Buffer Time enables users to add a period of planned waiting time to the actual length of the job, this depends upon the priority ranking of the customer. The waiting or buffer time is the approximate sum of the expected delay time between operations, and is measured in days. A customer with a ranking of 1 (which is the highest priority) would expect to receive a job quicker than a priority 5 customer even if the jobs were following the same route. It is the variation in buffer time that allows for this to be planned for, with the highest rank (1) having the shortest buffer time.

If a buffer time was not added, then the advanced planning system within DNA would assume that all job operations can start immediately after the preceeding operation – in reality there is a movement and preparation time between operations and more important jobs ‘queue-jump’ others, this needs to be accounted for to ensure that promised customer delivery dates are achieved.