Infor SyteLine4 min readNetray Engineering TeamUpdated March 4, 2025

How to Set Up Planning Parameters in Infor SyteLine

Planning parameters in Infor SyteLine control how MRP generates planned orders, manages demand, and balances supply across your manufacturing environment. Correct configuration of these parameters determines whether your planning engine produces actionable recommendations or floods planners with noise. This guide covers the essential settings in the Planning Parameters form and how they interact with item-level planning controls in CloudSuite Industrial.

Navigating the Planning Parameters Form

Access Planning Parameters through Production > Planning Parameters in the SyteLine menu. This form uses the PlanningParms IDO and controls global MRP behavior across the entire site. The form is divided into tabs: General, Time Fences, Demand, and Advanced. The General tab sets the planning horizon (typically 12-18 months), MRP regeneration frequency, and whether the system uses net change or full regeneration mode. Each setting directly affects MRP runtime performance and the quality of planning output, so changes should be validated in simulation mode before applying to production.

Open Production > Planning Parameters to access the global MRP configuration form for your SyteLine site
Set the Planning Horizon to 12-18 months to ensure adequate visibility for long-lead-time purchased components
Choose between Net Change MRP (processes only changed items, runs in 5-15 minutes) and Full Regeneration (all items, 30-90 minutes)
Enable the MRP Simulation flag to test parameter changes without affecting live planned orders

Configuring Time Fences and Demand Policies

The Time Fences tab defines demand time fence (DTF), planning time fence (PTF), and frozen zone boundaries measured in days from the current date. The demand time fence controls when forecast is consumed by actual customer orders — inside the DTF, only actual demand drives planning. The planning time fence prevents MRP from automatically rescheduling or canceling existing orders. Typical DTF values range from 14-30 days for make-to-stock items and 5-10 days for make-to-order. Set these values in the SLPlanningParms table fields dtf_days and ptf_days to control planner workload and system stability.

Set the Demand Time Fence (DTF) to 14-30 days for make-to-stock items to prevent forecast from inflating near-term demand
Configure the Planning Time Fence (PTF) to 7-14 days to stabilize the production schedule and reduce rescheduling churn
Define the Frozen Zone (typically 3-5 days) where MRP cannot create, cancel, or reschedule any orders
Use the Demand Policy field to select between 'Forecast Only', 'Customer Orders Only', or 'Greater Of' demand consumption rules

Advanced Planning Settings and Performance Tuning

The Advanced tab contains settings for lot sizing rules, pegging, and performance optimization. Enable Pegging to trace demand-to-supply relationships across the BOM structure, which is essential for root-cause analysis of shortages. Configure the Order Modifier fields to set minimum order quantities, maximum order quantities, and order multiples that MRP respects when sizing planned orders. For performance tuning, limit the number of BOM levels MRP explodes by setting Max BOM Levels (typically 10-15 for complex assemblies). The APS Integration section enables connectivity with Infor Advanced Planning if licensed.

Enable Full Pegging to track supply-demand relationships across all BOM levels for shortage analysis
Set Order Modifiers (minimum quantity, maximum quantity, order multiple) to align planned orders with supplier or production constraints
Configure Max BOM Levels to 10-15 to balance planning accuracy with MRP runtime performance
Review the MRP Runtime Log after each run to identify items causing excessive processing time or exception messages

Frequently Asked Questions

What planning horizon should I set in SyteLine MRP?

The planning horizon should cover at least your longest cumulative lead time plus one review cycle. Most manufacturers set 12-18 months. If your longest purchased component has a 16-week lead time and your finished goods have 4 weeks of production, set the horizon to at least 24 weeks (6 months). Organizations with seasonal demand patterns should extend to 12-18 months to capture full demand cycles and enable forward buying decisions.

What is the difference between net change and full regeneration MRP in SyteLine?

Net change MRP processes only items affected by transactions since the last run, typically completing in 5-15 minutes for 10,000 items. Full regeneration recalculates all items regardless of changes, taking 30-90 minutes for the same item count. Run net change daily for responsive planning and full regeneration weekly or after major data changes like BOM restructuring, lead time updates, or new item introductions to ensure complete planning accuracy.

How do time fences affect MRP behavior in SyteLine?

Time fences create stability zones around the current date. Inside the Frozen Zone (3-5 days), MRP cannot modify any orders. Between the frozen zone and Planning Time Fence (7-14 days), MRP generates advisory messages but does not auto-reschedule. Inside the Demand Time Fence (14-30 days), only actual customer orders drive demand, preventing forecast inflation. These settings reduce MRP nervousness and can cut planner action messages by 40-60%.

Key Takeaways

1Navigating the Planning Parameters Form: Access Planning Parameters through Production > Planning Parameters in the SyteLine menu. This form uses the PlanningParms IDO and controls global MRP behavior across the entire site.
2Configuring Time Fences and Demand Policies: The Time Fences tab defines demand time fence (DTF), planning time fence (PTF), and frozen zone boundaries measured in days from the current date. The demand time fence controls when forecast is consumed by actual customer orders — inside the DTF, only actual demand drives planning.
3Advanced Planning Settings and Performance Tuning: The Advanced tab contains settings for lot sizing rules, pegging, and performance optimization. Enable Pegging to trace demand-to-supply relationships across the BOM structure, which is essential for root-cause analysis of shortages.

Let Netray AI agents audit your SyteLine planning parameters against industry benchmarks, identify suboptimal settings, and recommend configuration changes that reduce MRP noise and improve planner productivity.

Talk to an Expert See a Demo

Related Resources

Infor SyteLine