Q: Is there a forward scheduling in relation to backward scheduling?
A: There is a method of forward scheduling in contrast to the backward scheduling mentioned above. (see diagram below)
With forward scheduling we get started on the first process as quickly as possible and then assign the second and third processes. If an express order comes in suddenly and schedule results show a completion date in the final process we can give a clear answer about delivery date such as "we can delivery in xx days." If order volume changes and we reschedule we know that will affect date and time of completion. One of the advantages of using an Advanced Planning and Scheduling System is that the Gantt charts show us such things as how we got a particular result and what is the state of processes now underway.
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