Efficiency in routing maintenance
One important goal in the proper use of Enterprise Resource Systems is the efficient use of data. The data should be setup as generically as possible so that it can be used in many situations. Only the exceptions need to have the specifics applied. In some manufacturing processes specific routing information can be setup to be used by multiple items reducing the need for many routes. The advantage is that a single change in one place can affect all of the routes using it. This approach will save on both time and accuracy.
Dynamics AX2012 provides a construct called Operation Relations to make route setup as generic or as specific as required. As an example let’s assume a representative group of one hundred items. Each item is unique and is sold under different item identification due to slightly different material requirements however all of the items are similar in that they require two manufacturing steps. The first step is to run the material through a roller where it receives some a coating. The second step is to place the item in a drier for some period of time. Farther assume that fifty of the items require a slower run rate of five meters per minute because of a wider width of the material and the other fifty can accept a faster run rate of ten meters per minute. However all of the items require the same drying time of forty five minutes.
When setting up routes it is possible to setup a completely unique route and route times for each item however it is more efficient to use route operations to reduce the number of records required. The fifty items that require a faster run rate are setup with a descriptive item group for example called “wide” the remaining items are setup with a descriptive item group called “narrow”.
Following is a narrative on how to setup this example scenario.
Two item groups are setup: One for narrow and one for wide fabrics.
07/Inventory and warehouse management/Setup/inventory/item groups
Two example items are created: These items represent the fifty items found in each type for our example.
CEU/Product information management/Common/Released products
The items are setup and coded with the correct item group that corresponds to the width of the fabric. In the examples below two items are shown one with an item group of “Wide” the second with an item group of “Narrow”. The picture below shows Item “0001” as setup with an item group of “Wide”.
Item “0002” is setup with an item group of “Narrow”.
A new route operation is created for the “rolling” function.
CEU/Production control/Setup/Routes/Operation
The route relation for the operation is created by pressing the relations button. In this screen the operator specifies the run time for each item group. The Narrow group is selected and the run time is setup for 10 meters per minute. The Wide group is set to 5 meters per minute.
The operator next creates a drying operation and setups up the time of forty five minutes for all items. In this case “All” is selected and a group need not be specified. Every item that has a drying operation will now use a time of forty five minutes.
Routes are created for each item. The correct times will automatically default to the route for each corresponding operation based on the groupings that have been setup. The operator only has to select the correct operation on each route step and the system will do the rest of the work for him. The system will determine the item group as the route is created and apply the correct information. The information defaulted includes route groups, times and cost categories. A specific record for each item need not be created. The one hundred items in this example can be very quickly setup with a minimum of effort and a maximum of accuracy.
CEU/Product information management/Common/Released products
The route for item “0001” which resides in the “Wide” item group is shown.
If it is determined in the future a new method has been found so that all “Wide” items can now run at six meters per minute instead of 5 meters per minute then only a single change to the route operation is required and each of the fifty items requiring the change need not be manually updated.
CEU/Production control/Setup/Routes/Operation
This example illustrates the power of using Dynamics AX to reduce the amount of setup and maintenance to update many item routes with the minimum amount of change.
A quick check of item “0001” shows that the change to the route operation has automatically cascaded through the system and a run time of six minutes is now found on the attached route. The change will be found on all of the routes for all of the items in the “Wide” item group.
