates required for its aircraft. Scheduling software allows planners to see how this might be done, enabling them to analyze time tables, aircraft usage, or the flow of passengers.

Companies use backward and forward scheduling to allocate plant and machinery resources, determine human resources and production processes, and purchase materials. Forward scheduling involves planning tasks from the date that resources become available in order to determine the shipping date or the due date. Backward scheduling involves planning tasks from the due date or required-by date in order to determine the start date and/or necessary changes in capacity.

Production scheduling has a number of benefits:

Process change-over reduction
Inventory reduction and leveling
Reduced scheduling effort
Increased production efficiency
Labor load leveling
Accurate delivery date quotes
Real time information

Finally, minute-by-minute production scheduling occurs for each manufacturing facility in the supply chain at the operational level of supply chain activities.

[ edit ]

Prev Concept

Inventory Management

Routing

Next Concept