Using visual project management scheduling tools is important. So here we discuss scheduling and three techniques—the planning sheet, the Gantt chart, and the PERT network—which are often designed for specific projects. Scheduling is the process of listing activities that must be performed to accomplish an objective; the activities are listed in sequence, along with the time needed to complete each one. An important part of scheduling is routing. Routing is the path and sequence of the transformation of a product into an output.

Priority scheduling is the continuing evaluation and reordering of the sequence in which products will be produced. The method of priority scheduling depends on the layout used. Planning sheets state an objective and list the sequence of activities required to meet the objective, when each activity will begin and end, and who will complete each activity. Gantt charts use bars to graphically illustrate a schedule and progress toward the objective over a period. The different activities to be performed are usually listed vertically, with time shown horizontally.

Multiple activities are considered to be independent when they can be performed simultaneously; they are considered to be dependent when one must be completed before the next activity can begin. Planning sheets and Gantt charts are useful tools when the activities follow each other in a dependent series. However, when some activities are dependent and some are independent, PERT (critical path) is more appropriate. PERT is a network scheduling technique that illustrates the dependence of activities.