Cycle Set
Simple multiple counter plans normally work with individual cycles linked by an operation type (OR/AND). The cycles usually work with the same maintenance item, that is, the work package is always the same.
The cycle comprises several individual cycles and is used as a template for creating a multiple counter plan. It consists of a series of maintenance cycles. In contrast to the maintenance strategy, the cycle set doesn't have a reference function. This means that after the maintenance plan has been created, there's no longer a link between the cycle set and the maintenance plan.
Only one time-based cycle can be used in a multiple counter plan. Once the cycle set has been included in the maintenance plan, the individual cycles can be changed or deleted.
Multiple counter plans can't work with maintenance strategies and therefore can't trigger different work packages as is the case when using the maintenance packages of a maintenance strategy.
To overcome this limitation the so-called Cycle Set Sequences were invented.
Cycle Set Sequence
A cycle set sequence combines several cycles into a set that can be assigned to a maintenance item. It works as a sequence number for the cycle set. This sequence number can be used to assign the cycle set to a maintenance item. It's therefore possible to have several maintenance items with different cycles. The idea is to have several cycle set sequences in the same multiple counter plan to allow a scheduling picture in the form of A - B - A - B. By assigning individual maintenance items to "A" or "B", you can generate different tasks.
Scheduling Processing
Scheduling considers cycle set 1 when calculating the first date, and only generates a call object for this date for the maintenance item assigned to cycle set 1.
Based on this date, scheduling considers the cycles of cycle set 2 to determine the next planned date, and again only generates a call object for the relevant maintenance item.
Once the second and thus highest cycle set has been scheduled, scheduling then considers the first cycle set again. This behavior is similar to a maintenance strategy.
Hint
You can use the repeat factor to define how often a cycle set is used in a sequence to calculate a date before the system switches to the next cycle set.
To be able to use this functionality, you have to activate the enhancements for the multiple counter plan in the IMG (activity Configure Special Functions for Maintenance Planning under maintenance plans).
