Which term describes spreading orders out in time so that the amount of work in sequential time periods is distributed evenly and is achievable?

• A. Load leveling
• B. Level loading
• C. Capacity smoothing
• D. Demand leveling

Answer: (A)

Spreading orders out in time to create an even, achievable workload on the shop floor is load leveling. By distributing work evenly across successive periods, you prevent peaks that overwhelm capacity and valleys that leave resources idle, making the production schedule more realistic and reliable. This approach smooths flow, helps maintain a stable work-in-process level, reduces overtime, and improves on-time delivery by keeping the rate of production relatively constant. In practice, you adjust planned releases within the planning horizon to achieve a balanced workload, considering capacity limits and lot-size considerations so overall demand is met without overloading any period. While similar ideas exist, load leveling is the term that specifically describes leveling the production workload over time rather than simply adjusting capacity or smoothing demand.