Why Order Scheduling Is Critical
Order scheduling helps factories:
1. Avoid Late Shipments
Late delivery often results in:
- Penalties
- Air freight costs
- Buyer dissatisfaction
2. Manage Multiple Orders Smoothly
Ensures each order gets the right resources at the right time.
3. Maximize Line Utilization
Avoids idle time or overloading of operators.
4. Support IE and Merchandising Coordination
Merchandisers depend on IE capacity confirmation before committing delivery dates to brands.
5. Improve Profitability
Balanced schedules reduce overtime, reduce bottlenecks and keep production flow consistent.
Proper order scheduling ensures that buyer commitments are met on time and factory capacity is utilized efficiently. Below is a realistic example showing how to calculate days required for different jobs based on factory capacity.
1. Buyer Order Details
The factory receives multiple orders from buyers. Each order consists of:
- Style (Job No.)
- SMV (Standard Minute Value)
- Total Order Quantity
- Buyer Due Date
Order Details Table
| Job No. | SMV (min) | Order Quantity (pcs) | Buyer Due Date (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 10 min | 100,000 pcs | 12 days |
| B | 15 min | 120,000 pcs | 20 days |
| C | 12 min | 180,000 pcs | 14 days |
| D | 20 min | 200,000 pcs | 22 days |
2. Factory Daily Capacity
The factory has different line allocations and capacities for each job.
Factory Capacity Table
| Job No. | Daily Capacity (pcs/day) |
|---|---|
| A | 10,000 pcs/day |
| B | 5,000 pcs/day |
| C | 12,000 pcs/day |
| D | 9,000 pcs/day |
3. Calculating Days to Finish Each Order
The formula is:
Production Days Table
| Job No. | Order Quantity | Daily Capacity | Days Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 100,000 pcs | 10,000/day | 10 days |
| B | 120,000 pcs | 5,000/day | 24 days |
| C | 180,000 pcs | 12,000/day | 15 days |
| D | 200,000 pcs | 9,000/day | 22.2 → 23 days |
4. Order Status vs Due Date
Now compare each job’s required production days with the buyer’s due date.
Order Completion Status Table
| Job No. | Days Required | Buyer Due Date | On-Time? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 10 days | 12 days | ✔ Yes |
| B | 24 days | 20 days | ❌ 4 days late |
| C | 15 days | 14 days | ❌ 1 day late |
| D | 23 days | 22 days | ❌ 1 day late |
5. Summary & Interpretation
✔ Job A
- Can be completed within 10 days, meeting the 12‑day due date.
❌ Job B
- Needs 24 days, but due date is 20 days → 4 days late
- Requires additional line, OT or higher efficiency.
❌ Job C
- Needs 15 days, but due date is 14 days → 1 day late
- Can be fixed by extra manpower or improving method.
❌ Job D
- Needs 23 days, due date 22 days → 1 day late
- Needs slight capacity improvement.
