Manufacturing Planner

This model object reassigns workers on a production line if: 1. Employees are absent and the line needs rebalancing; 2. The production mix changes; 3. Production goals change.

The manufacturing planner defines skill levels, error rates, and resource assignments. A brilliant method of resources assignment accomplishes what seems to be impossible. The reassignment routine automatically rewrites the logic to reassign single, multi-shift, alternate or many resources to any station. For example, if a station has workers on three shifts, allows alternate workers and each person has different skills, then system automatically creates complex logic to assign workers. If a different worker, with greater skill is substituted then the logic rewrites, and will shorten production time because of using the higher skilled employee.

This new model object is important because complex resource reassignment is difficult. Now its visual, easy and fast. So easy that a novice can reassign workers on a production line. This is the most powerful model object ever built for you.

Manufacturing Planner fi

Where to Find the Model Object

The following model object can be found in the model objects directory:

  • Resources \ Manufacturing Planner

Difficulty Level

  • Ease of Use: Moderate
  • Ease of Modification: Moderate

How to Use the Model Object

  1. Open Your Model: Open your model or create a new blank model.
  2. Prep Your Model
    1. Add a storage before the activities, where a resource needs to  be captured.adding storage in Manufacturing Planner
    2. Rename the storage to *Act-Name*_InQ, where *Act-Name* is the actual name of your activity.rename storage in Manufacturing Planner Additionally, you can change the capacity of the storage to what you want the input queue size to be.
    3. Change the input queue size on the activity to 0.change input queue in Manufacturing Planner
    4. Repeat for every activity where you would like to have resource(s) work.add storage for all act in Manufacturing Planner
    5. Add all the resources you will need.add resources in Manufacturing Planner
  3. Insert the Model Object into Your Model
    1. Locate the model object Manufacturing Planner and click the Insert button.
    2. Move the cursor to the point of insertion and left mouse-click. The upper left corner of the model object will be inserted at the location of the mouse-click.

      If you do not see the model object in your model objects gallery, make sure that you have updated your model objects gallery by clicking Model Objects \ Update.

  4. Open the Excel File: Right click on the Manufacturing Planner Excel icon and click on the third option from the bottom to open the Manufacturing Planner vx-x Excel file, where x-x represents the version number of the Excel file.open excel file in Manufacturing PlannerBefore using this Excel file for the first time, or after changing your model name, make sure that a manual export of data is done via ProcessModel. From your model, click Tools \ Export Data, click ‘Yes’ to all prompts until the data export file opens, close the data file and then use this Excel file.

    Click Enable Content if prompted