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Setting the Production Cut-Off Times to Stop Forecasting Auto-Calculation

Kevin U
  • Updated

About this Article

Production cut-off times must be applied to each meal service/snack time to automatically stop the forecasting auto-calculation and lock the forecasting in place, and thereby give production staff enough time to prepare the meals. This article explains how to set those production cut-off times. 

For example, assume the production cut-off time for breakfast is 7:00 AM. Once 7:00 AM arrives, changes that can affect the forecasting are stopped, such as changes to your census (i.e., addition or removal of people) or changes to the menu items. When you print your production reports, you print them with the information as it stands at 7:00 AM. 

Note: If looking to set up cut-off times for advanced orders (AO) to prevent an order from being placed for a meal service (breakfast, lunch, dinner) past a certain time, see the following article: Setting Up Cutoff Times for AO Orders. 

Setting the Production Cut-Off Times to Stop Forecasting Auto-Calculation

To set production cut-off times to stop forecasting auto-calculation, complete the following steps:

  1. Select Production > Forecasting Settings. The Production & Forecasting Settings screen appears, with the General Settings tab automatically selected. 

    production_forecasting_settings.png

  2. Click the Production Cut-Off Time button. The Production Cut-Off Time section appears with default cut-off times already entered.

    production_cutoff_time.png

  3. For each meal period and snack time, enter the desired production cut-off times.

  4. Click the Save All Settings button to apply your changes.

Adding Exception for a Production Cut-Off Time

You can enter exceptions for a production cut-off time. For example on Sunday at breakfast, your cut-off time is 9:00 AM instead of 7:00 AM. To enter an exception, complete the following steps:

  1. Select the Add exceptions check box and then click the Add Exception link. The screen refreshes with the exception grid.

    production_cutoff_exception.png

  2. From the Day field, select the day in which the exception applies.

  3. Enter the cut-off time for the desired meal period or snack time.

  4. To add another exception, click the Add Exception link and repeat steps 2 and 3 above.

  5. Click the Save All Settings button to apply your changes.

Note: At this time, there is no method to delete an exception. This issue will be addressed in a future release. 

What Happens on the Forecasting Calendar and Forecasting Worksheet?

When a production cut-off time is reached for a meal period or snack time, then on the forecasting calendar, the meal period/day combination for the respective forecasting worksheet is locked from any manual modifications, as indicated by the lock symbol.

locked.png

When you open a forecasting worksheet that is locked, the Lock/Unlock button displays as Unlock.

forecasting_worksheet_locked.png

For more information on working with locked forecasting worksheets, see Locked Forecasting Worksheets.