infinite loading A scheduling approach that ignores capacity constraints. Click here for Hint finite loading or infinite loading or priority rule?

job shop A process layout. Click here for Hint ATO or make-to-order or job shop?

make-to-stock A system that produces high volumes of standardized product. Click here for Hint make-to-order or make-to-stock or ATO?

triage A priority rule creating sequences intended to yield the most value from distinctly limited resources. Click here for Hint triage or FCFS or EDD?

scheduling To determine timing. Click here for Hint scheduling or DSS or finite loading?

loading Assigning work to resources. Click here for Hint forward scheduling or scheduling or loading?

planning horizon The farthest point in the future considered in decision making. Click here for Hint backward scheduling or forward scheduling or planning horizon?

FCFS Abbreviation for the sequencing rule first-come, first-served, or the equivalent of FIFO, first-in, first-out. Click here for Hint FCFS or TOC or EDD?

queue A waiting line. Click here for Hint FCFS or loading or queue?

decision support system (DSS) Software that assists human decision making in a particular setting. Click here for Hint DSS or Gantt chart or DBR?

SPT Abbreviation for the priority rule of shortest processing time, or scheduling the task that requires the least amount of processing time first. Click here for Hint SPT or EDD or FCFS?

drum-buffer-rope (DBR) Central principle of bottleneck scheduling, evoking the bottleneck (drum) ideally protected by a buffer of waiting work produced by upstream work centers whose activities are constrained to the bottleneck’s pace (rope). Click here for Hint EDD or DBR or TOC?

flowtime The length of time a job spends in the system. Click here for Hint scheduling or flowtime or makespan?

multitasking Simultaneous completion of multiple tasks by a single processor. Click here for Hint dynamic or multitasking or ATO?

dispatching Assigning work in real-time, often in the context of mobile resources. Click here for Hint dispatching or real-time or triage?

probabilistic Variable or not well known in advance; subject to randomness. This represents some uncertainty in planning. Click here for Hint probabilistic or tardiness or incident?

local optimization Localized problem solving that ignores any larger problem of which the local decision is a component. Click here for Hint local optimization or situational awareness or TOC?

assemble-to-order (ATO) A system that produces standard modules to be modified and/or combined into a customizable product. Click here for Hint TOC or DSS or ATO?

precedence relationship A dependency between two tasks, usually requiring that one task be completed before the other task is started. Click here for Hint scheduling or precedence relationship or critical ratio?

EDD Abbreviation for the priority rule of earliest due date, or scheduling the task with the most imminent deadline first. Click here for Hint ATO or EDD or TOC?

priority rule A rule determining the sequence in which requirements will be met. Click here for Hint priority rule or FCFS or EDD?

tardiness The length of time a job is late. If a job is finished early or on time, its tardiness is zero. Click here for Hint real-time or on-demand or tardiness?

incident An unscheduled event requiring immediate resolution. Click here for Hint dynamic or probabilistic or incident?

on-demand Products provided with zero lead times. Click here for Hint on-demand or real-time or dynamic?

backward scheduling Starting an activity such that it will finish on its deadline. Click here for Hint dynamic or backward scheduling or real-time?

milestone A scheduling diagram that illustrates activities across a horizontal time line. Click here for Hint loading Gantt chart or Gantt chart or milestone?

iterative planning Deliberately adjusting plans at short intervals, to reflect new information. Click here for Hint Iterative planning or dynamic or DSS?

make-to-order A system that produces low volumes of customized product. Click here for Hint make-to-order or make-to-stock or job shop?

dynamic Actively and continuously changing. Click here for Hint dynamic or incident or scheduling?

Project scheduling Gantt chart A scheduling diagram that illustrates activities across a horizontal time line. Click here for Hint Gantt chart or loading Gantt chart or project scheduling Gantt chart?

deterministic Fixed and known in advance, representing a high level of certainty when planning. Click here for Hint makespan or priority rule or deterministic?

makespan The length of time required to complete a finished schedule. Click here for Hint makespan or flowtime or tardiness?

known unknown A source of uncertainty known to a decision maker, usually evident in past experience or data. Click here for Hint known unknown or unknown unknown or incident?

critical ratio Time remaining until due date divided by work remaining to be done. Click here for Hint EDD or critical ratio or milestone?

sequencing To determine the order in which requirements are met. Click here for Hint flowtime or FCFS or sequencing?

Theory of Constraints (TOC) A body of knowledge focused on managing the limitations on a system for continuous improvement. Click here for Hint situational awareness or TOC or DSS?

loading Gantt chart A Gantt chart in which the horizontal bars represent utilization of work centers or finite resources. Click here for Hint Gantt chart or loading Gantt chart or project scheduling Gantt chart?

bottleneck The most heavily utilized resource within a system. Click here for Hint bottleneck or priority rule or incident?

queue discipline A rule or rules determining the order in which waiting individuals will be served. Click here for Hint queue discipline or FCFS or EDD?

unknown Uncertainty omitted from planning because the decision maker is unaware of its presence. Click here for Hint known unknown or unknown unknown or incident?

real-time The present point in time; now. Click here for Hint on-demand or real-time or deterministic?

situational awareness An individual or organization’s comprehension of the surrounding environment and its potential near-future states. Click here for Hint situational awareness or known unknown or scheduling?

forward scheduling Starting an activity as soon as possible, regardless of its deadline. Click here for Hint forward scheduling or backward scheduling or sequencing?

finite loading A scheduling approach that recognizes capacity constraints. Click here for Hint finite loading or infinite loading or priority rule?

Gantt chart A scheduling diagram that illustrates activities across a horizontal time line. Click here for Hint Gantt chart or loading Gantt chart or project scheduling Gantt chart?