The manufacturing batch contains various dates. Some of these dates are used for scheduling and others are used for accounting or reference purposes.
The Batch Date is used for accounting purposes. All accounting transactions are dated using the Batch Date. Review the Processing a Batch > Processing a Batch section for more details on the G/L transactions created when a batch is processed.
The Entry Date is used as a reference of when the batch was created. This date is for reference purposes only.
The Start Date should reflect the scheduled date of the batch. This date is often used within the MRP (materials resource planning) process. Review the Scheduling a Batch section for more details on scheduling manufacturing batches.
The End Date may be an alternative schedule setting. This optional date is often used to schedule a batch that spans multiple days