In lead time scheduling the system does not take into account the capacity load of the work centers affected. In finite scheduling, by contrast, the system schedules the operations taking into account the current capacity loads generated by operations at work centers. This takes place as follows:

1. For every operation to be scheduled, the system checks whether there is enough remaining available capacity at the date determined. If the operation has sub-operations that are relevant for scheduling, then the system also looks for remaining available capacity for these.

You can also specify an overload factor in capacity maintenance. It determines the extent to which remaining available capacity may be overloaded (above and beyond the normal available capacity).

2. If there is sufficient available capacity then the system dispatches the operation.
3. If there is insufficient capacity available, then the operation is moved to a date when it can be processed without capacity problems. You can specify the search direction in the strategy profile in Customizing. You define the period of time in which the system looks for remaining available capacity (the planning period) in the time profile in Customizing.

If the system is to carry out finite scheduling then you have to set the following indicators: Relevant to finite scheduling in the work center for the relevant capacities, and Finite scheduling in the strategy profile in Customizing for capacity leveling. You can use the indicator Relevant to finite scheduling to exclude capacities for which there is sufficient available capacity. This helps to improve performance.

• The operation lies within the order dates.

• The operation lies within the floats determined by order scheduling

• Invalid overlaps arise with preceding and following operations in the order

• Mandatory overlaps with preceding and following operations are adhered to

If you want these checks to be carried out you must activate the function Operation date check in the strategy profile.

If the checks for the results of dispatching are successful then the operation is given the status "dispatched". If errors arise during the check and if the indicator Cancel dispatching due to error is not set in the strategy profile in Customizing then the operation still receives the status "dispatched". The system writes error messages in the error log.