Field help (PRPTIM)

Preparation time is 'waiting time' set at the start of an operation.

 Preparation time is always expressed in hours. It does not use the time unit defined in the routing header (field Time unit). Preparation time is not applied to the work center load.

Although preparation time is waiting time it can be used for the time it takes to prepare for an operation on a work center. This might be time for settling liquids or cleaning a machine. For this type of scenario, that is when preparation time is used for setting time at the start of an operation, the resource must be available.

When scheduling preparation time the calendar for the defined resource is applied. This means that if, for example, a work center (machine or labor) runs from 08:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 with a break for one hour between 12:00-13:00, preparation time will be interrupted by the one hour break.

If the operation requires an 'emergency release', a reduction coefficient can be assigned that makes it possible to completely remove any preparation time.