TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT REQUIRES SHRINKING PRODUCT TIME BEFORE MARKETING, SHORTER PRODUCT LIFE CYCLES, AND SMALLER BANKS OF INVENTORY. BECAUSE OF THIS, PRODUCTION PLANNING AND SCHEDULING PLAYS A MORE IMPORTANT ROLE IN MANUFACTURING. MOST MANUFACTURING FACILITIES ARE UNIQUE IN DETERMINING WHAT IS A GOOD SCHEDULE AND WHAT SCHEDULING RULES AND CRITERIA ARE REQUIRED TO MEET THE FACTORY PERFORMANCE GOALS. AS A RESULT, THERE IS AN INCREASING NEED TO PROVIDE FLEXIBLE TOOLS TO ASSIST SCHEDULING PERSONNEL CREATE AND EVALUATE PRODUCTION SCHEDULES. THIS PAPER DISCUSSES FINITE CAPACITY AND HOW COORDINATED RULE BASED SCHEDULING IN COMBINATION WITH COMPUTER SIMULATION CAN HELP PLANNING PERSONNEL IMPROVE FACTORY PERFORMANCE. THIS IS DONE BY UTILIZING THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL IN A MORE PRODUCTIVE MANNER.