Back Scheduling

What is Back Scheduling?

Back Scheduling is a valuable technique used in logistics to effectively plan and manage activities in order to meet a desired end date. It involves calculating the start and completion dates of activities based on a series of known activities, the time required to complete them, and the desired end date for completing the entire series.

The concept of back scheduling is particularly useful when there are strict deadlines or time constraints that need to be met. By working backwards from the desired end date, logistics professionals can determine the start dates for each activity in the series, ensuring that the entire process is completed on time.

To illustrate the process of back scheduling, let's consider an example. Imagine a company that needs to deliver a product to a customer by a specific date. The company knows that it takes two days to package the product, three days for transportation, and one day for quality control. The desired end date for delivering the product is set for one week from today.

Using back scheduling, the company would start by subtracting the time required for quality control (one day) from the desired end date. This would give them the start date for quality control. Next, they would subtract the time required for transportation (three days) from the start date of quality control to determine the start date for transportation. Finally, they would subtract the time required for packaging (two days) from the start date of transportation to find the start date for packaging.

By following this process, the company can determine the start dates for each activity in the series, ensuring that the product is packaged, transported, and undergoes quality control in a timely manner to meet the desired end date of delivery.

Back scheduling is a powerful tool in logistics as it allows for efficient planning and coordination of activities. It helps logistics professionals to identify any potential bottlenecks or delays in the process and take necessary actions to mitigate them. By working backwards from the desired end date, back scheduling provides a clear roadmap for achieving timely completion of a series of activities.

In conclusion, back scheduling is a technique used in logistics to calculate the start and completion dates of activities based on a series of known activities, their required time, and the desired end date. It is a valuable tool for planning and managing logistics operations, ensuring that activities are completed on time and enabling businesses to meet their deadlines efficiently.