Glossary · Manufacturing systems
Production scheduling
Also known as: Detailed scheduling, Finite capacity scheduling
German: Produktionsfeinplanung
In manufacturing, production scheduling is the short-term assignment and sequencing of work orders to specific machines, lines and times, taking into account capacity, setup times, material and due dates.
- Manufacturing systems
In one sentence
Production scheduling sequences work orders on specific machines and times, considering capacity, setups, material and due dates.
Example
The scheduler sequences light to dark colors on the injection molding machine to minimize cleaning time between orders.
How it applies
- Process: Detailed scheduling is a level 3 activity in IEC 62264 and is often done in the MES or an advanced planning and scheduling tool. It respects finite capacity, sequence-dependent setups and material availability.
- Operation: Schedules change with machine breakdowns, rush orders and material delays. Rescheduling must be fast and transparent for shop-floor staff.
- Optimization: Schedulers use rules, heuristics or mathematical optimization; AI-based methods are increasingly offered. Whatever the method, planners need to understand and override its decisions.
- Documentation: Document scheduling rules and constraints (for example allowed sequences for allergen or color changes), because they often encode quality and safety requirements.
Production scheduling vs. dispatching
Scheduling creates the plan for the coming hours or days. Dispatching releases individual orders to resources according to that plan and the current situation.