Complex sequencing of order lines
Controls are provided so that you can sequence various product deliveries and associated services. You may want to complete certain pre-delivery services before a product is delivered and then perform some post-delivery services ensuring that these are scheduled only after the product has been delivered.
When setting up a product-to-service association, an offset can be specified. A -ve offset denotes that the service must be performed at least offset number of hours before the product delivery. A +ve offset denotes that the service must be performed at least offset number of hours after the product has been delivered. The hours specified are treated as elapsed hours and not business hours. For this discussion, whenever a service line is sequenced before the product line, it is referred to as a pre-sequenced line, otherwise it is referred to as a post-sequenced line.
Combined with the offset hours, line dependencies explained earlier create a complex sequencing situation where a line should not be scheduled before or after a certain time. Sterling™ Order Management System calculates two constraining dates:
- Cannot complete before date - the date before which
the order line should not be scheduled for completion. Completion
is denoted by the delivery of product lines and recording of service
completion for service lines. This date can be imposed on a line because
of any of the following:
- A pre-sequenced line has been scheduled already. The constraint date represents the last scheduled delivery date of the pre-sequenced line + offset hours specified on the product-to-service association.
- A pre-sequenced line has a requested delivery data specified. This date represents requested delivery date of pre-sequenced line + offset hours.
- A pre-sequenced line already has an appointment recorded. This date represents the last appointment time + offset hours.
- Cannot complete after date - The date after which
the order line should not be scheduled for completion. Even though Sterling Order Management System calculates
and shows this date in its user interfaces, this date is not used
as a real constraint on the pre-sequenced line. The main reason for
this is that in some situations a dead lock can be created between
pre-sequenced and post-sequenced lines and no scheduling operations
can be performed. To avoid such situations, this constraint is treated
as a soft constraint and not imposed on the line. Sterling Order Management System highlights
lines that do not meet the "Cannot complete after date" constraints.
This date can be imposed on a line because of any of the following:
- A post-sequenced line has a requested cancel date specified. This date represents the requested cancel date of the post-sequenced line - offset hours.
- A post-sequenced line has an appointment date recorded. This date represents the first appointment date of the post-sequenced line - offset hours.
Sterling Order Management System highlights an order line if it has an appointment or delivery schedule that does not meet the above constraints.
Sterling Order Management System also calculates an indicator called "Cannot schedule". This indicator denotes that an order line that has this indicator set to "No" cannot be scheduled. Reasons for this are caused by one of the following:
- A pre-sequenced line has not been scheduled yet. All pre-sequenced lines must be scheduled before a post-sequenced line is scheduled.
- When associating product with services "Hold scheduling for completion" was marked as true and a pre-sequenced line has not been completed yet.
Even though a line may be marked as "cannot schedule", Sterling Order Management System lets you inquire for the best possible appointment availability. You can also record the desired appointment. However, you cannot schedule the line unless the constraints preventing the line from being scheduled have been removed.
Using the above parameters you can effectively record appointments for lines requiring complex sequencing and then schedule them at appropriate times.