What primary information does a production schedule assist with?

A production schedule is an essential tool in the food service program as it primarily helps with coordinating meal hours and headcounts. This schedule is designed to streamline the food preparation process, ensuring that meals are served at the appropriate times and that the number of meals prepared aligns with the expected number of diners. By accurately reflecting meal service times and the corresponding number of participants, a production schedule allows kitchen staff to efficiently manage their workload, avoid food waste, and enhance service delivery.

While other options address important aspects of food service management, they do not capture the primary focus of a production schedule. For instance, identifying dietary restrictions and planning staff shifts are significant, but they are not the primary functions of a production schedule. Similarly, establishing food safety protocols is critical, yet it falls outside the direct purview of a schedule that is mainly focused on meal timing and planning for demand. Thus, coordinating meal hours and headcounts is the correct answer as it reflects the core objectives of the production schedule within the Army Food Service Program.