Freeze the Plan at the Right Level
Use master production schedule time fences to protect committed production while keeping later plans flexible.
The move: protect the near-term plan, negotiate the middle, and keep the far horizon flexible. Freeze what is already committed The short-term plan is not just numbers on a screen. It has already triggered picks, supplier releases, labor rosters, setups, quality checks, labels, and customer promises. Changing it casually burns capacity in hidden places. Control the tradeoff zone The middle horizon is where planners should welcome business input but require a visible swap. If a rush order enters, another order, setup, or inventory target usually changes. Naming that tradeoff keeps urgency honest. Keep the far horizon alive The far horizon…
Sign up free — one personalized lesson every day, matched to your role and goals.
Already have an account? Sign in