Workcenter Schedule

There are two ways to access a Workcenter Schedule in the system. The first way, is to navigate to the tab and click on the icon. This will open a Read-Only copy of the Workcenter Schedule; you will not be able to make any changes on this screen.

The second way is to navigate to the tab and click on the icon. This will open the Master Production Schedule screen.

Double-click on the Workcenter row you wish to view to the left of the screen. This will open the Workcenter Schedule screen for that particular Workcenter.

Here, the planner sets the schedule of Jobs for the Workcenter Operator. The sequence of Jobs and information on the screen is reflected on the Operator’s schedule, as long as the Jobs are Frozen. Any changes made here can be saved and will be reflected on the Operator’s screen.

Workcenter Schedule Navigation

The Workcenter Schedule screen has many navigation features for users. Each one is described below in order for users to understand how to navigate the Workcenter Schedule.

Field Chooser

The Field Chooser option allows users to view and/or hide available columns on the Workcenter Schedule.

The Field Chooser can be found on the schedule table located at the top left side of the screen, beside the M (Material) column.

Simply click on the Field Chooser button and select or de-select the columns you wish to view and/or hide on the Workcenter Schedule.

The Workcenter Schedule screen will change accordingly.

Manufacture Routing/Production Inventory Shortcut

Users can navigate directly to a Manufacture Routing or the Production Inventory screen for an Item on the Workcenter Schedule.

To do so, right click on the row of the Item in the far left column below the Field Chooser.

Select either the Manufacture Routing or Production Inventory option from the available drop-down menu.

The system will open the appropriate screen.

Note

This option will only work if the Workcenter Schedule screen is NOT Read-Only.

Material, Tooling, and Container Availability

The Workcenter Schedule screen displays current Material (M), Tooling (T), and Container (C) availability for a Job on the left side of the schedule.

To view this, navigate to the tab and click on the icon. This will open a Read-Only copy of the Workcenter Schedule with the M, T, and C columns located to the left of the screen.

If there is a Material, Tooling, or Container issue, you will notice a in the appropriate column.

If there is enough Materials, Tooling, and/or Containers available, you will notice a in the appropriate column.

To view Material details (if these is an issue or not), simply click on the plus sign to expand the details. You can then expand the details further to view the On-Hand Tags and Quantities by clicking on the plus sign located beside the Item #.

Users can also navigate directly to the Purchased Item, or R/M Inventory screen for an Item by right clicking on the Material Item row when it is expanded on the Workcenter Schedule screen if it is not in a Read-Only format.

If the Tooling column has a , then there are one or more Preventative Maintenance work orders that are overdue for a particular Tooling Item linked to the Production Item.

If a user places the cursor over the in the Container column, the system will show how many Containers are needed for the Job, and how many Containers are available.

Alerts

Alerts are used on the Workcenter Schedule to let users know that there have been order changes either related to Order Quantity or Dates.

Quantity changes will be reflected by arrows in the Required column on the schedule. If an arrow is pointing up , it indicates that an Order Quantity has increased.

If an arrow is pointing down , it indicates that an Order Quantity has decreased.

If users place the cursor over the arrows, the system will provide more details about the Quantity change including the new Quantity, the previous Quantity, and the Change Amount.

Date changes are reflected by arrows in the Ship On column. If an arrow is pointing to the right , the Date has been changed to a later Date.

If the arrow is pointing to the left , the Date of the Order has been changed to an earlier Date.

If users place the cursor over the arrows, the system will provide additional details including the new Due Date, the old Due Date, the Change, Order Amount, Customer, and any Transit Days for the Customer.

Note

Alerts stay on the Workcenter Schedule until they are manually reset. Users can reset or clear the Alerts when viewing the Master Production Schedule. Navigate to the tab and click on the icon. Click on the Production menu located at the top of the screen, and select Reset All Alerts.

Replanning the Workcenter Schedule

The Workcenter Schedule must be replanned periodically to take the Order and Inventory changes into consideration. It is entirely up to users on how often replanning is done. If Releases and Inventory changes occur often, users might wish to replan the Workcenter Schedule on a daily basis. If Releases and Inventory changes only occur once in a while, users might wish to replan once or twice a week.

To perform a replan of the Workcenter Schedule, navigate to the Production menu located at the top of the screen and select Replanning....

Note

Users must open the Workcenter Schedule by clicking on the tab and then on the icon in order to select the Replanning... option from the Production menu.

The Schedule Planning window will appear with two options to modify. The first option allows users to decide how far out they wish to plan a Release. Users can manually enter in a Date or use the available drop-down menu to select the Date instead.

The second option allows users to determine how many weeks they wish to replan the schedule for. Simply enter in the number of weeks you would like Jobs to be scheduled for in the textbox provided.

When the necessary fields have been filled in, click on the button to perform the replan.

Make sure to save your changes before exiting the screen.

Initially, the system will consider the Due Date at the Customer site, and provide users with an Order Due Date or Ship On Date on the Workcenter Schedule, and schedule backwards from there. To make sure users are provided with an Order Due Date or Ship On Date on the Workcenter Schedule, click on File > Setup.

Next, click on the tab by using the arrow to scroll over. Select the appropriate boxes and click on the button.

It will consider any On-Hand Inventory Finished Good and WIP before a Job on the Workcenter Schedule. The system will not consider Held Inventory.

The system will include any Transit Days for the Customer. It will look at each Operation on the Manufacture Routing and include Lead Times, Processing Times, Batch Sizes, Setup Time, and Standard Run Rates when placing a Job on the Workcenter Schedule. It will also calculate a Start and End Date for each Job.

Make sure to save your changes before exiting the screen.

Resequencing Jobs on the Workcenter Schedule

Jobs can be resequenced on the Workcenter Schedule by using the up and down arrows.

To move a Job up on the Workcenter Schedule, simply click on the arrow.

To mow a Job down on the Workcenter Schedule, simply click on the arrow.

Make sure to save your changes before exiting the screen.

Once the changes have been saved, they will be reflected to the Operators.

Changing a Job Quantity

Users have the ability to modify a Job To Make quantity by clicking in the To Make column in the appropriate row of the Job they wish to modify.

Simply locate the Job and enter in the new Quantity in the To Make column.

Make sure to save your changes before exiting the screen. Once the changes have been saved, they will be reflected to the Operators.

Deleting a Job

Jobs can be deleted from the Workcenter Schedule.

To do so, simply highlight the Job row you wish to delete. Use your Delete key and when the system prompts you, select the button.

The highlighted Job will be deleted.

Make sure to save your changes before exiting the screen. These changes will then be reflected to the Operators.

Note

Jobs remain on the Workcenter Schedule, even completed Jobs, until they have been deleted.

Inserting a Job

There may be times when users need to insert a Job on the Workcenter Schedule without doing a replan of the whole schedule.

To insert a Job, navigate to the Production menu located at the top of the screen on the Workcenter Schedule and select Inset Job.

The New Job window will appear.

Users must select the Item and Operation. If there is a Batch Size on the Manufacture Routing, the system will default to the Quantity in the To Make textbox. Users have the ability to override this number and enter in an appropriate Quantity.

The system will default to the current Date and Time for the Due Date and Start Time fields. The Workcenter field will default to the Workcenter you are viewing the Schedule for. All of these fields can be overridden by using the provided drop-down menus.

The system will also check the checkbox. Users have the ability to de-select the checkbox if necessary.

Once you have entered in all of the new Job details, click on the button to insert the Job onto the Workcenter Schedule.

Make sure to save your changes before exiting the screen. The saved changes will be reflected to the Operators.

Freezing and Unfreezing Jobs

Freezing and Unfreezing Jobs is an important part of the Workcenter Schedule. Jobs that have been frozen will not be moved when performing a replan. Frozen Jobs are also the only Jobs that the Operators see on the Operator Schedule or on the Android Application.

It is important to remember not to freeze too many Jobs on the Workcenter Schedule, or when you perform a replan, as the system will not adapt to changing Order or Inventory Quantities.

Jobs that are frozen will remain on the Workcenter Schedule when performing a replan regardless of changes to Releases, or updated Inventory numbers.

To freeze or unfreeze a Job on the Workcenter Schedule, scroll to the right of the screen until the Frozen column is in view.

If a Job is frozen, the checkbox will be checked and it will be bolded on the Workcenter Schedule. To unfreeze a Job, simply uncheck the checkbox in the appropriate row.

To freeze multiple Jobs at a time, navigate to the Production menu located at the top of the Workcenter Schedule screen and select Freeze/Unfreeze Jobs.... The Freeze Jobs window will appear.

On the Freeze Jobs window, users can select whether they would like to freeze or unfreeze Jobs by Date range, by Workcenter, or all Jobs. Once the selections have been made, click on the button.

Make sure to save your changes before exiting the screen.

The saved changes will be reflected to the Operators.

Adding a Holiday

Users have the ability to add Holidays to the Workcenter Schedule or the Master Production Schedule. After adding a Holiday to the system, Jobs will not be scheduled, or Jobs will be moved from the Holiday Date added.

To add a Holiday, navigate to the Production menu located at the top of the screen and select Holidays.... The Holidays window will appear where users can select the Day(s) they wish to include in the Holiday.

Double-click on a Day or select multiple Days to open the Holiday Details window.

Users can enter in a Holiday Description, select the Start and End Dates (if required), and enter in any necessary Notes. Click on the button when the necessary fields are completed. Then, click on the button again to close the Holidays window.

Make sure to save your changes before exiting the screen. The saved changes will be reflected to the Operators.

Deleting a Holiday

To delete a Holiday from the Workcenter Schedule, navigate to the Production menu located at the top of the screen and select Holidays.... The Holidays window will appear.

Highlight the Day you wish to delete the Holiday from. Use your Delete key and when the system prompts you, select Yes.

Then, click on the button to close the Holidays window.

Make sure to save your changes before exiting the screen. The saved changes will be reflected to the Operators.

Job Detail Screen

To view the Job Detail window, double-click on a job on the Workcenter Schedule.

The Job Detail screen will provide users with some of the same information that is displayed on the Workcenter Schedule screen except it has more details in regards to the Materials, Previous Operation(s), Next Operation(s), Scheduling, Notes, and Workcenter Assignments.

Users can use the Job Detail screen to change the To Make quantity, move the Job to a different Workcenter, and Freeze or Unfreeze a Job.

Materials Tab

The Material details for a job can be viewed by selecting the tab.

Here, users can view the Materials used for the job, including any Raw Materials, Components, or WIP Materials. You can also use the “+” button to expand each Material to see their P/O numbers, and P/O details.

This screen is helpful in determining how much Materials you have on-hand, as well as, how much you will use in production (i.e. you may wish to run out a coil or bin of parts).

Double-click on a P/O row if you wish to open the P/O.

Previous Operation(s) Tab

The Previous Operation(s) details for a job can be viewed by clicking on the tab.

Here, users are able to view any Previous Operation(s) for a job.

Next Operation(s) Tab

The Next Operation(s) details for a job can be viewed by clicking on the tab.

Here, users can view any upcoming operations for a job.

Scheduling Tab

The Scheduling details for a job can be viewed by clicking on the tab.

Here, users can view the Workcenter, Container, Setup, Minimum Quantity, Batch Size, and the Job Must Start After date.

Users can enter or modify Setup Hours and set a Date that the Job must begin after. By design, all Jobs will be scheduled back to back in the system, maximizing equipment utilization.

If users wish to schedule a Job to begin after a particular Date or Time, they may use this field.

Notes Tab

The Notes for a job can be viewed by clicking on the tab.

Here, users can enter and view any Notes for a job. When there is a Note entered in this field, a small Note icon will appear to the left of the Job row on the Workcenter Schedule screen.

Workcenter Assignments Tab

The Workcenter Assignments details for a job can be viewed by clicking on the tab.

Here, users can view the Workcenter Assignment or Alternate Workcenters that have been entered on the Manufacture Routing.

Tab Information

There are a series of tabs located at the bottom of the Workcenter Schedule screen that provide users with additional information. To view the Workcenter Schedule screen, navigate to the tab and click on the icon. This will open the Workcenter Schedule screen in a read-only format.

By default, the Info and WIP Inventory tabs will be visible when the Workcenter Schedule screen is first opened.

Note

If you are not able to view any tabs on the Workcenter Schedule screen, navigate to View > Show in the menu at the top of the screen and select the tabs you wish to view.

Info Tab

The Info tab on the Workcenter Schedule screen can be viewed by selecting the tab located at the bottom of the screen.

This screen is helpful in showing Container details. You can also view any upcoming Operations for a job.

Inventory Tab

The Inventory tab on the Workcenter Schedule screen can be viewed by selecting the tab located at the bottom of the screen.

Inventory information for the Item highlighted in the schedule above will show in this tab. Users can view the Item, Operation #, WIP, Finished On-Hand and Tag On-Hand, Held, any Inventory at the Processor, and Inventory in Transit. The system will also show any Minimum Quantity, which is the minimum On-Hand Quantity set on the Active Jobs screen for the particular Item.

This screen is helpful in showing all current Orders for a particular Item.

Tooling Tab

The Tooling tab on the Workcenter Schedule screen can be viewed by selecting the tab located at the bottom of the screen.

This screen is helpful in showing Tooling Item details such as where a Tool is located and stored and if a Tool is available. Users with permissions can also make Tooling Items available or unavailable from this screen by clicking the button at the end of the Tooling Item row.

Workcenter Hours Tab

The Workcenter Hours tab on the Workcenter Schedule screen can be viewed by selecting the tab located at the bottom of the screen.

This screen is helpful by displaying the number of hours per shift scheduled on a particular Workcenter by graph.

Find Tab

The Find tab on the Workcenter Schedule screen can be viewed by selecting the tab located at the bottom of the screen.

This tab allows users to quickly search for an Item and/or Operation on the Workcenter Schedule. Users can also search for Jobs by Status. For example, if they wish to see all of the running Jobs, they can use the drop-down menu and select Running.

Next, click on the button and all of the running Jobs will be displayed below.

Workcenter Assignments Tab

The Workcenter Assignments tab on the Workcenter Schedule screen can be viewed by selecting the tab located at the bottom of the screen.

This tab allows users to view all Workcenter Assignments or Alternate Workcenters that are on the Manufacture Routing for the Item. The details include the Workcenter, Priority, Batch Size, Strokes Per Minute, Run Rate, Active, Setup (Hrs.), and Round to Nearest.

WIP Inventory Tab

The WIP Inventory tab on the Workcenter Schedule screen can be viewed to the right at the bottom of the screen.

Here, users can view all of the WIP Inventory levels by Operation for an Item.