---
title: Capacity Utilization & Pools
slug: capacity-utilization
createdAt: 2025-06-17T15:29:08.187Z
---

# Understanding Capacity Utilization in planeus

Capacity utilization helps you compare your **available resources** with your **production needs** and shows the results in an easy-to-read chart.

This helps you see at a glance if you have enough capacity — or if you’re risking overloads.

# What are Pools?

Everything in planeus capacity planning is built around **Pools.**

- A **Pool** is a group of similar Resources, like:
  - Employees with the same skills (e.g. electricians, welders)
  - Machines with the same capabilities

:::hint{type="info"}
You can **create and manage Pools** under [Configuration](docId\:dGjLWrhMESeuQNVBZx2RP).
:::

## Capacity Supply

Your **available capacity** comes from the resources you’ve assigned to a Pool.

To set this up:

- Go to **Master Data > Resources.**

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/lNsVkb6uhdsaRA0R-X2Hp-ZinYLgXY68bPmgmXe5S9G-20250710-132416.png)

- Assign the Resources to the right Pool.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/QT_-lcvOHrsVhNr_kHpz7_image.png)

## Capacity Demand

Your **required capacity** comes from the **Technologies** linked to your Work Steps.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/lNsVkb6uhdsaRA0R-X2Hp-7KV-SU2g7aCMC-oWt-tl0-20250710-132416.png)

In **Technology**, you can define:

- How many utilization of the Resources you need from a specific Pool for a particular Work Step.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/6RBiTqXcKyUVWb_EEWyIM_image.png)

**Example**

Imagine you have a Work Step for **Injection Molding**, you can use Pool to tell planeus:

:::hint{type="info"}
During this Work Step, I need 2 electricians for the entire duration.”
:::

Then planeus will know **how many resources your Work Step will consume from the Pool**.

# Viewing Capacity Utilization

You can check your Pool Utilization right in the Manufacturing Plan view.

- Click the **Utilization** menu option in the Manufacturing Plan view.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/9WBsl-b0KZet6mdzPiemH_image.png" size="28" width="223" height="423" position="flex-start" darkWidth="223" darkHeight="423" showCaption="false"}

- A bar appears at the bottom of the screen.
- Click the **Open icon** on the lower right to see the list of available Pools.
- Use the **Edit** icon on the left to select the pools you want to display.
- You can display up to **6 pools** at the same time.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/42wZboN0yFyCdvEDLGqW1_image.png)

- Choose the Pool you want to check.
- planeus displays a **Utilization Chart** for that Pool.



![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/1Y6a7VIpYp7SubZZK1b8e_image.png)

- Click the **eye icon** to open the detailed view for a pool.
  You can view the details of up to **3 pools** at the same time. This helps you compare selected pools side by side without overloading the planning view.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/Az1Ps5oSNiLtjQlnYvsy6_image.png)

:::hint{type="info"}
Depending on how you’ve zoomed in or out in the timeline, planeus may show **average values **for capacity utilization. 
:::

# Color Coding in the Chart

planeus uses colors to make it easy to spot problem areas.
This color coding helps you quickly see:

- Where you have **extra capacity**
- Where you’re **approaching limits**
- Where you’re **overloaded**

| **Color** | **Meaning**            |
| --------- | ---------------------- |
| 🟩 Green  | Under 75% utilization  |
| 🟨 Yellow | 75% - 95% utilization  |
| 🟧 Orange | 95% - 105% utilization |
| 🟥 Red    | Over 105% utilization  |

:::hint{type="success"}
**Capacity utilization** in planeus makes it easy to keep your operations balanced and avoid surprises that could slow down your production. 
:::