Help with Scheduling

Jim B. Here. I have been in the dental lab business for over 40 years starting out as a C & B tech. I switched to removables about 15 years into the game. For the last 25 years I have operated my own lab outside of Philadelphia PA. Over the years I've had employees but I find it difficult to achieve the consistent quality that makes me proud of what I do, hence I work by myself with a part time delivery person. I do just about everything from start to finish from bite blocks to hybrid denture bridges and Ortho appliances. I send out milling and casting  although I used to cast my own partials. I just re-did my lab and at 63 am still not ready to quit and still enjoy at least the first 4 hrs at the bench ( unfortunately I still work the whole 8).   I look forward to being part of your forum.

I am looking for a solution to one of the most difficult problems that the small dental lab operator has to deal with. That is,  Scheduling. I am currently using an iPad running Fantastical software and I try to enter everything as soon as it comes in the door,or even in some cases when the dentist calls to setup the work. This in and of itself work great. The problem is the undulating work flow. I need some creative solutions from you out there to help with the never ending problem of managing the spikes when the delivery person comes back with 10 cases and you are already swamped. If any of you have worked out anything that helps to mitigate this to any satisfaction please share it with me. I know I probably need to change my MO radically. I would love it if I could get some wisdom from other techs who have dealt with this.

TIA
Jim B.