Configuring Process Order Scheduling

Depending on your business requirements, you can schedule orders either forwards or backwards in time: In forward scheduling, a process order is scheduled forwards in time starting from the basic start date (for example, manually entered or copied from the planned order); in backward scheduling, a process order is scheduled backwards in time starting from the basic finish date (for example, manually entered or copied from the planned order).

The previous figure shows all the possible elements contributing to the total lead time of a process order: The total lead time of a production order lies between the basic start date (BS) and the basic finish date (BF). The float before production lies between the basic start date (BS) and the scheduled start date of the first operation (SS), and the float after production lies between the scheduled finish date of the last operation (SF) and the basic finish date (BF). By specifying sufficient buffer times, you obtain better production stability as you can react to any unforeseen events that can occur in the production process. However, if your buffer times are too high, your production resource utilization can decrease. If necessary, for example if there is delays of other orders or a machine breakdown, the buffer times can be automatically reduced by the system.

The duration of an operation is defined by the duration of the individual phases. Each phase is scheduled using the scheduling formula stored in the resource data and the default values of phases in the master recipe. When a phase network is scheduled, the phase relationships are considered and the phase dates are carried over to the operation. The start time of the first phase plus the finish time of the last phase is the start and finish of the operation. In contrast to production routings, no inter-operation times can be maintained in the master recipe.

If a process order is being used to perform production for a sales order, then further time elements of the sales order are considered to determine the final date of the process order.

The scheduling parameters for process orders are created and maintained for the key fields plant, order type, and production supervisor in the configuration activity, Specify Scheduling Parameters.

When you open the configuration activity, you first find an overview of all the entries that are already created, as shown in the previous figure. You can create new entries or display or change the details of already existing entries.

In the detail view of an entry, you find the following information and control settings:

• Scheduling:

  This setting is always selected and cannot be deselected, as process orders are always subject to detailed scheduling.

• Generate capacity requirements:

  The selection determines that also capacity requirements are generated when the order is scheduled.

• Adjust Dates:

  You specify whether and how the basic dates are adjusted to the production dates (for example, when deadlines are exceeded).

• Scheduling control for detailed scheduling:

  • Scheduling Type:

    Here you specify in which direction the scheduling is to be carried out and whether it is to be carried out to an exact time. You can also specify that a scheduling run is only used to generate capacity requirements.

  • Start in the Past:

    Here you specify how many days an order can lie in the past before today scheduling is triggered.

  • Automatic Scheduling:

    Here you specify whether scheduling is carried out automatically on saving the order.

  • Automatic log:

    Here you specify whether the log is displayed automatically on scheduling.

  • Scheduling with breaks:

    Here you specify that the exact time a break occurs must be considered. If you set this check box, it is no longer possible that a calculated time occurs during a break time.

  • Scheduling from production dates:

    Here you specify which dates have to be entered when you create or change an order. If the check box is set, you must enter one or more production dates (scheduled dates). If the check box is not set, you must enter one or more basic dates.

  • Shift Order:

    This check box defines that for partially confirmed operations the actual dates already existing are not considered during a new scheduling run.

  • Latest Staging Date:

    This check box stipulates where the requirements date of a component lie. Set the check box if the requirements date is the latest scheduled date of the phase. If you do not set the check box, the requirements date is the earliest scheduled date of the phase.

• Reduction:

  Here you define the reduction strategy for the automatic reduction of the order floats.

  • Maximum reduction level:

    Here you define up to which maximum reduction level the reduction takes place.

  • % reduction in floats:

    Here you define to what percentage the float before and after production in every reduction level is to be reduced.