Forward Scheduling
Definition
Forward scheduling is a planning method that starts a job at the earliest available date — usually today — and adds each operation's lead time to project the earliest possible completion date.
In Practice
Forward scheduling answers the question "if we start now, when can we finish?" — which is exactly what a planner needs when quoting delivery dates, checking whether a rush order is feasible, or loading a new job into a full shop. If an order released today has operations of 4, 3, and 6 days, forward scheduling promises completion on day 13, plus any queue time.
Its drawback is that jobs often finish before they are needed, building early inventory. Most MRP systems therefore back schedule by default and use forward scheduling for available-to-promise checks and late orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do planners use forward scheduling instead of back scheduling?
Use forward scheduling to quote a realistic promise date for a new or rush order, to reschedule a job that is already late, or when material arrives and you want the earliest completion. Back scheduling is preferred when a firm due date exists and early inventory should be minimized.
Does forward scheduling create excess inventory?
It can. Because jobs start as early as possible, they often finish ahead of the demand date and the output waits as finished goods. That is acceptable for late orders or capacity smoothing, but as a default policy it inflates work-in-process and holding cost.
Related Calculators
Related Terms
Back scheduling (backward scheduling) is a planning method that starts from a job's required due date and works backward through each operation's lead time to find the latest possible start date for every step.
Job Shop SchedulingJob shop scheduling is the task of sequencing many different jobs across shared work centers in a job shop, where each job follows its own routing, so that due dates, queue times, and machine utilization stay in balance.
SlackSlack is the amount of time an order or activity can be delayed without missing its due date, calculated as time remaining until the due date minus the remaining work and setup time.
Capacity PlanningCapacity planning is the process of determining the production, storage, and labor resources needed to meet expected demand, and deciding how to close gaps between required and available capacity.