Operations Management and Strategic Management · Production Planning and Control

Routing, Scheduling and Dispatching in Production Control

Updated 10 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Routing decides the path and operations a job follows through the plant. Scheduling fixes the time: when each operation starts and ends. Dispatching releases orders, materials and instructions to the shop floor so work begins. Follow-up then tracks progress and corrects delays. Together they turn a production plan into actual output.

Understand Routing, Scheduling and Dispatching

Production planning decides what to make, how much and by when. Production control makes sure the plan actually happens on the shop floor. Routing, scheduling and dispatching are the three core control functions, and follow-up closes the loop.

Routing answers the question: where and how will the job be done? You fix the sequence of operations, the machines or work centres, the tools, and the material needed. The output is a route sheet (also called a route card or operation sheet). Good routing avoids backtracking and keeps material moving forward.

Scheduling answers the question: when will each operation be done? You assign start and finish times to each operation, using machine capacity, order due dates and material availability. Scheduling may be done at different levels. A master schedule shows the overall output by product and period. A detailed (operation) schedule shows what each machine does each day. Schedules are often shown on Gantt charts.

Loading is closely linked. It means assigning jobs to work centres or machines according to their available capacity. Loading can be finite (it respects capacity limits) or infinite (it assigns work without checking capacity, and overloads are sorted out later). Loading comes before the detailed schedule is finalised.

Dispatching is the action step. You issue the production order, release materials and tools from stores, hand over drawings and job cards, and authorise work to start at the scheduled time. Follow-up (expediting) then compares actual progress with the schedule, finds delays such as machine breakdown or material shortage, and takes corrective action. Reports on progress feed back into the next round of planning.

A simple memory line: routing = path, scheduling = time, loading = capacity, dispatching = go, follow-up = check.

Key rules to remember

Order of production control functions: Routing → Loading → Scheduling → Dispatching → Follow-up; Textbooks differ slightly on where loading sits. State your order and give a one-line meaning for each function.
Core question each function answers: Routing = where and how; Scheduling = when; Dispatching = release and start; Follow-up = is it on plan; Use this to write the difference between routing and scheduling in one line.
Typical routing documents: Route sheet, material requisition, tool requisition, job card, move order; List these when asked what routing and dispatching produce.
Loading types: Finite loading respects capacity; infinite loading ignores capacity; Finite loading gives a feasible plan. Infinite loading shows where overloads will occur.
Work centre load percentage: Load % = Hours of work assigned ÷ Hours of capacity available × 100; A simple check for overload. Above 100% means the work centre is overloaded.

How to solve Routing, Scheduling and Dispatching questions

Use this method for theory questions (explain, differentiate, list steps) and for short application cases on production control.

1Read the verb. 'Explain' needs meaning plus steps. 'Differentiate' needs a point-by-point comparison. 'Case' needs you to identify which function failed.
2Define the function in one clear sentence, using the question word: where and how (routing), when (scheduling), release (dispatching).
3List the steps or activities in order. For routing: analyse the product, decide operations, decide sequence, choose machines, fix tools, prepare route sheet.
4Add the documents or outputs, such as route sheet, schedule chart, job card.
5Link the functions. Show that routing feeds scheduling, scheduling feeds dispatching, and follow-up feeds back.
6For numbers, compute the load % or the completion times and state clearly whether the work centre is overloaded.
7Close with a one-line conclusion on why the function matters, such as lower idle time, on-time delivery or better machine use.

Quickest way: One-line anchor for each function

When to use it: Use when a differentiate or short-note question appears and you have only a few minutes.

Write the anchor: routing = path, scheduling = time, dispatching = release, follow-up = check.
Draw a two-column comparison with 4 to 5 points: meaning, question answered, output document, timing in the sequence, nature of work.
Add one sentence on how they connect.
Give a small example, such as a Pune auto-component maker, to show you understand the practice.

Common mistakes in Routing, Scheduling and Dispatching

Treating routing and scheduling as the same thing.
Both are planning activities done before production, so they blur together.
Fix: Routing is the path and sequence of operations. Scheduling is the time for each operation. Write the question each one answers.
Describing dispatching as delivering finished goods to customers.
In everyday use, 'dispatch' means sending goods out.
Fix: In production control, dispatching means releasing orders, materials, tools and instructions to start work on the shop floor.
Forgetting follow-up.
Students stop at the three well-known terms.
Fix: Always add follow-up (expediting) as the control step that compares actual with plan and corrects deviations.
Mixing up finite and infinite loading.
The names sound similar and both relate to capacity.
Fix: Finite loading respects capacity limits and gives a workable plan. Infinite loading ignores limits and exposes overloads.
Writing a theory answer with no structure.
Students write everything they remember in one block.
Fix: Use headings for meaning, steps, documents and importance. Examiners award marks for each clear point.

Worked examples

Example 1

Differentiate between routing and scheduling in production control. (5 marks)

Show the solution

Meaning: Routing fixes the path and sequence of operations a job follows. Scheduling fixes the start and finish time of each operation.
Question answered: Routing answers where and how the work is done. Scheduling answers when it is done.
Sequence: Routing comes first. Scheduling uses the route sheet and machine capacity.
Output: Routing gives a route sheet. Scheduling gives a schedule, often a Gantt chart.
Factors considered: Routing considers operations, machines, tools and material. Scheduling considers due dates, capacity and availability of resources.
Link: A schedule cannot be prepared without a route, so the two work together.

Answer: Routing decides the path and operations (where and how). Scheduling decides the timing (when). Routing produces the route sheet and comes first. Scheduling produces the time plan and depends on the route and capacity.

Example 2

A work centre has 2 machines, each available for 8 hours a day over 5 days. Orders assigned for the week are: Job A 12 hours, Job B 18 hours, Job C 25 hours, Job D 30 hours. Compute the load percentage and state whether the work centre is overloaded.

Show the solution

Capacity = 2 machines × 8 hours × 5 days = 80 hours.
Work assigned = 12 + 18 + 25 + 30 = 85 hours.
Load % = 85 ÷ 80 × 100 = 106.25%.
Overload = 85 − 80 = 5 hours.
Since load exceeds 100%, the work centre is overloaded under infinite loading. Under finite loading, 5 hours of work must be moved to another week, shifted to another work centre, or covered by overtime.

Answer: Load is 106.25%. The work centre is overloaded by 5 hours, so some work must be rescheduled, shifted or covered by overtime.

Exam tips

Differentiate questions are common. Prepare a table of 5 points for routing versus scheduling, and one more for scheduling versus dispatching.
For steps of routing, give the steps in order and name the route sheet as the output.
Always mention follow-up when asked about production control functions. Many students skip it.
In a short case, name the function that failed, such as a missing route sheet or delayed material release, and then give the fix.
Use the MCQ anchor: path means routing, time means scheduling, release means dispatching. This settles most confusing options quickly.

Practice questions from Production Planning and Control

Routing, Scheduling and Dispatching: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between routing and scheduling?

Routing decides the path and sequence of operations and the machines to be used. Scheduling decides the time at which each operation starts and ends. Routing is done first, and scheduling builds on it.

What is dispatching in production control?

Dispatching is the release of production orders, materials, tools and instructions to the shop floor so that work starts as scheduled. It is the action step that turns plans into work. It is not the delivery of finished goods.

What are the types of scheduling?

Common levels are master scheduling for overall output and detailed or operation scheduling for each machine and job. Scheduling is also described by the production system, such as job shop and continuous or flow production. Check your ICMAI study material for the exact classification it uses.

What is loading in production control?

Loading means assigning jobs to work centres or machines based on available capacity. Finite loading respects capacity limits, while infinite loading does not. It helps show overloads before the schedule is finalised.