Finite capacity scheduling systems are systems that take a resource that is capable of doing a fixed amount of work and scheduling the workload based on the capability of the equipment. Most Finite Capacity systems incorporate a work centers table which contains the resources to be scheduled. The system will also contain a products table and a table of production standards that tell the system how long it takes to make a given quantity of a give product on a given work center. In addition most scheduling systems will contain tables that contain the times/widows that the equipment is available.

From these tables a schedule is derived. In some instances the scheduling system might be a manual device in which a scheduler manipulates the sequence of the schedule and the system computes the timeline. In other situations the system may contain an optimization or an algorithm which automatically sequences the schedule based on predetermined constraints. The constraints can include things like late dates, raw materials, processes required etc…

Because scheduling can be very involved and very different from one manufacturer to another, it pays to do your research before picking a solutions provider. Scheduling is definitely a high ROI endeavor if it’s done properly so picking a vendor that can be very flexible is the best tact. Agile systems are systems that can be easily tailored, both at the time of installation and as time passes. Some examples of agile systems might include Tuppas, ShopFloorReporting.com and PlantSchedule.com.

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