Production Scheduling & Capacity Planning Flashcards

What is 'load leveling' in the context of production scheduling?

Answer: Spreading work across time periods or work centers to avoid overloads

Load leveling redistributes planned work to smooth capacity utilization and prevent peaks and valleys across the schedule horizon.

Which scheduling rule typically minimizes the average number of jobs in the system (average WIP)?

Answer: Shortest Processing Time (SPT)

SPT minimizes average flow time and average WIP because short jobs are completed and leave the system quickly.

In capacity planning, what is 'rated capacity'?

Answer: The output a work center can achieve at standard efficiency under normal conditions

Rated capacity = available time × utilization × efficiency, representing what should be achievable under standard operating conditions.

A manufacturer wants to expand capacity temporarily without capital investment. Which option is NOT a short-term capacity adjustment?

Answer: Building a new production facility

Building a new facility is a long-term capacity decision requiring significant capital investment and lead time, not a short-term adjustment.

Which term describes the difference between rated capacity and actual demonstrated output at a work center?

Answer: Capacity loss

Capacity loss represents the gap between what a work center should theoretically produce (rated capacity) and what it actually produces.

In a forward scheduling system, when does scheduling begin?

Answer: From today's date moving forward to calculate a completion date

Forward scheduling starts from the current date and sequences operations forward to find the earliest possible completion date.

What is the primary risk of using 'infinite capacity planning' without adjustment?

Answer: Work center overloads go undetected until execution

Infinite capacity planning ignores resource constraints, so plans may be unrealistic and work centers can be heavily overloaded when execution begins.