Linked Operations schedules two or more operations together.  The operations must be on the same resource and must be in different jobs.  One operation is selected as the Parent operation and its job should have a high priority and earlier due date than the other linked operations.  When the parent linked operation is scheduled, the other linked operations are scheduled with it. 

Linked operations can either:

1. Schedule at the same time as the parent operation and extra time is not added for each linked operation.
2. Linked operations can have their runtime added to the parent operation’s runtime.  The total time to schedule the parent operation is the total runtime of up all linked operations’ where the Add R/T (runtime) is selected.

A linked operation can break away from the Parent if the linked operation’s start and end date are out of sequence its job’s operation flow.  If the Break Link is selected, an operation can break away from the parent if it does not fit in its job’s flow.  If Break Link is not selected, the operation must be scheduled with the parent and if its dates are out of sequence in the job, the scheduler will print a warning message.  Note that if an operation breaks away from its parent, if extra runtime was added for the operation’s time is not removed from the parent’s total schedule time.

Linked operations can be selected from:

1. Manufacturing Order Job Details right click on the Operations grid.
2. Job Analysis Graph right click on the Operations grid.
3. Schedule Board right click on the Gantt Chart.
4. Dispatch Display right click on the Operations grid.
5. Dispatch Chart right click on the Operations chart.

See also:

Linked Operations Window