This paper describes the problems associated with determining deadlines for handling production orders during the orders combination process in order to optimize nesting. The analyzed problems relate to an automated nesting system in which production orders come in via the Internet and are processed automatically, and with minimum operator intervention. The article describes the issues of cutting optimization in the manufacturing system based on a water cutter. The optimization process is closely associated with the generation of production schedules for current orders base. Particular attention is focused on the analysis of problems arising from the omission of the human role in the processing of orders, scheduling and decision-making processes.