In previous posts, I’ve written about how rescheduling—rather than creating the original schedule–is the main job of any operations manager. How many times has a set schedule played out exactly as planned? It’s probably the rare occasion. This need is … Continued
Using a good scheduling app can surely save you enough money for a trip to Hawaii, but that’s not what I’m getting at in this blog post. The subject this time is how to search for an optimal schedule. We … Continued
Here’s a bold assertion: The best schedules result from using the right descriptive model of the manufacturing environment. Some would argue that the best schedules result from some type of optimizing logic. The fact is that optimal solutions are obtainable … Continued
There’s always something new to discover in the scheduling world. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, someone has a need that you haven’t thought of! Here’s one that just came up: Some environments have activities that, once started, … Continued
“A bargain ain’t a bargain unless it’s something you need.” –American screenwriter, Sidney Carroll Identifying what your company really needs and finding the best-fit application to fill that need is the crux of every purchasing decision. The same can … Continued
It’s not always a race to the finish line. For manufacturing, the goal is to produce an order on time–but not too early. Why? Finishing early creates an inventory that has to be stored and it creates an expense … Continued
Scheduling is creating a plan for the future. But how often does reality conform exactly to the plan? The original plan might offer the blueprint for an activity, but it offers little help for determining what to do when the … Continued
If everything went according to plan, there would never be a need for rescheduling. But Murphy’s Law says that if things can go wrong, they will. Because of this, every good business owner knows the value of flexibility and that … Continued
I’ve written a lot about Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. And I’m guessing that if you’ve come this far in the blog, we’re in agreement on their benefits to an efficient organization. So let’s take it one step further. In … Continued
A recent survey by Unique Scheduling Solutions indicated that “extensive training and experience” is needed to prepare a person for scheduling and/or production planning. And sometimes, “extensive” means months or years! This is because the inside scoop, or “tribal knowledge” … Continued