the case for Computer-assisted scheduling

More printers don't use computer-assisted scheduling (CAS) because many lack formal scheduling practices, according to Donald H Goldman, principal of Consult-Ware, a Pembroke, MA-based consultancy specializing in MIS issues. Commercial printers are being pressured by their customers to shorten production times, and consequently go into expedite mode. In such cases, a "schedule" board or spreadsheets are used to track jobs and build lists that are used to prioritize work during daily production meetings. But this isn't true scheduling, says Goldman - it's dynamic loading. True dynamic scheduling is the prioritizing and sequencing of the plant load/forecast. The scheduler starts by looking at the due date and then, working backward, determines the due date for each prerequisite operation. Typically, larger plants with multiple days allowed to produce their work are the best candidates for CAS, says Goldman.