Changelog
Jan 5, 2026
Priority-Based Scheduling in Job Shops: A Practical Method for Better On-Time Delivery
Managing production schedules in job shop environments can feel complex, but it often starts with a straightforward routine. New orders are added to the existing job list, and the master scheduler assigns a priority or sequence number to each new job. That priority can be based on multiple criteria, including the due date, job duration, or other factors that matter to the business.
In high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, priority-setting is not optional. It is a core part of how job shops stay responsive, protect delivery performance, and keep production moving efficiently.
Priority-based scheduling approach for job shops
Because priorities are so critical, most Automatic Finite Scheduling engines designed for job shops include a priority-based scheduling approach. The scheduler groups jobs into priority categories, and the scheduling engine uses those categories as a key decision input.
Tip: Automatic Finite Scheduling (AFS) is a key success factor for job shops.
In the most extreme scenario, every job could even receive its own category or individual priority. In day-to-day AFS use, the real question becomes: how do you choose priorities in a way that supports your goals?
Assume your AFS solution allows you to define as many priority classes as needed. In practice, it is useful to have at least five levels, ranging from very important to least important. This keeps the system structured while still giving planners enough flexibility to reflect reality on the shop floor.
Common starting point: due-date driven priorities
A common approach among AFS users is to set priorities based on due date. The closer the due date, the higher the priority. This is a valid and widely used method.
However, there are also more goal-oriented criteria that can improve decision-making in job shops especially when the objective is strong on-time delivery and healthier cash flow.
Additional criteria that can drive better scheduling decisions
Below are several practical criteria that schedulers can consider alongside due dates:
Jobs that do not need to pass through the bottleneck
These jobs can be treated differently and, in many cases, can receive a higher priority so they finish earlier and potentially generate revenue earlier.
Jobs that must go through the bottleneck
If a job requires bottleneck capacity, a useful guiding metric is margin per bottleneck hour (or a similar KPI). Whether you calculate this KPI in your ERP/BI tools or through internal costing logic, you can use the result to support priority decisions and reflect them in your job sequence or priority settings.
Buffer-oriented thinking as a decision basis
If you do not want decisions to depend on changing conditions—such as a shifting bottleneck over time—a more stable approach can be preferable. In that case, buffer-oriented thinking can help.
What should drive decisions is not only how close the due date is, but also how much work is still needed until that due date. Using a relative view of time remaining vs. work remaining can help planners identify priorities more objectively and support high on-time delivery. If buffer-related KPIs are calculated outside the scheduler (for example, in ERP/BI), the output can still be used as a practical input for prioritization.
This list could be extended further. Strategic considerations like the importance of the customer relationship and direct financial aspects can also influence how critical an order is.
Given this complexity, it is highly valuable when the scheduler can evaluate each job individually and adjust priorities when needed—using different criteria combinations depending on the situation.
Leave room for rush jobs and last-minute changes
One of the most important requirements of any priority method is that it must allow urgent orders to be inserted into the schedule when necessary.
A practical way to enable this is to reserve the highest priority class exclusively for so-called “boss jobs.” When such a job is added, the scheduling engine can replan based on the assigned priority so the planner does not have to rebuild the entire schedule manually.
Summary
Enable the scheduler to prioritize each job individually.
Your priority method must allow you to insert rush jobs when needed.
When evaluating priorities, consider bottleneck-related KPIs and buffer-oriented thinking, in addition to strategic factors such as customer importance.
Where Just Plan It fits: priority-driven scheduling for job shops
If you want to apply a structured priority-based approach using Automatic Finite Scheduling, Just Plan It (JPI) supports the kind of priority control and planner flexibility that job shops typically need helping you keep the schedule responsive as priorities change and new work is added.
Terraquus supports customers as a reseller partner, helping teams implement practical scheduling methods that match real shop floor constraints.
Call to action
Want to see how priority-based scheduling can work in your environment with Just Plan It?
Contact Terraquus to discuss your process and request a demo.
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