Factors Affecting Scheduling - Internal Factors
Internal Factors: These are the factors which are with in the control of the management. These factors should be manipulated in such a that objectives of the production function can be achieved most efficiently and economically. Some important internal factors are as under.
a.Stock of Finished Goods with the Firm: In the continuous production where the production is made to stock, the scheduling should be adjusted to the stock of the finished goods with the dealers. Generally the stock is maintained at certain month’s supply on hand. The new sales forecast should be made and the scheduling should be made in the light of the fluctuation in the stock holing.
b.Time Interval to Process Finished Goods from Raw Material: In other words how much time will be required to manufacture each component subassembly and then assembly ( i, e, the final product).
c. Availability of Machines: The machines and equipments have varying production capacities. Moreover their occupancy scheduling can be made with the help of machine load charts .
d.Availability of Manpower: The scheduling should be made in the light of the availability of the manpower. The rushing or production should be adjusted to overtime working extra shift working or hiring of the temporary labor. The slacks should be adjusted through transfers if possible. Due consideration should be given to the factors like induction and training to new employees. As far as possible the layout should be minimized.
e.Availability of Materials: Sometimes the production flow is interrupted by the stock outs. In continuous production proper stock levels should be maintained to facilities scheduling. In case of probable stock outs of strategic items extra efforts should be made to procure them as far as possible and the limited stock in hand should be issued only to critical operations. The scheduling should be adjusted in the light of such situation in intermittent production , the materials should be acquired according to the bill of materials enlisting the need of specific orders. Such process will smoothen the scheduling task.
f.Manufacturing Facilities: The manufacturing facilities in terms of power requirements material handling services storekeeping workbench area and such other facilities should be provided in adequate quantities so that it may not affect the smooth flow of the production adversely. Such situation will facilities scheduling function.
g. Feasibility of Economic production Runs: Under the economic lot production generally two costs are compared set up cost and the carrying cost. At economic lot production these two costs are equated.