Fixedschedule

Fixedschedule is a time management and operations concept in which activities are assigned to fixed, predetermined times within a recurring timetable. It emphasizes predictability and regularity, and contrasts with flexible schedules that adjust times in response to circumstances.

Applications span manufacturing, transportation, education, and workplace planning. In manufacturing, production lines may have fixed start times to improve throughput and shift coordination. In public transit, schedules define when routes depart and arrive. In educational settings, classes and examinations may follow a fixed calendar.

Key characteristics include clearly defined, non-overlapping time slots, calendar-based planning, and limited mid-cycle changes. Revisions are typically managed through formal scheduling updates rather than improvised adjustments.

Benefits include improved predictability, easier resource allocation, smoother coordination among teams, and easier compliance with labor and safety constraints.

Limitations include reduced flexibility to accommodate delays or changing priorities, risk of cascading delays if tasks overrun, and the need for accurate capacity estimation and buffering.

In software development and project management, fixedschedule can refer to timeboxed cadences where the calendar is fixed and scope is allowed to vary to fit the time frame, a practice closely related to timeboxing.

See also: scheduling, timetabling, timeboxing, production scheduling.