Detailed scheduling simple explained

The first step is rough planning. It focuses on defining an overall direction and relevant milestones. Detailed scheduling now goes into more depth and plans tasks and resources, for example. The finest planning phase is detailed planning, which focuses on the subtleties and specific aspects of each individual task.

The aim of detailed scheduling and control is to plan each individual step in the project in detail in order to make the entire project process as efficient as possible and optimize the use of resources. It minimizes throughput times, downtimes and bottlenecks. Production and warehouse costs as well as material costs are reduced and deadline reliability is promoted.

Detailed scheduling essentially fulfills the following tasks :

• Assign tasks to the most suitable resources
• Determine processing sequences
• Provide the ability to react to unforeseen changes to the plan at short notice
• Monitoring the respective work steps

1. Identify tasks: All project-related tasks are recorded to ensure that no essential activities are overlooked and the goal is achieved.
2. Prioritize: Tasks are prioritized by relevance and urgency to create a clear structure and complete the most important activities first.
3. Allocate resources: Each task is allocated with required resources such as personnel, materials and budget to enable realistic planning.
4. Create a schedule: A schedule is created that takes into account dependencies, milestones and deadlines to ensure project progress.
5. Minimize risks and ensure quality: Risks are analyzed and measures are defined. Quality standards and procedures are defined to meet project requirements.
6. Review and approval: The plan is checked for completeness, feasibility and accuracy before it is approved and finalized.

Typical examples of the use of detailed scheduling are :

Construction projects

The construction industry uses detailed scheduling to plan the course of the construction project. This includes the allocation of labor, materials and machinery.

Event management

Detailed scheduling helps to ensure that events run smoothly. To this end, it takes into account factors such as set-up and dismantling times, schedules and the deployment of personnel.

Production planning

Detailed scheduling is also used in production scheduling to optimize the manufacturing process and avoid bottlenecks.

Software development

Detailed scheduling is used in software development to divide the development process into small tasks or sprints.

Detailed scheduling in the life sciences industries

Detailed scheduling is also used in the life sciences industries of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical devices, food and cosmetics. It is typically used to plan and implement pharmaceutical product development and clinical studies, to develop medical devices, to ensure efficient steps in healthcare and regulatory compliance. In addition, detailed scheduling plays a major role in production in order to produce efficiently and on time.

In addition to the numerous opportunities and possibilities that detailed scheduling creates, it also brings challenges. On the one hand, complex and extensive projects make detailed scheduling more difficult, especially in the life sciences industries, as it has to take into account a large number of factors, some of which are variable. Unforeseen events also mean that time and resource planning has to be adjusted spontaneously. This also applies to the loss of resources due to illness, for example.

Open communication between those involved in the project and efficient change control are also relevant factors for successful detailed scheduling in order to avoid misunderstandings and successfully integrate new processes.

To meet these challenges, companies rely on the following best practices:

• Clearly define the objective of the project from the outset.
• Involve everyone involved at an early stage.
• Plan time and resources realistically.
• Identify potential risks in order to be able to react appropriately.
• Open communication and regular coordination with all those involved.
• A flexible mindset and adaptability in order to be able to react to unforeseeable events.
• Regular review of the project status and progress.

One software-supported option for detailed scheduling is an ERP system. It can provide support in various ways. Yaveon 365, our ERP for the process manufacturing industry, includes numerous functions that support detailed scheduling while meeting the strict requirements of the life sciences industry.

Some examples are

Efficient management

ERP systems facilitate efficient management of materials and personnel resources, helping with detailed scheduling.

Connection of further information

By interacting with other solutions, ERP systems also enable the connection of further information to detailed scheduling.

Central storage location

As a central storage location for data and information, ERP facilitates collaboration within the company and provides a central basis for successful results from detailed scheduling.

Warehouse and logistics functions

Warehouse and logistics functions help to optimize the planning of all tasks in this area, for example by monitoring stocks in real time.

Production tools

Production tools in ERP systems are just as helpful, as they show the possibilities in the production phase in detail, for example by planning machine capacities.

Automated scheduling

ERP systems support the fine-tuning of tasks and resources through automated scheduling, allowing deadlines to be met efficiently.