Operations Management: An Integrated Approach, 5th Edition

Chapter Highlights

Different kinds of environments need different scheduling techniques. Scheduling in the high-volume environment is typically done through line design and balancing. Scheduling in a low-volume environment typically involves the use of priority rules. In this environment, Gantt charts are often used to view the workload and jobs in process.

Shop loading techniques include infinite and finite loading. Infinite loading schedules include jobs without capacity constraints. Finite loading loads jobs up to a predetermined capacity level. Loading can be done using forward or backward scheduling. Forward scheduling starts the job as soon as possible, whereas backward scheduling works back from the due date.

Priority rules are used to make scheduling decisions. SPT always minimizes mean job flow time, mean job lateness, and average number of jobs in the system. FCFS is considered one of the fairest priority rules. Rules related to due dates tend to minimize the maximum tardiness of the jobs. Priority rules need to support organizational objectives.

Performance measurements ...