Introduction

Scheduling refers to setting up the process so the work assigned can be completed in the given period. One of the main objectives of scheduling is to provide the best products and services to the customer. 

Scheduling is a medium-level or short-level planning to boost the process. It demands managerial decisions to have a proper workflow. 

Inventory control helps the organization to analyze and meet the inventory cost and requirements.

Inventory control provides a clear idea of how much stock is needed in the business currently and how much should be the turnover period.

Inventory control could be different for different departments of an organization.

In the same organization, factories need to maintain the stocks of raw materials while the showroom needs to keep the inventory of finished goods produced by the factory.

Purpose of scheduling

Scheduling is necessary for all types of firms or organizations as it minimizes the delay in the process, which results in a reduction in the delayed cost. Proper scheduling helps in the allocation of resources as per the curated plans.

Scheduling is a process for a short-term period. Companies can’t schedule for a long period without knowing the odds happening in the future. Even though it is prepared for a short period, it gives a competitive advantage to the firm. Shor-term scheduling is helpful as it is easy to rectify mistakes in relatively small planning.

Methods

There is no limit to methods that can fit the criteria of scheduling the operations in the organization. The right method for scheduling is based on some factors.

Types of scheduling

Foreward Scheduling 

Backward Scheduling

Forward Scheduling

Forward scheduling refers to the process where the organization plans for the pathway right at the time of receiving the job. Organization plans for the future jobs in advance with the starting and ending dates. Organizations try to allot the earliest time slot possible. As the operations are scheduled to start earlier, there is a possibility of them getting ended soon.

Work-in-progress inventories are always high in such cases.

Backward Scheduling

Backward scheduling is the process of scheduling the work as per its due dates. Organizations schedule the work backward. It helps them to determine the starting date of the operations as per the due date of the assignment.

In this type of scheduling, the start and end dates are determined by the slot available. 

The Organizations use both forward and backward scheduling. The forward scheduling is helpful in the estimation of the earliest date possible for the assignment. The backward scheduling is helpful when the estimated date is way before the actual date. 

Activities

Routing

It is the specification of the workflow. It helps in setting the series of events of the process to be followed to create a particular product. It determines the what, where, and how the work is to be done to get the desired results. Routing navigates the whole process with ease.

Loading

It is the assignment of specific jobs to every section of the organization as per the planning period. Before providing with the assigning jobs, organizations should also consider the capacity of the department to avoid overload on one unit.

Once the limitation element is either sorted or not a very big element to consider, organizations move to the reduction of the cost. The reduction of cost is dependent on the reduction in the idle time of machines.

Dispatching

Dispatching is the final act in releasing the order to the workers for the production process. It happens after the completion of routing and loading. Once the order is released, organizations start to control the production process to ensure the efficiency of the project.

Earliest due date

The earliest due date works on the ideology of first in, first out. 

Organizations enroll at the earliest due date possible for all the jobs.

Longest processing time

These are works that are known for taking more time. As they take more time, they need to be handled with discipline. These jobs are loaded first as they are more valuable than others.

Shortest Processing time

Some organizations put more emphasis on the number of works completed. They prioritize the jobs with the shortest processing time to be on the top of the list. It helps them to keep a lower number of jobs in waiting. 

First in, first serve

This rule is more based on equality than importance. Organizations serve the orders as per their sequence of arrival. It establishes the feeling of fair customer service in the minds of the customer. It builds trust. 

Slack time remaining

Slack time is the difference in time between the due date and the processing time required. Calculation of slack time helps the organization avoid the situation of storage. It reduces the cost and creates room for other orders in the making.

Environmental Risks:

The business operates in an uncertain environment.

Organizations maintain adequate amounts of inventory to battle this problem.

It helps the firm to utilize favorable conditions and to get prepared for adverse situations.

For instance, the stock of raw materials is crucial for the sudden rise in the price of the raw material inventory of finished goods is necessary to fulfill the sudden outbreak in demand for the product.

Inventory planning helps the organization to have a plan for the future.