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?

Work Order	Operation	Machine	Cycle Days	Recommend Operation Start Date	Previous Operation Finish Date	Actual Operation Start Date	Actual Operation finish Date
1	1	A	0.5	01/01/2018	=vlookup of previous operation finish date	=either previous operation finish date or date of finish date of previous operation on machine	= Start Date plus cycle
1	2	A	0.2	02/01/2018	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above
1	3	C	0.4	03/01/2018	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above
2	1	C	0.7	30/12/2017	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above
2	2	C	0.6	31/12/2017	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above
2	3	A	0.8	01/01/2018	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above
2	4	A	0.5	02/01/2018	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above
2	5	A	0.4	03/01/2018	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above
2	6	C	0.6	04/01/2018	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above

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[Fluff]

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

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