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Schedules & Calendars change how you manage your schedule: you create schedules made up of shifts, assign them to your machines over the period of your choice, and manage exceptions (exceptional shifts, exceptional closures) as well as flexible site closures. This article explains what changes, what you gain, and how to use it.
What changes
A schedule is a set of shifts (work slots defined per day). Your shifts define your opening periods, recurring every week; outside these slots, the machine is closed. You assign a schedule to a machine from the date of your choice; a new schedule takes over from the previous one on its start date. Two new rules frame this behavior:
- the schedules of a single machine can no longer overlap;
- the notion of preferred opening hours disappears: a machine's coverage now relies on the schedules you assign to it.
Important: a machine must always be covered by a schedule. Over a period with no schedule, the machine appears closed: its downtimes cannot be categorized and its KPIs are incorrect for that period. To deliberately close a machine or a site, use a closure (see below), not the absence of a schedule.
Note: recurring downtimes (breaks, recurring planned stops, etc.) are no longer managed in the "Schedules". You now find them under Settings › Management › Downtime causes › Recurring downtimes.
What you gain
- Schedules assigned per period: each machine follows the schedule you want, from the date of your choice.
- Exception management: add a one-off exceptional shift or an exceptional closure, correctly taken into account in the calculation.
- Flexible site closures, closely matching your real organization.
- A more accurate calculation of OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and Production rate, thanks to precise schedules.
Prerequisites
- The new Sites & Equipment organization must be activated: it is required to use Schedules & Calendars.
- Have the Administrator role to create and assign plannings.
Activate the feature
Once the prerequisites are met, go to Settings › Organization › New features, then click Activate on New schedules and calendars organization.
Steps
1. Create a schedule and its shifts
From the Schedule & Calendars page, Schedule library tab, click Add a schedule. Creation happens in three steps: General information, Standard week and shifts, then Summary.
In Shift details, click Add a shift and fill in:
- a Name (for example "3x8 - Morning");
- a Code (generated automatically if left empty);
- a Color in the application;
- a Start time and an End time;
- the days of application (Monday to Sunday).
The Standard week preview summarizes your opening and closing hours, and the number of shifts per day.
2. Assign the schedule to one or more machines
On the schedule you want, click Assign this schedule. Assignment happens in three steps:
- Equipment selection: check the relevant machines in the tree (Site › Area › Workcenter › Machine); a search is available.
- Application period: enter the Start date and Start time. Leave No end date checked for an open assignment, or uncheck it to set an End date and time.
- Summary: review and confirm.
Note: the shifts and schedules of a single machine do not overlap. To change the organization on a given date, assign the new schedule from that date; it takes over from the previous one.
3. Add an exception (exceptional shift or closure)
From the Exceptions list tab, click Add an exception, then choose the Exception type:
- Exceptional closure: reduces or stops production over a period;
- Exceptional shift: adds production time.
Fill in the Name, the Color, the Start and End date and time (or check All day) and an optional Description.
An exception, whether a closure or a shift, can be assigned to a single machine or to all machines of a site.
4. Close a site over a period
A dedicated section lets you close a site over a period, by setting a start date and time and an end date and time.
Do not confuse: closing all machines of a site (through exceptional closures) is not the same as closing the site itself. Closing a site and closing its machines are two distinct notions.
Result
Each machine is continuously covered by a schedule, with no overlap or uncovered period. Your downtimes remain categorizable and your KPIs (OEE, Production rate) are calculated as closely as possible to your production reality.
Good to know: some associated screens and features are still under development. Activation is permanent: you cannot revert.