When there is a large seasonal fluctuation in business, what should happen to the master schedule?

When there is a large seasonal fluctuation in business, what should happen to the master schedule?

• A. It should stay the same
• B. It should be adjusted accordingly
• C. It should be set to median
• D. It should be unused

Answer: (B)

The master schedule should reflect the actual changes in demand over time. When business experiences large seasonal swings, production plans need to move with those changes so you can meet higher demand in peak periods and avoid overproduction in slow periods. Adjusting the schedule helps align capacity, labor, and materials with what is anticipated, reducing stockouts and excessive inventory. Staying the same ignores the seasonal shifts, setting the plan to a median doesn’t capture the real peaks and dips, and leaving it unused wastes resources. The key idea is to make the master schedule responsive to seasonal demand so production matches what the business expects to need.

The master schedule should reflect the actual changes in demand over time. When business experiences large seasonal swings, production plans need to move with those changes so you can meet higher demand in peak periods and avoid overproduction in slow periods. Adjusting the schedule helps align capacity, labor, and materials with what is anticipated, reducing stockouts and excessive inventory.

Staying the same ignores the seasonal shifts, setting the plan to a median doesn’t capture the real peaks and dips, and leaving it unused wastes resources. The key idea is to make the master schedule responsive to seasonal demand so production matches what the business expects to need.