Overview
Overview
As a supervisor, you can use Route Management to manage routes in the Plant Applications manufacturing execution system.
A route defines the process and operations required to manufacture a product. It specifies a list of operations you must perform on the components, and the order in which you must perform these operations.
- Operations: An operation is the main work segment in a route. An operation is a sequence of tasks that you must perform to manufacture the product.
- Bill of materials (BOMs): A BOM contains BOM formulations that define a list of items and the quantity of each BOM item needed to produce a product.
- Properties: A property is an additional attribute that is assigned to a route or an operation to produce a product.
- Documents: A document is a reference material used to perform an operation (for example, standard operating procedure, circuit diagram).
- Define the end-to-end workflow of using a route, which includes the sequence of operations for manufacturing a product.
- Release the route for use in a work order.
- Maintain the revision history of each released route.
- Define the bill of material (BOM) items that are required for each operation in a route.
- Link reference documents such as standard operating procedures, circuit diagrams, and other documents required to perform each operation.
- Assign properties to a route or an operation, and modify their default values.
- Create, copy, modify, release, archive, revise, and delete a route.
About Routes
A route defines the process and operations to manufacture a product. It also specifies the order in which you must perform these operations.
- Operations: The main work segment in a route. An operation is a sequence of tasks that you must perform to manufacture the product.
- BOM: A list of materials used in an operation, along with the quantity that is required for each item. BOM formulations and BOM items are defined in Plant Applications. Each operation is linked to a BOM item.
- Documents: A document is a reference material used to perform an operation (for example, standard operating procedure, circuit diagram).
Routes in a Motor Manufacturing Unit
- Shell
- Stator
- Rotor
- Endshields
- Shell: Includes welding sheets of metal into cylindrical shape. In addition, the route includes reference documents, which contains latest diagrams of the steel rods and information on how to weld them.
- Stator: Includes assembling windings with the shells, and turning them to accommodate endshields.
- Rotor: Includes injecting the shaft, and verifying the load balance of the rotor.
- Endshields: Includes turning and drilling the endshields so that they can be fixed to the stator.
- Assembly: Includes assembling the stator, rotor, and enshields to produce the final product. This route can also include painting, testing, and packaging the product.
About Operations
An operation consists of tasks that you perform while producing a product (for example, drilling, turning, and painting). When you define a route, you define a set of operations that must be performed to complete the route. Each operation is associated with one or more pieces of equipment that are defined in Plant Applications.
Using Route Management, in addition to creating an operation, you can copy, modify, and delete an operation.
Operations in a Motor Assembly Route
Suppose you want to create a route for assembling the parts of a motor. The following tasks are involved in completing the route:- Shell turning
- Stator and endshield assembling
- Rotor and endshield assembling
- Testing
- Painting
- Packaging
| Operation | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Shell turning | The lathe machine |
| Stator and endshield assembling | The pneumatic bolt tightener |
| Rotor and endshield assembling | The pneumatic bolt tightener |
| Testing |
|
| Painting | The spray paint workstation |
| Packaging |
|
About Bill of Material (BOM)
A Bill of Material (BOM) contains BOM formulations that define a list of items and the quantity of each BOM item needed to produce a product. BOM items are defined and associated with BOM formulations in Plant Applications.
- Link a BOM formulation to a route.
- Link BOM items to operations in the route.
After the route is released and used in a work order, you can provide details on the actual quantity of BOM items that are consumed, using the Work Queue module. This allows you to keep a track of the quantity of material that is consumed.
About Properties
A property is an additional attribute that is assigned to a route or an operation to produce a product. Properties are defined and grouped under property groups in Plant Applications Administrator.
Using Route Management, you can assign a property group to a route, and provide values for custom properties that are specific to the route. For example, if the route is for assembling a motor, you can provide the material grade, ERP project number, and other details specific to the route.
You can assign a property group to a route or an operation.
About Documents
Using route management, you can add a document that contains reference material to perform an operation (for example, circuit diagram, standard operating procedure). To do so, you must first upload the document, and then attach it to the appropriate route.