Weekly Production Schedule Template

This weekly production schedule template provides a structured grid with days of the week across the top (Monday through Friday, with optional Saturday columns) and production lines or work centers down the left side. Each cell contains fields for the production order number, product name, planned quantity, shift assignment (morning, afternoon, or night), start and end times, and status indicators. A summary row at the bottom tallies the total planned output per day and per line, making capacity utilization visible at a glance. The template also includes a notes section for recording changeover requirements, material delivery schedules, and special instructions. A separate tab provides a running log of schedule changes with timestamps and reasons, supporting continuous improvement of the scheduling process. Color-coded priority indicators (red for urgent, yellow for high, green for standard) help supervisors quickly identify the most critical orders.

Start by entering the available capacity for each production line and shift — accounting for planned maintenance, breaks, and expected changeover time. Next, list all production orders that must be completed during the week, sorted by due date. Assign orders to production lines based on equipment capability and product-line affinity (products that can be made on the same line with minimal changeover). Distribute orders across the week to level the workload — avoid front-loading Monday or leaving Friday empty. Verify that no production line exceeds its daily capacity. Check that changeover sequences are logical (group similar products together on the same line). Review material availability for each order and flag any potential shortages. Share the completed schedule with supervisors and operators by the end of the prior week. During the week, update status daily and note any deviations for the weekly review meeting. For an even more efficient approach, use LinePlanner's digital production calendar, which automates capacity checking and provides real-time status updates.

This template can be adapted for various manufacturing environments. **Single-shift variation**: simplify by removing shift columns and using a single row per line per day. **24/7 operation variation**: add night shift columns and weekend days. **Job shop variation**: replace production lines with work centers or machines, and add routing information showing the sequence of operations for each order. **Multi-plant variation**: create a separate tab for each facility with a consolidated summary view. **Lean variation**: add columns for takt time, planned vs. actual output per hour, and kanban replenishment signals. The template works in spreadsheet format (Excel, Google Sheets) for teams that prefer familiar tools, or can serve as the planning logic behind a digital scheduling system like LinePlanner that adds interactivity, collaboration, and real-time updates.