AAOM Handbook

MS.09 Identify Synergies & Conflicts in Baseline Schedule

Context

The baseline forecast produced by the Scheduling Model will place Activities within the Schedule based strictly on the scheduling parameters, and Production work to Service work dependencies, that were specified when the Activities were set up in the model. These included a nominal trigger value for each Activity and a range of tolerance (variation) permitted on that trigger value. Within the Scheduling Model it is the nominal trigger value that will determine the placement of an Activity within the Baseline Schedule output. The Baseline Schedule may not align all of the forecast Work Packages to maximise the synergies and minimise the potential conflicts between packages. For example, the Baseline Schedule may show two Service work packages that restrict process output as occurring separately when scheduling tolerances would allow them to be aligned. However, an experienced person reviewing the Baseline Schedule can often readily identify such synergies and conflicts. In this case it is possible to adjust the scheduling of forecast Work Packages, within the range of tolerance allowed by the Production and Service strategies, in order to optimise process output and/or the resourcing for the Schedule.

Purpose

To identify potential synergies and conflicts between Activities within the Baseline Operating Master Schedule.

Quantity

• One list of Schedule Activities that may be able to be moved to optimise the Schedule.

Quality

The following criteria should be considered when assessing the schedule for possible opportunities to optimise synergies; • Activities that have similar scheduling constraints (e.g. plant condition) and that are relatively closely placed in the schedule, • Activities that have the same specialised resource requirements (e.g. specialised equipment or skills) and that are relatively closely placed in the Schedule, and • Activities that have relatively wide trigger tolerances and that may be readily moved to align with other Activities. The following criteria should be considered when assessing the schedule for possible conflicts to resolve; • Activities that occur together in the schedule and that have conflicting scheduling conditions (e.g. full, empty, access), and

© McAlear Management Consultants 2006

Operational Planning: Set Operating Master Schedule

Updated: August 2018

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