Time Fences

It is important for production facilities to remain as flexible as possible in responding to varying demand.  Flexibility can be achieved by producing more or less of a specific item.  Even when a plant is operating at full capacity (so no more items can be produced), it may be possible to change which products are being produced.  Although flexibility is important, there is generally a point at which changing existing orders is not cost effective.  Time fences help identify these periods.  Two planning time fences can be specified for master scheduled parts:

·     Volume time fence. Identifies the cutoff date when it will no longer be cost-effective to change the quantity on an order.  If Master Scheduling changes the quantity of an order after this date, it will generate a warning message.

·     Mix time fence.  Identifies the cutoff date when it is no longer cost effective to change the mix of products to be produced.  If Master Scheduling changes the product mix after this date, it will generate a warning message.

Master Scheduling creates and changes orders and flow schedules but does not release them.  Warning messages notify you of exceptions and allow you to use Inventory Control or Purchasing to modify the orders before releasing them.  Flow schedules can be modified within the Just-in-Time module.