Production planning & scheduling · Electronics & PCB assembly
Keep the lines fed and boards on commit.
A reel runs short at the feeder and the sequenced build can't run. The planner reshuffles the SMT schedule, WIP, and kitting by hand while the line idles.
The reality
Scheduling is a feed-the-line problem.
A component on the BOM goes short mid-kit. The planner has to spot it before the line goes down, find a build that can run with what's on hand, resequence the SMT and through-hole queues, re-allocate inventory across competing work orders, and tell sales which commit dates just moved — across the MRP, the kitting room, and the shop-floor MES.
The operator owns the daily schedule. It watches BOM coverage against the build queue, reprioritizes the line the moment a part goes short, allocates inventory to the work orders that can actually ship, and keeps the feeders fed — so the line keeps running and commit dates hold instead of cascading.
How the operator runs production planning & scheduling
WO-5512 · Kit check
kitting- 142 of 143 line items covered
- Kit pulled from stockroom
- 0402 cap reel short — flagged
01Check coverage and kit
Validates BOM coverage for each queued build, confirms the kit is complete, and releases it to the line.
Line 2 · Resequence
replanning- WO-5512 paused — shortage
- WO-5518 fully kitted — promoted
- Feeder setup swap queued
02Reprioritize the line
When a part goes short, finds a build that can run on hand and resequences SMT and WIP to avoid idle time.
WO-5512 · Commit update
updating- Stock reallocated to runnable WOs
- Shortage WO rescheduled
- Two commit dates flagged to sales
03Reallocate and notify
Re-allocates inventory across competing work orders and updates the commit dates that moved.
The outcome
−65% of planner time on daily schedule changes
Lines fed, boards out on commit dates.
- The line keeps running on a shortage instead of going dark
- Inventory goes to the work orders that can actually ship today
- Moved commit dates reach sales the same shift, not the next day
Common questions
Production planning & scheduling
- What does the Production planning & scheduling operator do?
- The operator owns the daily schedule. It watches BOM coverage against the build queue, reprioritizes the line the moment a part goes short, allocates inventory to the work orders that can actually ship, and keeps the feeders fed — so the line keeps running and commit dates hold instead of cascading.
- What impact does the Production planning & scheduling operator have?
- −65% of planner time on daily schedule changes. Lines fed, boards out on commit dates.
- How does the Production planning & scheduling operator work?
- Validates BOM coverage for each queued build, confirms the kit is complete, and releases it to the line. When a part goes short, finds a build that can run on hand and resequences SMT and WIP to avoid idle time. Re-allocates inventory across competing work orders and updates the commit dates that moved.
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