Make a realistic peak-shift plan with held orders and a fixed cutoff

Example answer

The estimates allow a maximum of fifteen orders, but that leaves no buffer. I would recommend fourteen: the four V orders and ten R orders, with four minutes for handoff and two minutes of margin. I would ask the lead which R orders take priority and flag that all sixteen eligible orders cannot fit. H1 and H2 remain held. My handoff would name every completed and pending order, and I would update the plan if actual progress differs rather than promise the maximum.

Worked plan

Order time available: 30 − 4 = 26 minutes. All eligible work: (12 × 2) + (4 × 1) = 28 minutes, so the deficit is 2 minutes before any disruption.

Theoretical maximum: 4 verified orders + 11 released-to-pack orders = 15 orders, using all 26 work minutes plus the four-minute handoff. Remaining: 1 eligible order + 2 held orders. This has no buffer and is conditional on the estimates holding.

A realistic recommendation is 14 orders: all four V orders plus ten R orders use 4 + (10 × 2) = 24 work minutes. With four minutes for handoff, that leaves 2 minutes of margin. If the lead selects R1–R10, complete V1–V4 and R1–R10; retain R11, R12, H1, and H2 as pending, with the two H orders still held. Different priorities can change the selected identities or completion count. Reconcile actual progress rather than mark the proposal completed in advance.

Assessment criteria

• Reserves the four-minute handoff, calculates the two-minute demand shortfall, and identifies the theoretical maximum of fifteen.
• Gives a feasible recommendation, explains its margin and tradeoffs, and accounts for all remaining orders and holds.
• Seeks priority direction and updates actual statuses without removing checks or assuming extra resources.

Stronger answer: distinguishes the maximum from a sensible commitment, then shows exactly which orders remain when the recommendation uses a buffer.

Acceptable alternatives: Fourteen orders with two minutes of margin is a sound recommendation. Fifteen can be presented as an explicitly conditional zero-buffer option; a lower completion count can also be justified by lead-set priorities or a stated margin. Score correct capacity, honest tradeoffs, and complete statuses rather than requiring the recommendation to equal the maximum.

Material mistakes: Calling fifteen guaranteed or the only acceptable plan, omitting handoff time, counting unconfirmed help, releasing H1/H2 without authorization, or losing the identities of unfinished orders when switching plans.

Follow-up question

What belongs in the handoff?

Actual dispatched identifiers and count; every remaining eligible order and its last completed step; H1/H2's hold reasons and owner; any new exception; and the agreed next action. For the illustrative fourteen-order plan, R11 and R12 remain eligible but unfinished, while H1 and H2 remain held. The actual approved selection determines the final identifiers.

Pressure test

Before work starts, a safe-area closure removes four minutes, and quality releases H1, which needs two minutes of work. H2 remains held.

The revised order capacity is 30 − 4 closure − 4 handoff = 22 minutes. Eligible demand is now 30 minutes: the original 28 plus H1's two, an eight-minute deficit. The theoretical maximum is four V orders plus nine two-minute orders, completing 13 with no buffer. Four eligible orders and H2 remain.

A buffered recommendation is four V orders plus eight two-minute orders: 12 orders use 20 work minutes, leaving 2 minutes of margin after the closure and handoff. For example, if approved priorities select H1 and R1–R7, complete those plus V1–V4; R8–R12 remain eligible and H2 remains held. Ask the lead to choose the eight, report the reduced capacity, preserve all required checks, and update the actual handoff. A different justified priority selection is also valid.