I use an excel worksheet to make a weekly graphical plan.
Therefore, I work in 4 columns, where each column presents a production-line
and is divided in 1 cell/hour.
In the columns I draw textboxes for the different articles dat are planned,
one under the other.
In the textboxes, I type the name of the article.
Depending on how the production lines are doing, I move the textboxes down-
or upwards.
Some periodes are fixed; ie: there's a maintenance planned for 8 hours, that
is fixed at wednesday 8am. When I move the textboxes down, I must be careful
to let the maintenance-time free!

Are there any suggestions to automate some things in such a planning? Note
that the length of the texboxes varies on the amount of needed production
for each article. There are weekly about 10 articles for each line.

Or should I use something else than excel?

Piet