Operations and operation templates

Operations application

In the Operations application, the user can define individual activities of the production process. The application is composed of a header and work pane. The work pane contains a table with the list of resources assigned to a given operation and a line item editor enabling the user to edit and enter data in the table.

The application header allows the user to add a new operation, edit an existing one, and release data for further processing. The header of the Operations application contains the following buttons:

[New operation] → [Operation] – it makes it possible to add a new operation in the system
[New operation] → [External manufacturing operation] – it makes it possible to define operations required by external manufacturing. After this button is selected, the work pane view changes accordingly. More information may be found in chapter Work pane – Adding an external manufacturing operation.
[New operation] → [Multi-site production operation] – it makes it possible to define an operation to be carried out by the company but within another organization. More information may be found in chapter Work pane – Adding a multi-site production operation.
[New operation] → [New from template] – it makes it possible to create a new operation on the basis of a previously created template. It opens the dialog window Generate and link.

The dialog window is composed of two tabs: Destination and Background settings. The Destination tab contains the following fields:

Operation template – a template defined in the Operation template application
Duplicate to – it makes it possible to select operations the selected template is to be assigned to
Description – an additional operation description
Reference factor – a quantity for which the operation is to be defined
Confirm warnings – a parameter enabling the automatic confirmation of warnings upon the generation of operations

The Background settings tab enables the user to define batch job parameters, including the job’s name, processing queue, application server, etc.

[New operation] → [Duplicate] – it makes it possible to duplicate an operation. It is activated after selecting a defined operation.
[New operation] → [New version] – it makes it possible to create a new version of an operation. It activates the field Valid from time point. The button itself is activated after selecting a defined operation.
[Delete] – it makes it possible to delete an operation or mark/unmark it for deletion. If an operation is used in the Routings application, the system will not allow the user to delete it and will display a message indicating where it is used.
[Check all line items] – it makes it possible to verify the correctness of data entered for all line items added in the operation table
[Select action] → [Link to template] – it links a selected operation to a previously defined template
[Select action] → [Separate from template] – it unlinks a selected operation from a template
[Select action] → [Release version] – it accepts an operation for further processing
[Select action] → [Edit version] – it changes the status of an operation version to In process. The button is activated after selecting [New operation] → [New version].
[Select action] → [Approve version] – it changes the status of an operation version to Under approval. The button is activated after selecting [New operation] → [New version].
[Select action] → [Lock version] – it prevents further use of an operation. Attempting to use a locked operation in the Routings application will display a relevant notification on the Messages tab.

Buttons belonging to the [Select action] group are activated after saving a defined operation.

Drop-down context menu for views – it makes it possible to select one of the following views:
- Operation – this view enables the user to define a new operation
- Tree view – this view enables the user to preview an operation in the form of a tree structure with defined levels and associated elements of a given production process, defined on the basis of data entered in the Operation view

The application header contains the following fields:

Operation (required) – an operation name, short identification description

Note

Additionally, there is a Version field next to the operation name. It is displayed if the function Master data versioning is activated in the application Customizing → Production. The function can be activated as part of the parent organization.

Description (required) – an additional operation name that can be defined in different languages
Valid from time point – it makes it possible to define a date from which an operation is to be valid. The field is grayed-out and becomes active only after creating a new operation with the button [New operation] → [New version].
[Back] and [Next] buttons – they make it possible to switch between operation versions.

General tab

The General tab allows the user to enter basic data defining an operation; it contains the following fields:

Reference factor – it is used to define a quantity (to be produced) to which the details of assigned resources, resource groups, or resource lists refer
Transport time – it adds a defined transport time to the operation time
Logistics organization – an organization used for bill of resources data. By default, an organization selected in the toolbar is used in this field.
Status – an operation processing status. The status changes accordingly after selecting the button [Select action]. The status affects the possibility to use an operation in further processes. The following statuses are available:
- In process – the operation is currently edited
- Released – the operation is approved and accepted for further use
- Blocked – the operation is blocked and cannot be used
- Expired – this status is assigned to an operation version if a newer version is created with the button [New operation] → [New version].
- Under approval – this status is assigned to an operation that requires the verification of data correctness
Reporting level:
- Operation – operation reporting is carried out at the level of work
- Resource – operation reporting is carried out at the level of resources added to a given operation
Maximum buffer time reduction – in this field, it is necessary to enter the percentage value of the maximum buffer time reduction. Buffer time reduction is a production process optimization method allowing flexible buffering times. This feature makes it possible to determine a buffering time reduction limit that can be managed in the Production orders application or during production planning.
Template – exactly one template can be assigned to an operation. However, a single template may be used for purposes of multiple operations. It is possible to save an operation with no template assigned. An operation created from a template is duplicated along with all resource line items.

Classifications tab

It enables the user to assign an operation to classifications created in the application Classifications → Bill of resources classification. Operations can be assigned to the following classifications:

Classification 1 – Bill of resources classification 1
Classification 2 – Bill of resources classification 2
Classification 3 – Bill of resources classification 3
Classification 4 – Bill of resources classification 4
Classification 5 – Bill of resources classification 5

Texts tab

It makes it possible to add a description/text to an operation.

Parameters tab

This tab allows the user to adjust additional operation parameters. A parameter can be the quantity of produced items or the production time for a given item. It is also possible to define parameters that could be used to build formulae or usage conditions for a given operation in the Routings application.

Example

If a manufacturing company has one machining center that produces two bushing sizes, the user can define the production time for both bushing sizes on the Parameters tab. Adding an operation in the Routings application, the user can define a condition that will make it possible to retrieve a work time depending on the item called.

The Parameters tab contains the following buttons:

[Properties] – it makes it possible to define an editable field. The function may be used to build a template if information in the header is not sufficient enough for the organization. The user can be used after at least one parameter has been defined.
[New] – it makes it possible to add a new parameter
[Delete] – it makes it possible to delete defined parameters
[Arrange] – it makes it possible to adjust the view of parameters in columns

Line item filter tab

It makes it possible to filter table line items. Available filters include:

Validity – it makes it possible to filter table data by validity date. By default, the field is assigned the value today.
Line item classification – it makes it possible to filter table data by data classification
Change number – it makes it possible to filter table data by change number

Work pane – Adding an operation

Resources are assigned to an operation in the table. The first resource assigned to an operation (and given the lowest line item number) is defined as the base resource. Operation line items (resources, resource groups, and resource lists) are saved individually in the line item editor.

The table contains the following buttons:

[Edit] – it makes it possible to change line item data in the line item editor
[Mark/unmark for deletion] – it makes it possible to delete a resource from the table. A line item marked for deletion is deleted from the table after saving changes.
[Edit condition with substitute or formula of selected line item] – it makes it possible to edit defined formulae and usage conditions of a resource
[Renumber] – it makes it possible to change the numbering method for a line item in the table
[Output pages already displayed into file] – it exports table data into an XLS file

The following fields are available in the operation line item table:

Icons in the column headers:
- Resources
- Resource groups
- Resource lists
- Line item to be deleted
- Line item to be edited/unsaved line item
Line item – it displays a number assigned to a line item in the table
Text note – it displays an appropriate icon if a text has been assigned to a line item in the line item editor on the Texts tab
Resource/Resource list – it displays the name of a resource, resource group, or resource list entered in the table
Classification – it displays the classification of a table line item

Note

It is a classification assigned to an entered value. If the table line item is a resource – it is the classification assigned to the resource in the Resources application.

Change number – it displays a number used in a bill of material, routings and work elements or resource lists to enable the registration of changes
Number of resources – it defines the number of resources on which the operation can be performed simultaneously. It does not apply to resource lists for which the number of resources has been specified in the Resource lists application.
Performance rate – a resource’s performance factor expressed as a percentage value, that is taken into account when planning production and reserving the resource’s operation time
Processing time – an operation’s duration for a given resource
Setup time – time needed to prepare a resource for operation
Valid from/Valid to – a validity period of a given table line item

Work pane – Line item editor

This area makes it possible to edit a selected table line item or add a new one The area is composed of the tabs described below. The line item editor’s toolbar contains the following fields and options:

Line item – it displays the number of the currently edited table line item or shows which item number is entered into the table when adding a new resource
[New line item of current type] – it allows the user to add a new line item to the list according to the current type
[New resource line item] – it allows the user to add a resource or resource group to an operation
[New resource list line item] – it allows the user to add a resource list to an operation
[New version] – it allows the user to add a new version of a given resource from the table. The button is activated after adding a resource to the table and editing it.