Forward scheduling is a planning strategy that begins with a specified start date and sequences tasks consecutively to determine when they will be completed. The scheduler takes the job's duration and works forward from the start date to calculate the finish date, ensuring that the work is completed by a certain deadline.
In the scenario provided, Job X needs to be completed by Friday, December 23, and it has a total duration of four days. The scheduler has decided to initiate the job on Tuesday, December 20, which suggests that they are using the forward scheduling method. Here's why this is forward scheduling in more detail:
- Start Date Focus: The scheduler is focused on when to start the job to meet the deadline, rather than when to finish it based on current workload.
- Sequential Task Planning: Tasks are planned one after another, starting from a specific point in time (the morning of Tuesday, December 20).
- Deadline Orientation: The primary goal is to ensure the job is finished by the due date (Friday, December 23).
- Resource Availability Assumption: The scheduler assumes that the necessary resources will be available to begin work on Job X without considering other work that might be scheduled. This can be a limitation of forward scheduling if resources are not actually available when needed.
- Simplicit: Forward scheduling is straightforward because it does not require an analysis of resource allocation or workload prior to scheduling. However, this can also lead to inefficiencies if the resource is overbooked.
- Risk of Overlooking Constraints: While forward scheduling helps meet due dates, it risks not accounting for current workloads, resource constraints, or potential bottlenecks, which could lead to conflicts in scheduling and resource over-allocation.
In a manufacturing or project management context, forward scheduling is typically used when due dates are critical and the scheduler is looking to ensure that deadlines are met. However, it's important for schedulers to cross-reference the availability of required resources to avoid overbooking and to ensure that the schedule is feasible.