SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

SCHEDULING OF JOB-SHOP PRODUCTION PROJECTS WITH

MICROSOFT OFFICE EXCEL

Mădălin CATANĂ1, Corneliu NEAGU1 and Sergiu TONOIU1

ABSTRACT: This paper presents a computer application developed within a Microsoft Office Excel workbook
for performing job-shop scheduling tasks concerning production projects. Scheduling workbook includes
three worksheets and several Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code modules. The main worksheet of
scheduling workbook is organized with cell ranges for data input through user typing and cell ranges for
application output through provided cell formulas or through VBA procedures initiated by user. Several
command buttons for performing complex scheduling steps are available on the main worksheet and one
command button is provided for centralizing data inputs and outputs on a separate preformatted sheet. An empty
worksheet for preserving temporary data needed by the application during complex scheduling steps is also
included in the workbook. For a target production project, the developed computer-aided scheduling (CAS)
application can deliver a complete Critical Path Method (CPM) analysis and eight scheduling scenarios
amongst which user may choose the most suitable one in terms of his criteria. To prove the functionality of
scheduling workbook and the quality of its outputs, an example production project is treated within the paper.
KEY WORDS: Scheduling, CAS systems, CPM analysis, Time- and resource-constrained scheduling scenarios.

1 INTRODUCTION To cope with complex scheduling tasks in short

Scheduling is a decision-making process performed
regularly by manufacturing companies for allocating
and timing production jobs to processing resources
so as to optimize one or more scheduling objectives
(Pinedo, 2008), (Sipper & Bulfin, 1998). The result is
a short-term production schedule that states the time
each operation of jobs starts and finishes on allotted
resource of production facility.
To help the schedulers to resolve easily practical
scheduling tasks, scheduling situations are classified in
the literature into a number of standardized scheduling
problems according to the characteristics of processing
jobs and resources (Pinedo, 2008), (Sipper & Bulfin,
1998). So, in a typical job-shop scheduling problem,
there are several jobs to be done by several processing
resources and each job visits resources according to
a specific route (Pinedo, 2008). On the other hand, a
project scheduling problem is viewed as an extended
job-shop scheduling problem with complex relations
between operations of jobs and with temporal limits set
for the execution of operations and for the availability of
processing resources (Demeulemeester & Herroelen,
2002). For this reason, project scheduling techniques
are extensively used in practice for the resolution of
complicated, time- and resource-constrained job-shop
scheduling problems (Demeulemeester & Herroelen,
2002), (Neagu et al., 2006), (Velaga, 2007).
1
University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Department of
Machine Manufacturing Technology, Splaiul Independentei
313, 060042, Sector 6, Bucharest, Romania.
E-mail: mg_catana@yahoo.com.
time and at low costs, many computer-aided scheduling
(CAS) systems were developed and used in practice.
There are reported different CAS systems adapted for
traditional job-shop scheduling problems (Kazel, 2006),
(Pinedo, 2008), and others fitted for project scheduling
(Billows, 2007), (Demeulemeester & Herroelen, 2002),
(Uher, 2003). A common disadvantage of all generic
CAS systems is their high acquisition costs. A more
important drawback is the specialization of each system
for a limited set of scheduling environments and goals
that may not fit all the situations in industrial practice.
That is why application-specific CAS systems have to
be developed at times (Pinedo, 2008). Such a system
is the application described within the paper, which is
intended to handle time- and resource- constrained job-
shop scheduling problems for production projects.
Scheduling application is implemented within a
Microsoft Office Excel workbook for convenient use
and is founded on previous theoretical works of the
authors (Catană et al., 2007a & 2007b), (Neagu et al.,
2006). To demonstrate the utilization of scheduling
workbook and its results, a simple job-shop production
project will be used for example.
2 DESIGN OF SCHEDULING WORKBOOK
We will discuss the developed application with
the help of production project in figure 1, which was
partly treated by authors within their previous works
(Catană et al., 2007a & 2007b). The project refers to
three machining jobs comprising several operations.
Each operation of the three jobs is described in project
network by a horizontal line, with the following data

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written above and below: operation label and planned Considering these operational traits, the working area
duration in days (d); label of the resource assigned to of the sheet was divided into three data sections with
process operation. S and F are dummy activities showing different background colors:
respectively the start and finish of production project. - inputs section, colored in blue;
The precedence relations between project activities are - formula-based outputs section, colored in rose;
indicated by network arrows, with the lag times, if any, - VBA code-based outputs section, which is colored
expressed in days (d). Denoting to the start time of the in yellow.
scheduling horizon, we set two temporal constraints on Headings and labels of columns and rows within
the availability of resource R1 for project activities, the working area of the sheet are colored in gray, the
as follows: R1 is available from to + 1 day to to + 11 same as the provided command buttons. As a matter
day in the scheduling horizon. These Start No Earlier of fact, these buttons stand in for the columns labels of
Than (SNET) and Finish No Later Than (FNLT) time VBA code-based outputs section of the worksheet.
constraints placed on resource R1, induce equivalent
As shown in figure 2, the following information
constraints on all operations allotted to R1 (i.e., T11,
must be entered by user within the columns of inputs
T14, and T32). Project data in figure 1 and temporal
section of the main worksheet:
constraints set on resources and operations have to
be inputted by the user within the main worksheet of - index of scheduling task (column A), which has
scheduling workbook. to be unique for each task defined by the user and
stored within inputs section of the worksheet;
The main worksheet of scheduling workbook is
- index of each job in the production project that
the place where user enters required data for project
triggered the scheduling task (column C);
scheduling task and commands afterwards the delivery
- label of each job in the project (column D);
of scheduling solutions for that task. Based on their
- number of operations for each job (column F);
computation complexity, data comprising application
- index of each operation in each job (column G);
output for a project scheduling task are obtained by
- label of each operation in each job (column H);
two different means: through predefined cell formulas
- index of processing resource for each operation
or through the execution of VBA procedures initiated
(column J);
by user with the command buttons on the worksheet.
T11, 1d I13, 1d B15, 2d I17, 1d
R1 M12, 2d R3 T14, 2d R4 D16, 2d R3
R2 R1 R5
S M21, 3d -2d D23, 12d -4d I25, 3d F
R2 M22, 6d R5 B24, 6d R3
-4d -2d
R2 R4
M31, 2d -1d I33, 2d -1d D35, 6d -1d
R2 T32, 4d R3 B34, 4d R5 I36, 2d
-1d -2d
R1 R4 R3

Figure 1. Network model for an example production project

Figure 2. Inputs section of main worksheet completed for the example project

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- duration of each operation (column K);
- lag time of each succeeding operation (column L),
that is measured from the finish of predecessor
to possible start of successor and depends on the
transferring scheme adopted for the job;
- SNET constraints (column R) and FNLT constraints
(column T) set on project operations according to
material requirements plan, resources availability
limits, or other valid reasons;
- SNET constraints (column S) and FNLT constraints
(column U) set on project resources according to
their time-limited assignment to project activities.
SNET and FNLT time constraints for operations
and resources have to be defined relative to the start of
scheduling horizon (to).
As it can be observed in the depiction of inputs
section of the main worksheet, there are several data
columns not mentioned above and hidden in figure 2.
These columns refer to some additional data regarding
production project that are not necessary for scheduling
task (e.g., names and quantities of manufactured parts,
names of processing operations, names of resources).
Near inputs section of the main worksheet there
is a formula-based outputs section provided for critical
path method (CPM) analysis of production project, as
shown in figure 3. Details on the design of this section
are provided in table 1 and several comments are given
in the following.
Start and finish times for project operations are
computed relative to the start of scheduling horizon
(to). An important output of CPM analysis is the latest
finish time of production project that will be used for
developing backward scheduling scenarios. In the case
of example project, this time, denoted tf, is linked by to
as follows: tf = to + 20 days (see maximal values in
column Y of figure 3). This relationship will be used
later to express backward scheduling data relative to
project completion time (tf).
Table 1. Design of CPM analysis section of the main worksheet
Column Column
heading output
V Earliest start times for project operations
W Earliest finish times for project operations
Time lags between finish times of operations set
X =IF(MAX(T2;0)>0;T2-W2;IF(G2=1;0;X1))
by FNLT constraints and earliest finish times
Y Latest finish times for project operations
Z Latest start times for project operations
AA Total slacks for project operations
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SCIENTIFIC PAPERS
The formulas in this section as well as all formulas
that are used within the main worksheet of scheduling
workbook are devised so as to permit scheduling task-
dependent calculations within data cells (i.e., whatever
the number of different scheduling tasks stored within
inputs section of the worksheet, the formula in a cell
uses for calculation only necessary data provided for
the scheduling task related to that cell). For this reason
and depending on performed calculations, there were
used simple or array formulas, with relative and/or
absolute references to other data cells (see table 1).
Due to relative cell references, a formula will have
different expressions for different cells of the same
column. However, these expressions are automatically
filled in by Excel when copying the cell containing the
formula to subsequent cells of the column. User can
practice this method, if required, for the two columns
in analysis section of operations priorities on scheduling
(see figure 4).
Figure 3. CPM analysis section of main worksheet
for the example project
Column formula
(expression for the first data cell)
=IF(G2=1;MAX(R2;0);MAX(R2;V1+K1+L2))
=V2+K2
{=IF(G2=F2;IF(MAX(T2;0)>0;MIN(T2;MAX(IF(
$A$2:$A$943=A2;IF($G$2:$G$943=$F$2:$F$943
;$W$2:$W$943+$X$2:$X$943;"");"")));MAX(IF(
$A$2:$A$943=A2;IF($G$2:$G$943=$F$2:$F$943
;$W$2:$W$943+$X$2:$X$943;"");"")));IF(MAX(
T2;0)>0;MIN(T2;Y3-K3-L3);Y3-K3-L3))}
=Y2-K2
=Z2-V2
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Operations priorities analysis section is located
next to CPM analysis section and permits the delivery
of priority labels of operations that will be used by VBA
procedures performing resource-constrained scheduling
steps. These labels indicate only the priority caused by
temporal constraints set on project operations, and can
be D if operations have priority on scheduling, or N if
not. Backward scheduling priorities are computed in
column AB, while priorities for forward scheduling
are shown in column AC (see figure 4). The default
formulas of the two columns can be changed by user,
on the suggestions provided within comments boxes
of columns labels. The suggested expressions have to
be typed in the first data cells of the two columns and
copied downward afterwards. The effects of alternative
formulas on the performances of developed scheduling
scenarios were previously discussed by authors (Catană
et al., 2007a & 2007b).
After setting priority labels for project operations,
user can perform resource-constrained scheduling steps
that give alternative project schedules to choose from.
This can be done by pushing the command buttons at
the top of VBA code-based outputs section of the main
worksheet. The execution of VBA procedures related
to these buttons will fill scheduling data in the cells
of this section, as presented in figure 5.
The functions of command buttons in figure 5 are
as follows:
- FSLRop gives forward sequencing list ranks for
project operations (column AD);
- BSLRop gives backward sequencing list ranks of
project operations (column AE);
- STop&FTop4FOS gives start times (column AF)
and finish times (column AG) of project operations
for forward operations-sequencing scenarios;

Figure 4. Operations priorities analysis section of main worksheet for the example project

Figure 5. VBA code-based outputs section of main worksheet filled in for the example project

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- FTop&STop4BOS gives finish times (column AH)
and start times (column AI) of project operations
for backward operations-sequencing scenarios;
- STop&FTop4FLP/Sop gives start times (column AJ)
and finish times (column AK) of project operations
for forward load-planning scenario based on slacks
of operations;
- FTop&STop4BLP/Sop gives finish times (column AL)
and start times (column AM) of project operations
for backward load-planning scenario based on slacks
of operations;
- STop&FTop4FLP/TOC gives start times (column AN)
and finish times (column AO) of project operations
for forward load-planning scenario based on theory
of constraints (TOC);
- FTop&STop4BLP/TOC gives finish times (column AP)
and start times (column AQ) of project operations
for backward load-planning scenario based on theory
of constraints (TOC).
Two different sequencing scenarios can by issued
with FSLRop and STop&FTop4FOS, or BSLRop and
FTop&STop4BOS buttons: a slack-based sequencing
scenario or a queue-based sequencing scenario. User
can choose the scenario to be devised in the selection
window displayed after pressing FSLRop or BSLRop
command buttons (see figure 6).
VBA code attached to the buttons of this section
implements resource-constrained project scheduling
techniques that were previously devised by the authors
and discussed in reference works (Catană et al., 2007a
& 2007b), (Neagu et al., 2006). Start and finish times
of project operations for all scheduling scenarios are
expressed relative to time to, following that backward
scheduling data to be related to time tf within the next
formula-based outputs section of the worksheet (see
figure 7).
Backward scheduling data conversion section of
main worksheet contains predefined cell formulas that
Figure 7. Backward scheduling data conversion section of main worksheet for the example project
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SCIENTIFIC PAPERS
transform to-based operations start and finish times of
backward schedules to tf-based times. The calculations
rely on the relation between tf and to found in column
Y of CPM analysis section. The following backward
scheduling data are computed within this section (see
figure 7 for the case of example production project, for
which tf = to + 20 days):
- latest finish times (column AU) and latest start
times (column AV) of project operations for CPM
analysis;
- finish times (column AW) and start times (column
AX) of project operations for backward operations-
sequencing scenario in VBA code-based outputs
section;
- finish times (column AY) and start times (column
AZ) of project operations for backward load-planning
scenario based on slacks of operations;
- finish times (column BA) and start times (column
BB) of project operations for backward load-planning
scenario based on theory of constraints (TOC).
After the delivery of desired scheduling scenarios
within the main worksheet of scheduling workbook,
user may consolidate the inputs and outputs related to
project scheduling task on another preformatted sheet
by using Centralize Data command button (see figure
7). In figure 8 is displayed the tabular scheduling report
issued with Centralize Data command button for the
example production project. An empty worksheet that
stores temporary data during complex scheduling steps
is also comprised in the scheduling workbook.
Figure 6. Selection window for sequencing scenario
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Figure 8. Tabular scheduling report issued for the example production project
3 CONCLUDING REMARKS
Because generic CAS systems are costly and not
well fitted for many practical scheduling environments,
application-specific systems are developed at times.
Such a system is computer application described in the
paper, which is suited for scheduling time- and resource-
constrained job-shop production projects.
Application consists in a scheduling workbook,
with three preformatted sheets and several VBA code
modules for complex functions. The main worksheet
of scheduling workbook is organized in sections for
typed data inputs, formula-based calculated outputs,
and VBA code-based computed outputs respectively.
For a target production project and set of priority labels
for project operations, the application can deliver eight
scheduling scenarios amongst which user may choose
the preferred one. Alternative scenarios may be shown
in a tabular scheduling report on another worksheet
of the workbook.
In its current version, the application is suitable
enough for both practical and training purposes. Yet,
a further development of the application can be done
if necessary, in order to implement other scheduling
techniques, to include a friendlier user interface, and
to be connected with material requirements planning
and production control systems that may by used by
industrial companies.
4 REFERENCES
►Billows, D. (2007). Selecting Project Management
Software, available at: http://www.4pm.com/articles/
selpmsw.pdf - Accessed on: 2009-05-02
36 ACADEMIC JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING, VOL. 7, ISSUE 4/2009
►Catană, M., Neagu, C., Tonoiu, S. (2007a). Adjusting
Temporal-Constraints Rule of Sequencing Models for
Job-Shops with Hard Resource Limitations, Proc. of the
5th International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing
Technologies – ICAMaT, Sibiu, Romania, 2007, AGIR
Publishing House, ISSN 1843-3162, pag. 277-280
►Catană, M., Neagu, C., Tonoiu, S. (2007b). A TOC-
Based Load-Planning Procedure for Scheduling Activities
in Job-Shops with Tight Resource Constraints, Proc. of
the 5th International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing
Technologies – ICAMaT, Sibiu, Romania, 2007, AGIR
Publishing House, ISSN 1843-3162, pag. 281-284
►Demeulemeester, E., Herroelen, W. (2002). Project
Scheduling: A Research Handbook, Kluwer Academic
Publishers, ISBN 1-4020-7051-9, Dordrecht
►Kazel, C. (2006). Production Scheduling Software,
available at: http://www.productionscheduling.com/
production_scheduling_software.html - Accessed on:
2009-05-03
►Neagu, C., Niţu, E., Melnic, L., Catană, M. (2006).
Ingineria şi managementul producţiei: Bazele teoretice,
Editura Didactică şi Pedagogică R.A., ISBN 973-30-
1623-3, Bucureşti
►Pinedo, M. (2008). Scheduling: Theory, Algorithms,
and Systems, 3rd Edition, Springer Science+Business
Media, ISBN 978-0-387-78934-7, New York
►Sipper, D., Bulfin, R. (1998). Production: Planning,
Control, and Integration, McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-
115843-X, Singapore
►Uher, T. (2003). Programming and Scheduling
Techniques, UNSW Press, ISBN 0-86840-725-9, Sydney
►Velaga, P. (2007). Production Scheduling for Job
Shops, available at: http://www.optisol.biz/job_shop_
scheduling.html - Accessed on: 2009-05-01