AAOM Handbook

MS.07 Is there Discretionary Work that can be adjusted?

Context

The Production and Service strategies for an process are developed to deliver the required performance targets, and a good Production and Service strategies will identify most of the work that will regularly be required in the Operating Master Schedule. Hence, the process of Setting the Master Operating Schedule has to this point focused on building the schedule around the Production and Service Strategies. Since the work arising from the Production and Service strategies is based on data, and a tangible link between the work and some aspect of the process performance, there is not a great deal of choice about doing much of it, except as allowed by the trigger tolerance and some variation to the scope of individual work packages. In addition to the work from the Production and Service Strategies there may be work arising from the need to meet expectations other than the immediate operating performance targets of the process. This can include work to; create a buffer in a critical part of the process or schedule, optimise or enhance the process capability, improve the aesthetics or amenity of the process or its environment for both the workforce and community. In preparing the Operating Master Schedule there is certain to be some discretionary work that can be added to or removed from the schedule as part of its optimisation. The span of the Operating Master Schedule typically covers at least several years, thus providing an opportunity to rebalance at each new forecast period the non-discretionary and discretionary work over the life of the schedule. In periods where the resource or expenditure demands of the Production and Service strategy work are low, more discretionary work may be included. In periods where the resource or expenditure demands of the Production and Service strategy work are high, more discretionary work may be omitted. With this type of work there is far more discretion over the scope and timing of what can be included in any forecasting period.

Purpose

To identify discretionary work that can added to, or omitted from, the Operating Master Schedule.

Quantity

• One list of discretionary Activities that are to be added to the Operating Master Schedule. • One list of forecast discretionary Activities that are to be removed from or moved in the Operating Master Schedule.

© McAlear Management Consultants 2006

Operational Planning: Set Operating Master Schedule

Updated: August 2018

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