Defining Overlapping Operations

This topic applies to APS and the Scheduler. You can allow the starting date/time of an operation to overlap the starting date/time of the previous operation in the routing. This feature allows for parallel processing of the original load of items across multiple operations.

You express the overlapping of two operations with an "offset" hours value representing the number of run time hours the previous operation must complete before this operation can start.

For example, suppose Operation 10 starts at 1:00 and has 4 hours of run time. Operation 20 has an Offset of 0.5 hours. This means Operation 20 can begin at 1:30, which is 0.5 hours after Operation 10's run time starts.

The Offset value begins when run time starts. Run time starts after Setup time is complete.

Differences between Scheduler and APS Processing

Note: MRP supports overlapping operations indirectly if you use the Lead Time Processor to calculate the item lead time and the Use Offset Hours option is enabled.

The planning and scheduling activities process overlapping operations slightly differently. See the Overlapping Operations topics for more information.