About Infinite Resource Capacity

This topic applies only to APS and the Scheduler. A resource (whether a crew person, machine, or fixture) with infinite capacity can work on an unlimited number of operations at the same time. The Infinite APS mode of planning assumes all resources to have infinite capacity always (when the resource is on a working shift). In APS mode and in the Scheduler, resources have finite capacity (they can work on a limited number or operations). However, in some situations, you may want to designate particular resources as infinite. Or you may need to designate a particular item to be planned as though any resource assigned to build it has infinite capacity.

You can specify that resources have infinite capacity in these multiples:

  • All resources
  • All resources in a resource group
  • Single resource
  • Any resource when working on a particular item

All Resources

All resources in all resource groups have infinite capacity during all Infinite APS and APS planning activities when:

  • The APS Mode is set to Infinite APS. All resources have infinite capacity while they are on a working shift.
  • The Infinite Resource Capacity After field is in effect at the global level, set on the APS Mode form. This parameter applies only to APS (it is always in effect when the APS Mode is Infinite APS).

All Resources in a Resource Group

For APS planning and for the Scheduler, you can specify that all resources in a particular resource group have infinite capacity.

For APS, set the Infinite Resource Capacity After field that appears on the Resource Groups form. This resource group-level parameter overrides the same parameter defined on the APS Mode form. If the parameter on the APS Mode form is set to four hours, and on the Resource Group it is set to two hours, all resources in that resource group are infinite after two hours.

In Infinite APS mode, this field is disabled and set to 0 hours (that is, resources are always infinite). In APS mode, this field defaults to 999999 hours, and you can change it to another value if desired.

For the Scheduler, select the Infinite field on the Resource Groups form to specify that the resource group has infinite capacity while on a working shift. If an operation requires a resource group that is defined as infinite, the scheduling of that operation will be constrained only by times not related to resource availability, such as the operation's Move, Finish, and Run Duration hours (or fixed schedule hours). The Scheduler still selects the resource to perform the operation, and creates appropriate load records. All scheduling rules are still applied, but the Scheduler does not constrain the operation based on other work the resource may have.

Note:  The Scheduler considers a resource to be finite if is a member of at least one finite resource group and the Infinite Scheduling field on the Resources form is cleared.

Single Resource

For APS planning, you can specify that a single resource has infinite capacity by selecting the Infinite Planning field on the Resources form. This value overrides the Infinite Resource Capacity After setting. For example, if the resource is an Infinite Planning resource, and is a member of a resource group that has Infinite Resource Capacity After of 999 hours, this resource is considered infinite even if 999 hours have not elapsed.

For the Scheduler, select the Infinite Scheduling field on the Resources form to specify that the resource has infinite capacity while on a working shift. If an operation requires an Infinite Scheduling resource, the scheduling of that operation will be constrained only by times not related to resource availability, such as the operation's Move, Finish, and Run Duration hours (or fixed schedule hours). The Scheduler still selects the resource to perform the operation, and creates appropriate load records. All scheduling rules are still applied, but the Scheduler does not constrain the operation based on other work the resource may have.

Any Resource when Working on a Particular Item

For APS planning, you can specify that a particular item will always be planned as though the resources allocated to build it have infinite capacity. On the Items form, on the Planning tab, select the Infinite APS Item field. APS plans the item using standard lead time; no resources will be consumed or allocated, and the component items are all needed at the start of this lead time.

How Infinite Resources Use Shifts

The resource has infinite capacity while in a working ("up") period on a shift. In the Scheduler, the system considers the resource to be infinite if the resource is a member of an Infinite resource group, or is an Infinite Scheduling resource.

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