Closing gaps on the schedule

[andy_yeri]

Hi Experts,

When Sales Orders are placed in the system, we execute the CTP process & have planned orders created immediately, using the Backward+Reverse planning direction. The planned orders are scheduled finitely on the resource &  are created to meet their requirement dates at the earliest available time.

We want to be able to execute a function on the Planning board & "close the open gaps" on the schedule, that get left on there otherwise. Example, for the next month's schedule, we would not like any gaps on the schedule. We know that multiple orders could be drag/dropped on the planning board to achieve this, however, is there no automated way to get this done?

I tried the "Squeeze operation & Close gap" but that's not exactly what we want. We are looking to close gaps on the schedule for a month from the current time.

Any clue on how this could be achieved?

Thanks

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Andy,

This problem is commonly solved using Schedule Sequence heuristic in batch.  Depending upon your business requirements, you may have to create one or more customized versions of SAP001 heuristic in /SAPAPO/CDPSC11.

Best Regards,

DB49

[andy_yeri · Accepted solution]

But DB, the sequence scheduling Heuristic has forward scheduling planning direction ONLY & that messes up the sequence/schedule of the existing orders. All we want is the gaps to be closed, the existing sequence of the orders should not be altered.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Andy,

But DB, the sequence scheduling Heuristic has forward scheduling planning direction ONLY & that messes up the sequence/schedule of the existing orders.

????  Well, I don't know what other scheduling you may have done after CTP that you may wish to retain.  I suggest that you don't make this complicated; don't try to torture CTP and PP/DS into being an optimizer.

I have assumed that the existing orders are already finitely scheduled via CTP heuristic.  Select the resource for which you wish to 'close gaps'.  Sort by date, going forward in time.   Limit the window via Time Profile.  This closes the gaps.

Try it.

Best Regards,

DB49

[andy_yeri · Accepted solution]

We do not do any "further scheduling" after orders have been created with the CTP process. I've tried what you suggested, however, it has been my observation that the Schedule Sequence heuristic moves the existing orders in/out due to it's forward scheduling planning direction. Once the orders have been scheduled using the Backward+reverse planning direction (during CTP), it seems incorrect to me that we should forward schedule the same orders, when the intent is just to "close gaps".

Am i missing something?

Thanks

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Andy,

Gaps = non working time!

The DB's solution to use SAP001 (ascending scheduling by date) is the right one. 

I don't think that you will find an heuristic to "eat" the gaps with out performing scheduling!

Best, Marius

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Andy,

CTP in general gives you a feasible plan; but typically with lotsa gaps; unless many many stars are in alignment.  Properly set up, Schedule Sequence will 'pull in' orders such that the operations of the selected resources are more nearly 'back-to-back'.  If you start with a feasible plan prior to running this heuristic, there should be little or no 'pushing out'.  There can be exceptions, which can be aggravated by very complex PPMs.

As I said earlier, this is a common solution that is used in many CTP implementations.

Best Regards,

DB49

[andy_yeri · Accepted solution]

DB/Marius,

Points noted. What is the recommended approach to stop the "CTP scheduled" orders from being moved around due to the execution of this Heuristic?I definitely think this heuristic is the way out to close gaps, but for that one problem.

Marius - I would say GAPS = "Un-scheduled time" OR call it "unplanned Non-working time", coz if left unattended, its a disruption.

Thanks

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Andy,

What is the recommended approach to stop the "CTP scheduled" orders from being moved around due to the execution of this Heuristic?

You don't.  You just said you want to close the gaps.  How else do you intend to close the gaps unless you move the orders around?

Best Regards,

DB49

[andy_yeri · Accepted solution]

I must apologize for not conveying my message clearly. When I say "Order should not be moved" I mean the sequence should not be changed, they ofcourse need to be moved to close the gaps. The gaps should be closed, but the sequence in which they were, must not be altered. Hope I'm making sense.

Thanks for all your explanations

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Andy,

I don't know how to explain it any clearer.  Select only the resource(s) for which you wish to close the gaps; assign these as the heuristic object in the heuristic selection screen.  Sort by date (this is default in the standard heuristic).   I don't understand why you think the sequence of these operations will change.

I am going to discontinue my participation in this discussion.  The next steps are up to you. I believe you should set up a test scenario.  Create a custom heuristic (clone of SAP001) that you can change on the fly.  Select a single resource which has multiple orders, for which which the resource is occupied by multiple order operations, separated by many gaps.  Execute.  Study the results.  Fine tune as necessary.

This is how other companies solve your problem.  I have seen this work.

If you still find this solution to be inadequate, perhaps you should investigate optimizer.

Best Regards,

DB49

[jyotichalikar]

Hi Andy,

The gaps between the operations can be filled using the heuristics 'Fill gap heuristics'.

Once you execute this heuristic with the pre-requisites, the gaps between the  operations would get filled.

Regards,

Jyoti

[Former Member]

Hello,

For the benefits of the others consultants, please indicate the good or the helpful answer!

Thanks, Marius