What happens when the master schedule is finalized to avoid further changes?

Freezing the master schedule is a crucial practice in operations and supply chain management as it establishes a point at which changes to the schedule are minimized or halted to ensure stability in production and inventory planning. When the master schedule is frozen, it allows the organization to commit its resources, align production activities, and maintain consistent output levels. This step is vital because unexpected changes to the schedule can lead to disruptions, inefficiencies, and difficulties in fulfilling customer orders.

By freezing the schedule, the organization enables better resource allocation, coordination among different departments, and enhanced predictability in meeting customer demand. It serves as a baseline that teams can rely on to plan their activities effectively and efficiently. This practice helps to ensure that operations remain streamlined and that the organization can deliver products on time without the chaos that could arise from frequent adjustments to the master plan.