Finite Capacity Scheduling Worksheet for Production Planners
Finite capacity scheduling loads work against the hours a resource can actually provide, instead of assuming unlimited capacity as basic MRP does. This worksheet turns jobs, setup and run times into load hours and days required, so you can see whether the promised due dates are realistic.
| Job / order | Part | Resource | Priority | Qty | Setup (min) (min) | Run per unit (min) (min) | Load (hours) | Hours per day (h) | Days required | Due date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14.5 | 2.2308 | ||||||||||
11.75 | 1.8077 | ||||||||||
14 | 2.1538 | ||||||||||
6.5 | 1.0833 | ||||||||||
14.3333 | 2.0476 |
Filter or sort by resource in the Excel export and compare each resource's total days required with the calendar days to its due dates. If load exceeds available days, move the lowest priority job, split lots, outsource or add shift hours.
Connect this view to live ERP work orders
Optional: a short conversation about reading work orders and routings from your ERP into a read-only load view.
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How to use the worksheet
Enter one row per job or operation, with its resource, quantity, setup minutes and run minutes per unit. Enter the productive hours per day for that resource after breaks, maintenance and expected efficiency. The worksheet computes load hours as setup plus quantity times run time, and days required as load divided by available hours per day. Sort by resource in the Excel export, add up days required per resource, and compare with the working days between today and each due date.
- Use productive hours, not shift length. A 8 hour shift at 80 percent efficiency is 6.4 hours.
- Enter one row per operation if a job visits several resources.
- Mark hot jobs so they are sequenced first.
Finite versus infinite loading
Infinite loading, used by standard MRP, schedules every order at its lead time regardless of how many other orders compete for the same machine. Finite loading respects the resource calendar and queues work when the resource is full. The result is fewer surprises on the floor and more realistic promise dates, but it needs accurate setup and run standards and a stable sequence. Forward scheduling starts jobs now and finds the earliest completion; backward scheduling starts from the due date and finds the latest start. This worksheet supports both styles by showing days required.
Reading the result
In the sample, the five jobs add up to roughly 40 load hours. Setup is a meaningful share of the CNC load, which means grouping similar parts or reducing changeover time will free capacity. Compare each resource total with its calendar. If CNC-1 shows five days required but the hot job is due in two, something has to move. The largest single job tells you whether splitting lots across machines is an option.
Common mistakes
The most frequent error is using routing times that nobody has validated since the part was released. Another is ignoring queue and move time between operations, which can be larger than the process time on a job shop floor. Planners also forget that capacity is a plan, not a promise: breakdowns, scrap and rework all consume hours. Revisit run times against actual reporting every few weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is finite capacity scheduling?
It is scheduling that treats each resource as having a limited number of available hours per period. Jobs are sequenced so that no resource is loaded beyond its capacity, and the due dates that result are the dates the plant can really meet.
How is load hours calculated?
Load hours equal setup time plus quantity times run time per unit, converted to hours. The worksheet divides the minutes by 60. If you track efficiency or scrap, adjust run time or hours per day so the figure reflects real conditions.
Can Excel replace an APS system?
For a small shop with few resources, a worksheet like this is a useful check. It does not optimize sequences or react to changes automatically. As jobs, resources and constraints grow, an ERP scheduler or APS tool is worth the cost.
How do I handle multiple operations per job?
Add one row for each operation with its own resource, setup and run time. Then total the days required per resource. Remember that the operations have a sequence, so the completion date depends on the sum of the path, including waiting between steps.
If you want finite scheduling that reads live work orders, routings and calendars from your ERP, Netray can help you build a read-only view over that data.
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