Which schedule spreads material and labor requirements as evenly as possible over time?

• A. Lead-time offset
• B. Level schedule
• C. Line-haul costs
• D. Load

Answer: (B)

Spreading material and labor requirements as evenly as possible over time is achieved by level scheduling. The idea is to set a constant production rate in each period and use inventory and backorders to absorb fluctuations in demand, so the shop floor sees a steady workload rather than peaks and valleys. This reduces overtime, changeovers, and staffing instability while keeping capacity utilization more uniform and predictable. Lead-time offset changes when releases occur to align with lead times, without inherently smoothing production. Line-haul costs deal with transportation and don’t address how to balance production across periods. Load refers to the amount of capacity required, and level scheduling is the method used to produce at a steady load over time.