How does short-term scheduling vary among the different process choices? Specifically, compare short-term scheduling at process-oriented, work cells, repetitive, and product-focused facilities.

All three process choices produce forward-looking schedules. Process-focused facilities and work cells use MRP; their scheduling problems are ongoing because their product mix is so variable. Repetitive facilities schedule with line balancing and pull techniques; their scheduling problems are most challenging when assembly lines are new or when models change. Continuous processes have rather straightforward scheduling because they make relatively few products, and facility capacity and setup times and run times are usually known.