Courses / Module 1 / Scheduling

Capacity and the Weekly Schedule

Module 1 Est. 3 h · estimate · draft

Lesson 7 of 9Process step: SchedulingAudience: Mechanical + I&EPrerequisites: Lessons 4 to 6Draft · unverified

You'll be able to

Check work center capacity against load
Build a fully loaded weekly schedule using Palmer's six principles

Why it matters in the plant

A fully loaded, prioritized weekly schedule is what turns good planning into completed work.

In this lesson

Check capacity IW37NCM01CM25
Build the weekly schedule IW37N

Common mistakes

Loading the schedule below 100%: work expands to fill the time (Parkinson's Law) [S18].
Using CM01 alone to judge PM load: it doesn't show order-header capacity requirements (Note 385059) Unverified.

Steps and transactions

Each step pairs the planning work with the transactions you'll use. Codes link to the reference.

1Check capacity

Each work center has a defined capacity, with shifts and utilization. CM25 levels operations against capacity; this detail comes from a search summary of [S16] Unverified. CM01 (work center load) is confirmed, with a caveat: per SAP Note 385059, as cited on SAP Community, CM01 does not show the capacity reserved by a maintenance order's header dates. Those requirements show in CM21/CM25/CM50, and PM load is normally checked in CM25 or CM50 Unverified. Candidate: IW37N, Change Orders and Operations [map E] Unverified.

Craft notes

Mechanical and I&E work centers are checked separately.

Sources [S16] SAP Learning, Configure Work Centers; KBA 2587998 and SAP Community (CM01), per reference-library.md §4

2Build the weekly schedule

Palmer's six principles: (1) job plans identify craft skill and labor estimates; (2) a credible priority system; (3) the next week is the scheduling horizon; (4) that week's forecast is loaded to 100%; (5) field supervisors handle daily scheduling; (6) schedule compliance is measured. Example: 10 mechanics × 40 h = 400 h available, so schedule about 400 h, starting with priorities and bundling work by area or asset. Fernandina Beach, FL went from about 170 to 225 work orders a week by raising loading from 80% to 100%. Candidate: IW37N, with Fiori F4073 Manage Maintenance Backlog (S/4HANA only, not ECC Unverified) Unverified.

Craft notes

I&E: schedule the transmitter test together with operations because of the bypass.

Sources [S17]; [S18] Palmer, Fully loaded weekly schedule

Templates for this lesson

Templates coming.

Downloadable task list / plan templates for this lesson will appear here. [Owner to supply]

Check your understanding

Questions and answer key

A crew of 10 works 40 h with no time off. How many hours should you schedule?
What is the scheduling horizon?
Why isn't CM01 enough for checking PM load?

Answer key

About 400 [S18]
Next week [S17]
It doesn't show the capacity reserved by order header dates; use CM25/CM50 (reference-library §4) Unverified

Interactive scoring and certificate tracking come with student accounts (see the dashboard preview).

Discussion

Discussion is coming.

Questions and answers from other planners will appear here once student accounts exist. Moderation approach: [TBD by owner].