Scheduling
Scheduling in PP determines the start and finish dates/times of production operations and orders, using routing times and work-center data, so production is planned in time and dependencies are respected.
Scheduling turns "make 100 units" into "start operation 10 at this time on this work center, finish by this date", enabling shop-floor execution and coordination with material availability and capacity.
- Scheduling calculates when each operation and the overall order should start and finish, based on the routing (operation times)…
- Forward vs backward scheduling.
- Lead-time scheduling using routing times.
- Watch out: Inaccurate times/work-center data, unrealistic dates.
What scheduling does
Scheduling calculates when each operation and the overall order should start and finish, based on the routing (operation times), work-center data, and the required date. It can schedule forwards (from a start date), backwards (from a due date), or use other strategies, producing a time-phased plan for production.
Key concepts
- Forward vs backward scheduling.
- Lead-time scheduling using routing times.
- Reduction strategies to meet dates.
- Basic vs detailed scheduling.
Why it matters
Scheduling turns "make 100 units" into "start operation 10 at this time on this work center, finish by this date", enabling shop-floor execution and coordination with material availability and capacity. Accurate routing times and work-center data are prerequisites; without them, schedules are unrealistic and dates are missed.
Common pitfalls
- Inaccurate times/work-center data, unrealistic dates.
- Wrong scheduling direction for the scenario.
- Ignoring capacity, schedules that cannot be met.