Scheduling

Production scheduling is the management and allocation of resources, events and

processes to create goods and services. A business adjusts its production schedule based
on the availability of resources, client orders and efficiencies. The goal of production
scheduling is to balance client needs with available resources while operating in the most
cost-efficient manner.

Effective scheduling can yield
Cost savings
Increases in productivity

The main activities involved in scheduling are :-

1. Allocating orders, equipment, and personnel
2. Determining the sequence of order performance
3. Initiating performance of the scheduled work
4. Shop-floor control

Typically production can be divided into two systems :-
a) High-Volume Systems also called a flow system with Standardized equipment
and activities.The scheduling for this system is called as Flow-shop scheduling ie
: Scheduling for high-volume flow system

High-Volume Success Factors
a) Process and product design
b) Preventive maintenance
c) Rapid repair when breakdown occurs
d) Optimal product mixes
e) Minimization of quality problems
f) Reliability and timing of supplies

b) Scheduling Low-Volume Systems
The two important concepts are :-
a) Loading - assignment of jobs to process centers
b) Sequencing - determining the order in which jobs will be processed

The scheduling for this system is called as Job-shop scheduling with many
variations in requirements.

Workstation: An area where one person works, usually with special equipment, on a
specialized job.

Scheduling Difficulties
The difficulties faced in scheduling are the following :-
a) Variability in
b) Setup times
c) Processing times
d) Interruptions
e) Changes in the set of jobs
f) No method for identifying optimal schedule
g) Scheduling is not an exact science
h) Ongoing task for a manager

Minimizing Scheduling Difficulties
a) Set realistic due dates
b) Focus on bottleneck operations
c) Consider lot splitting of large jobs

Scheduling in Service Operations
Appointment systems
Controls customer arrivals for service eg appointment with Doctor.
Reservation systems
Estimates demand for service .
Scheduling the workforce
Manages capacity for service
Scheduling multiple resources
Coordinates use of more than one resource

Cyclical Scheduling
1. Hospitals, police/fire departments, restaurants, supermarkets
2. Rotating schedules
Set a scheduling horizon
Identify the work pattern
Develop a basic employee schedule
Assign employees to the schedule

Service Operation Problems
Cannot store or inventory services
Customer service requests are random
Scheduling service involves
Customers
Workforce
Equipment