Page 288 - DMGT206_PRODUCTION_AND_OPERATIONS_MANAGEMENT

Unit 14: Operations Scheduling

Load / Schedule Notes
The work center Load/Schedule provides a tool for analyzing the load at an exact work center
and suggesting the order in which work should be performed previous to printing or viewing
a Dispatch List Report.
Job Queue Status

The Job Queue Status provides a real-time status of a job’s operations. You can check the job’s
progress on the shop floor and compare estimated against actual hours for each operation. Also,
real-time loading information is shown for each Work Center on which the job is scheduled.

Finite Modeling

The work center Finite Modeling displays the daily scheduled load for a work center plus provides
“what if” analysis capability to see the effect on the daily load of moving a job’s operations.

14.2.2 Index Method

A heuristic technique of loading, which would yield better results than the simple and intuitive
method is index method. Supposing time is the criterion, ‘indices’ are calculated for the diverse
process times (if done in work centres) with the lowest process time having the base index of 1.0.
The lowest index jobs are afterward assigned to the work centres, keeping in view the limitations
of the capacities of the centres. The next lowest index jobs are then assigned to the work centres
(devoid of exceeding the constraints on capacities), and this process is constant till all the jobs are
assigned. This is a heuristic method and the solution obtained may not be optimal; though it
could be near optimal.

Task Is job-shop scheduling a planning activity or a control activity? Would you call
these four activities loading, sequencing, detailed scheduling, and input-output control as
shop floor control? Explain.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
4. In ……………… processes, different sub-assemblies have to be loaded to bring out the
final product.
5. In ……………… processes, each customer job order has its unique product specifications.
6. The Job Queue Status provides a ……………… status of a job’s operations.

14.3 Gantt Charts

Gantt charts were developed in the 1910’s by Henry Gantt (1861-1919), a mechanical engineer,
management consultant, and industrial advisor. The chart takes two basic forms:
1. The job or activity progress chart and
2. The machine chart.
Both types of Gantt charts present the ideal and the actual use of resources over time. The
progress chart graphically displays the current status of each job relative to its scheduled

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