Master Production Scheduling Best Practices for SyteLine
The Master Production Schedule (MPS) in SyteLine sits between demand management and detailed MRP, providing a stabilized production plan for finished goods and major subassemblies. An effective MPS absorbs demand variability, respects capacity constraints, and gives the shop floor a realistic target. SyteLine's MPS functionality is configured through the Master Schedule form and interacts with planning parameters, time fences, and rough-cut capacity profiles.
MPS Item Selection and Planning Bills
Not every item needs to be master scheduled. MPS items should be limited to finished goods, critical subassemblies, and long-lead-time components that gate production capacity. SyteLine's Planning BOM feature allows master scheduling at a product family level and then disaggregating to specific item numbers based on mix percentages.
- MPS flag enabled on SL_Item for finished goods and critical subassemblies only
- Planning BOM configuration with percentage splits for product family disaggregation
- Planner Code assignment grouping MPS items by product family for focused schedule reviews
- MPS items excluded from standard MRP regeneration to prevent schedule instability
- Super BOM structures for configure-to-order items with option percentage planning
Time Fence Management for Schedule Stability
SyteLine time fences create zones where schedule changes are progressively restricted. The Demand Time Fence, Planning Time Fence, and Frozen Zone protect the near-term schedule from demand fluctuations while allowing flexibility in the outer planning horizon. Without time fences, every new customer order causes MRP to reschedule existing production, creating shop floor chaos.
- Demand Time Fence (DTF): inside this fence, only actual orders drive MPS, forecast is ignored
- Planning Time Fence (PTF): inside this fence, MRP generates exception messages but does not auto-plan
- Frozen Zone: first 1-2 weeks where no schedule changes allowed without management approval
- Time fence values set per item class: 2-week DTF for MTS, 1-week DTF for MTO items
- Exception message review process for changes proposed inside the Planning Time Fence
Rough-Cut Capacity Planning for MPS Validation
Every MPS must be validated against available capacity before it is released to MRP. SyteLine's rough-cut capacity planning (RCCP) compares the MPS load against resource capacity profiles to identify overloaded periods. RCCP operates at a higher level than CRP, using resource profiles rather than detailed routing operations, making it faster for what-if analysis.
- Resource profiles mapping each MPS item to hours required on critical work centers
- Capacity load report by work center showing MPS-generated demand vs available hours per period
- Overload resolution: shift overtime, alternate resources, MPS quantity adjustment, or due date revision
- Weekly MPS review meeting using RCCP reports to approve or adjust the master schedule
- RCCP what-if scenarios comparing capacity impact of alternative MPS proposals before commitment
Stabilize your production schedule with expert MPS configuration -- talk to our SyteLine planning specialists.
Related Resources
SyteLine MRP Parameters Tuning Guide
Optimize SyteLine MRP parameters including order policies, lot sizing, safety stock, and lead times for accurate material requirements planning results.
Infor SyteLineSyteLine Capacity Requirements Planning (CRP) Guide
Configure SyteLine Capacity Requirements Planning with work center capacity, routing-based load calculation, and bottleneck analysis for production scheduling.
Infor SyteLineSyteLine Planning Time Fence Configuration Guide
Configure SyteLine planning time fences with demand fence, planning fence, and frozen zone settings to stabilize production schedules and reduce MRP nervousness.