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🤖 Auto-Scheduling Guide

Master AI-powered production scheduling to optimize capacity, meet delivery dates, and eliminate manual planning.

📺 Watch the Auto-Scheduler Tutorial

4 minutes • Complete auto-scheduling walkthrough

🎯 What is Auto-Scheduling?

Auto-Scheduling uses AI to automatically find the optimal production schedule for your orders. Instead of manually calculating when to start production, our system considers:

  • Delivery dates - Works backward from when customer needs the order
  • Production capacity - Knows how long each product takes to make
  • Line availability - Only schedules when production lines are free
  • Material availability - Checks if materials are in stock
  • Working hours - Respects your factory's operating schedule
  • Holidays & breaks - Skips non-working days automatically

🚀 How to Use Auto-Scheduler

Step 1: Create a Sales Order

  1. Navigate to Sales Orders → Create Order
  2. Select customer and product
  3. Enter quantity (e.g., 100 units)
  4. Set delivery date (e.g., March 15, 2026)
  5. Click Save

Step 2: Run Auto-Scheduler

  1. On the sales order page, click the "Auto-Schedule" button
  2. System analyzes capacity, materials, and constraints
  3. Shows recommended start date (usually 2-3 seconds)
  4. Displays production timeline with exact dates

Step 3: Review the Schedule

The auto-scheduler shows you:

  • Start Date - When to begin production
  • End Date - When production will complete
  • Production Line - Which line is assigned
  • Material Status - Green (available) or Red (shortage)
  • Feasibility - Whether delivery date is achievable

Step 4: Confirm or Adjust

If the schedule looks good:

  • Click "Confirm Schedule" to lock it in
  • Order appears in the production calendar
  • Materials are reserved automatically

If you need changes:

  • Adjust delivery date and re-run auto-scheduler
  • Manually override the suggested dates if needed
  • Add overtime or weekend production if available

✅ Feasibility Checking

📺 How to Check Order Feasibility

3 minutes • Feasibility analysis tutorial

Before confirming an order, check if it's feasible:

  1. Click "Check Feasibility" on the sales order
  2. System validates:
    • Is there enough production capacity?
    • Are materials available?
    • Is delivery date realistic?
  3. Shows one of three results:
    • Feasible - Order can be completed on time
    • ⚠️ Tight - Possible but requires overtime or weekend work
    • Not Feasible - Need to adjust date or add capacity
💡 Pro Tip: Always run feasibility check BEFORE confirming the order to the customer. This prevents over-promising and ensures realistic delivery dates.

🎨 Advanced Features

Drag-and-Drop Rescheduling

After auto-scheduling, you can manually adjust:

  • Navigate to Planning Calendar
  • See all scheduled orders in Gantt view
  • Drag orders to different dates or lines
  • System shows conflicts in red
  • Changes update material reservations automatically

Batch Scheduling

Schedule multiple orders at once:

  • Select multiple sales orders (use checkboxes)
  • Click "Batch Auto-Schedule"
  • System optimizes all orders together
  • Minimizes production line changes
  • Maximizes capacity utilization

Overtime & Weekend Scheduling

When delivery dates are tight:

  • Enable "Allow Overtime" option
  • System considers extended hours
  • Shows overtime cost in the schedule
  • Option to enable weekend production

Alternative Delivery Dates

If an order is not feasible:

  • System suggests 3 alternative dates
  • Shows earliest possible delivery
  • Option to add capacity (overtime/extra shifts)
  • Can split order across multiple batches

🏆 Best Practices

1. Keep Production Data Updated

  • Update production times regularly based on actual performance
  • Maintain accurate material inventory counts
  • Keep production line calendars current

2. Use Buffer Times

  • Add 10-15% buffer to production times for safety
  • Account for setup and changeover time between products
  • Include quality control inspection time

3. Schedule High-Priority Orders First

  • Schedule urgent orders before routine ones
  • Use priority flags to ensure critical orders get capacity
  • Review schedule daily for conflicts

4. Monitor Material Availability

  • Check material shortages before confirming schedules
  • Set up low-stock alerts
  • Schedule material purchases based on production plan

🔧 Troubleshooting

Problem: "Delivery date not feasible"

Solutions:

  • Check if materials are in stock (order if needed)
  • Enable overtime or weekend production
  • Reduce order quantity or split into batches
  • Use alternative delivery date suggestions

Problem: "No available production line"

Solutions:

  • Check if production line is configured correctly
  • Verify working hours are set
  • Reschedule lower-priority orders
  • Add additional production line if needed

Problem: "Material shortage detected"

Solutions:

  • Navigate to Materials and update inventory
  • Create purchase order for missing materials
  • Adjust production start date to allow time for material arrival
  • Use alternative materials if available
⚠️ Important: The auto-scheduler works backward from the delivery date. If you need production to start on a specific date instead, enter the delivery date manually or use the calendar view to drag the order to your preferred date.

📊 Understanding the Schedule View

After auto-scheduling, the system shows:

  • Blue bars - Scheduled production time
  • Green checkmark - Materials available
  • Red warning - Material shortage or capacity conflict
  • Yellow flag - Tight schedule (may need overtime)
  • Timeline view - Visual Gantt chart of all orders

🎯 Next Steps

🎓 Want More Training? Watch our complete YouTube playlist for step-by-step video tutorials on every feature.