Backward scheduling

Order releasing, dispatching, and progress reporting are the three primary functions of Production Activity Control (PAC). To accomplish the plans, PAC must establish detailed schedules for each order, set priorities for work to be done at each work center, and keep them current.

Describe forward and backward scheduling at this implementation phase and why backward scheduling is preferred?

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Forward scheduling and backward scheduling are two different approaches to production planning and scheduling.

Forward scheduling starts at the beginning of the production process and schedules each task in order of its duration. This method is simple to implement, but it can lead to unrealistic schedules, as it does not take into account the dependencies between tasks.

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Backward scheduling starts at the end of the production process and schedules each task in reverse order of its duration, taking into account the dependencies between tasks. This method is more complex to implement, but it produces more realistic schedules.

In the implementation phase of PAC, backward scheduling is preferred because it produces more realistic schedules. It takes into account the dependencies between tasks, which ensures that all tasks are completed on time.

Here is an example of how forward and backward scheduling would work for a simple production process with three tasks:

Forward scheduling:

  1. Task A: 1 day
  2. Task B: 2 days
  3. Task C: 3 days

Schedule:

  • Day 1: Task A
  • Day 2: Task B
  • Day 3: Task C

Backward scheduling:

  1. Task C: 3 days
  2. Task B: 2 days
  3. Task A: 1 day

Schedule:

  • Day 1: Task A
  • Day 2: Task B
  • Day 3: Task C

In the forward scheduling example, Task C is scheduled to start on Day 3, even though it depends on Task B, which is not scheduled to finish until Day 2. This could lead to a delay in the completion of the project.

In the backward scheduling example, Task C is scheduled to start on Day 1, after Task A has finished. This ensures that all tasks are completed on time.

Backward scheduling is especially beneficial for complex production processes with many dependencies between tasks. It can help to identify potential bottlenecks and ensure that all tasks are completed on time and within budget.

Here are some additional benefits of backward scheduling:

  • It can help to reduce inventory costs by ensuring that materials are not ordered too early or too late.
  • It can help to improve customer satisfaction by ensuring that orders are delivered on time.
  • It can help to improve employee morale by ensuring that employees have a clear understanding of their workload and deadlines.

Overall, backward scheduling is a valuable tool for production planning and scheduling. It can help to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

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