Linked Operations enables you to schedule 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 with 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 operation 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.

If the schedule determines that the linked operation is invalid (i.e. it is on a different resource from the parent), the scheduler will set the linked operation to be "Deactivated by system" indicated by a .

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.

The window below shows four Linked Operations that are to be scheduled together.  The Parent operation is identified with a and linked operation(s) with a : 

Note that only one Linked Operation group may be displayed at a time in the Linked Operation window.  If two or more Linked Operation groups are selected, only the first selected Linked Operation group is displayed.

Valid commands are:

1. Resource A resource can be selected with a date range to add operations to the Linked Operations grid.  After selecting the resource and entering a date range, click the Add Dispatch to Grid button.  The selected operations will be added to the grid.
2. Order Number/Operation Ident An operation can be added to the linked operation grid from a selected job.  Enter the Order Number and the Operation Ident to add and click the Add operation to Grid button.
3. Set Link To add an operation to the Linked Operation group, select the Set Link check box column. 
4. Set as Parent Each Linked Operation group must have one Parent operation.  To select the Parent operation, select the Set as Parent check box column. 
5. Add R/T If selected the runtime of this linked operation is added to the parent’s runtime.  If not selected, the linked operation runs at the same time as the parent.
6. Break Link If selected and the linked operation’s start and end date are out of sequence its job’s operation flow, the link will be broken and the operation will be scheduled dependently from the Link operation group.  If not selected, the linked operation must schedule with the parent regardless of the job flow.
7. Deactivate Group To Deactivate the Linked Operations group, click on the Deactivate Group button.  DMS will ask you to verify the change.  Click Yes to deactivate the group or click No to not deactivate the group.  The Deactivation is saved and there is no need to click the Save button. 
8. To Activate the Linked Operations group, click on the Activate Group button.  DMS will ask you to verify the change.  Click Yes to Activate the group or click No to not Activate the group.  The Activation is saved and there is no need to click the Save button.
9. Delete To delete the Linked Operations group relationship, select File | Delete Current Operation Links or click on the delete icon.  DMS will ask you to verify deleting the relationships.  Click Yes to delete the relationships and save the changes, or Click No to ignore the delete.
10. Use View | Column Selections to select what columns you want to display in the Linked Operations grid.
11. To export the grid contents, select Export.
12. Select Print to print the grid contents.