Resource Planning for Project Manufacturing in SyteLine
Resource planning in project-based SyteLine environments requires balancing labor skills, machine capacity, and material availability across multiple concurrent projects with different timelines and priorities. Unlike repetitive manufacturing where demand is forecast-driven, project resource planning starts from project schedules and working backward through job routings to determine when specific resources are needed. Proper configuration of resource groups, capacity calendars, and scheduling parameters ensures projects are executable without resource conflicts or overloads.
Resource Group and Capacity Configuration
SyteLine's resource planning operates through resource groups defined in the Resource Groups form (Scheduling > Resource Groups). Each resource group represents a pool of interchangeable capacity—a group of CNC machines, a team of welders, or an engineering department. Resource groups have capacity defined by the number of resources and a linked calendar that specifies available hours per shift and day. The scheduling engine uses this capacity when forward-scheduling or backward-scheduling job operations, identifying periods where demand exceeds capacity. For project environments, resource groups should align with the skills and equipment categories used in project estimates to maintain continuity from estimation through execution.
- Define resource groups in the Resource Groups form matching skill categories used in project estimates and routings
- Set resource count and efficiency factor per group to establish practical capacity (hours available x efficiency %)
- Configure shop calendars in the Calendars form with shift patterns, holidays, and planned downtime per resource group
- Link work centers to resource groups in the Work Centers form so job operations inherit the correct capacity pool
- Enable finite capacity scheduling in Scheduling Parameters to prevent over-scheduling of constrained resources
Multi-Project Scheduling and Priority Rules
When multiple projects compete for the same resources, SyteLine's scheduling engine needs priority rules to determine which jobs get resources first. The APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling) module provides finite scheduling that respects resource capacity constraints and uses priority-based sequencing. Project priority is typically driven by customer promise date, contract value, or penalty clause exposure. The scheduling parameters in SyteLine allow configuration of dispatch rules—earliest due date, critical ratio, or priority-based—that the scheduler applies when allocating finite capacity across competing project jobs.
- Set project priority in the Project header form using a numeric priority field that flows down to linked jobs
- Configure APS scheduling dispatch rules in the Scheduling Parameters form: EDD, critical ratio, or weighted priority
- Enable resource leveling to automatically shift lower-priority operations when high-priority projects need capacity
- Use the Resource Gantt chart (Scheduling > Resource Gantt) to visualize multi-project resource loading by time period
- Run the Capacity Requirements Planning (CRP) report to identify resource bottlenecks across the project portfolio
Material Planning Across Projects
Material planning for projects requires coordination between project-level material requirements and SyteLine's standard MRP engine. Project-linked jobs generate demand through their job BOMs, which MRP processes into planned purchase orders and production orders. The challenge is ensuring that materials purchased for one project are not consumed by another project's jobs. SyteLine addresses this through project-specific allocation using the Material Allocation form and dedicated project warehouse locations. Configuring MRP to respect project allocations prevents cross-project material cannibalization that disrupts schedules and corrupts project costs.
- Enable project-level material allocation in MRP Parameters to prevent cross-project material consumption
- Configure project-specific warehouse locations or bins to physically segregate project materials on the shop floor
- Set up MRP planning fences per project to control how far ahead the system generates purchase requisitions
- Use the Projected Material Availability report filtered by project to verify material coverage before project start
- Link long-lead material procurement to project milestones using PO requisitions with project task references
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Related Resources
SyteLine Project Accounting Setup Guide
Set up project-based accounting in Infor SyteLine for ETO manufacturers. Configure project structures, cost collection, billing rules, and revenue recognition.
Infor SyteLineSyteLine Engineer-to-Order (ETO) Configuration Guide
Configure SyteLine for engineer-to-order manufacturing with estimate-to-job conversion, project-linked BOMs, and configurable routing workflows for custom products.
Infor SyteLineSyteLine Project Profitability Reporting Guide
Build project profitability reports in Infor SyteLine with revenue, cost, margin, and variance analysis. Configure P&L reporting for ETO and project-based manufacturers.