Excel optimum sorting option

[Raymie]

Hi

In simple terms I am trying to sort the below example by machine/previous operation finish date/recommended operation start day to give me an optimum start finish date for each work order/operation except on a much bigger scale. When I sort I get circular references because dates are dependant. I have tried using iterations but that just gives even worse result. Is there something different I should be doing?


[TABLE="class: cms_table_grid, width: 500, align: center"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Work Order[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Operation[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Machine[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Cycle Days[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Recommend Operation Start Date[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Previous Operation Finish Date[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Actual Operation Start Date[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Actual Operation finish Date[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]A[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.5[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]01/01/2018[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]=vlookup of previous operation finish date[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]=either previous operation finish date or date of finish date of previous operation on machine[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]= Start Date plus cycle[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]A[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.2[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]02/01/2018[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]C[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.4[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]03/01/2018[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]C[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.7[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]30/12/2017[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]C[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.6[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]31/12/2017[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]3[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]A[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.8[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]01/01/2018[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]A[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.5[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]02/01/2018[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]5[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]A[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.4[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]03/01/2018[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]C[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.6[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]04/01/2018[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Same as above[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[Fluff]

Continuation of https://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-questions/1042506-problems-circular-reference.html#post5004467

Please do not post the same question multiple times. All clarifications, follow-ups, and bumps should be posted back to the original thread.
Per forum rules, posts of a duplicate nature will be locked or deleted (rule 12 here: Forum Rules).