Operations Processes -> Scheduling and Sequencing
Scheduling and sequencing tools are used to identify all steps in the operations process and then organise them into the most efficient order to complete. Any sort of production scheduling and sequencing tool will need information about:
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What activities need to take place
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When an activity will occur
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How long the activities will take
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What activities need to happen before others occur
In order to do this there needs to be a detailed task analysis.
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Task analysis involves the breakdown of exactly how the manufacture of a good can be accomplished.
Sequencing and Scheduling Technique
1. Gantt Chart records the number of tasks involved in each particular project and the estimated time needed for each task, but will not show the relationship between each of the tasks. The Gantt chart allows the business to compare actual progress to its originally planned progress.
The limitation of the Gantt chart is that it does not show which activity relies on other activities for
materials or machinery. (I.e. how many labourers or bob cats need to turn up on which days?)

Sequencing and Scheduling Technique
2. Critical Path Analysis: A scheduling tool used in an operation involving repetitive tasks, especially if the exact time each task will task is known. It is a flow diagram that shows the interrelationship of tasks. As all tasks need to be completed for the project to be finished, the critical path time period is
the longest path taken to complete the whole project.
Can you find the critical path above? Remember you are trying to find the LONGEST time taken through the maze which will ironically give you the SHORTEST time taken to complete the actual project given that all these steps are essential and cannot be skipped.
Relevant videos to highlight concepts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyPeLUEmRXQ (wind farms and gantt charts) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm_iWKoOd0U&feature=related (gantt chart basics) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT37Sntncg0 (Critical path analysis on tv show) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ttac_mXYk (critical path analysis in detail)