infinite loading

in manufacturing, the debate rages on whether to load work centres finitely (finite capacity, or max h/d or /w) or infinitely (infinite capacity, or no max). at first, finite loading makes sense, except (a) things are always changing, and (b) everything's interconnected.  so materials managers sleep better at night by assuming something's going to fall off the table and using infinite loading. it's an art. decisions based on gut feeling.

i knew a prospector, once, who used to walk across the canadian arctic looking for, i dunno, stuff, while in the employ of a german multinational. he had a degree, he could fly a plane, he had survival training. none of that mattered. what mattered was that he was lucky. he could find stuff. again. prospecting, like scheduling work centres, is mathematically unplannable. what's the mathematical symbol for luck?

planning my day is like that. i tried not planning at all, but too much fell off the table, and i guess i'm anal enough that i cared. so i'm back to using a spreadsheet. and infinite loading. and trusting my gut.