1. Manufacturing Execution Systems
   
   
2. The Nature and Importance of Work Centers
   1. Work Center Defined
   2. Infinite Loading Defined
   3. Finite Loading Defined
   4. Forward Scheduling Defined
   5. Backward Scheduling Defined
   6. Machine-Limited Process Defined
   7. Labor-Limited Process Defined
   1. Typical Scheduling and Control Functions
   2. Objectives of Work-Center Scheduling
   3. Job Sequencing
      1. Priority Rules Define
         
         
3. Priority Rules and Techniques
   1. Scheduling n Jobs on One Machine
   2. Comparison of Priority Rules
      1. Assignment Method Defined
   3. Scheduling n Jobs on Two Machines
      1. Johnson's Rule Defined
   4. Scheduling a Set Number of Jobs on the Same Number of Machines
      1. Assignment Method Defined
   5. Scheduling n Jobs on m Machines
      
      
4. Shop-Floor Control
   1. Shop Floor Control Defined
   1. Gantt Charts
   2. Tools of Shop-Floor Control
   3. Input/Output Control
      1. Input/Output Control Defined
   4. Data Integrity
   5. Principles of Work Center Scheduling
      
      
5. Personnel Scheduling in Services
   1. Scheduling Consecutive Days Off
   2. Scheduling Daily Work Times
   3. Scheduling Hourly Work Times
      
      
6. Conclusion
   
   
7. Case: Keep Patients Waiting? Not in My Office

Work centers are areas in a business in which productive resources are organized and work is completed. It may be a single machine, a group of machines, or an area where a particular type of work is done. The work centers can be organized in a variety of ways including by function in a job-shop configuration; or by product in a flow, assembly line, or group-technology-cell configuration.

A characteristic that distinguishes one scheduling system from another is how capacity is considered in determining the schedule. The scheduling systems can use infinite loading or finite loading. Infinite loading occurs when work is assigned to a work center simply based on what is needed over time, while finite loading actually schedules in detail each resource using the setup and run time required for each order.

Another characteristic that distinguished scheduling systems is whether the schedule is generated forward or backward in time. Processes can be machine limited or labor limited. Determining the sequence of orders and establishing job priorities are critical as is dispatching orders. Shop floor control is necessary to review job status and expediting late and/or critical orders when necessary. The schedule must be revised as necessary to reflect changes in order status.

Various priority rules work to satisfy job arrival patterns, the number and variety of machines in the manufacturing facility, the ratio of workers to machines in the shop, the flow pattern of jobs through the shop, the priority rules for allocating jobs to machines, and schedule evaluation criteria. Priority rules for allocating jobs to machines can use a variety of methods.

The objectives of work-center scheduling are to meet customer due dates, minimize lead-time, minimize set-up time, minimize work in process inventory, and maximize machine or labor utilization.

Scheduling and controlling functions of an operation are critical. The functions must be performed beginning with allocating orders, equipment, and personnel to work centers or the specified locations for short-run capacity planning. Next is the determination of the sequence of order performance or establishing job priorities. Initiating the scheduled work or dispatching of orders is followed by shop-floor control. Shop floor control or production activity control involves reviewing the status and controlling the progress of orders as they are being worked on and expediting late and critical orders.

In manufacturing job shops, scheduling relies heavily on simulation to estimate the flow of work through the system to determine bottlenecks and adjust job priorities. Software packages are available to do this. In services, the focus is typically on employee scheduling using mathematical tools that can be used to set work schedules in light of expected customer demand.