Constraint Properties Panel

The Constraint Properties panel lets you edit the attributes of time constraints and manage conditional product flows.

Time constraint and product flow links can only be created between two operations.

To access the Constraint Properties panel, do one of the followings:

  • From the Process Gantt chart, right-click a product flow or a time constraint to open the context menu, then click Constraint Properties .
  • From the System Editor, right-click a product flow or a time constraint to open the context menu, then click Constraint Properties .
  • From the Relations panel, right-click a product flow or a time constraint to open the context menu, then click Constraint Properties .

See Also
Creating Time Constraint Links Between Operations
Creating a Product Flow
Customizing Preferences
Attributes Description
Delay Mode

Specifies the delay mode between two operations. It can be:

  • Minimum Delay: The next operation waits for a minimum delay and starts at any time after this delay.
  • Maximum Delay: The next operation starts before this delay.
  • Synchronization: Minimum delay and maximum delay are the same.
Delay

Specifies a delay between operations.

Recommendation: To avoid delay inconsistencies between operations, enable the Prevent the creation of inconsistent constraints option in Me > Preferences > App Preferences > Simulation > Process Engineering > Fastener Planning > System/Operation Management > Item System Consistency Check.

When validating your choices, this option performs a consistency check; an error message is displayed if inconsistencies are detected.
Dependency Type

Specifies the dependency type between two operations. It can be:

  • Finish to Start: The finish-to-start link specifies that the first operation must end at the same time that the second operation starts.
  • Start to Start: The start-to-start link specifies a synchronized start between two operations.
  • Finish to Finish: The finish-to-finish link specifies a synchronized end between two operations.
    Note: For more information, see Creating Time Constraint Links Between Operations.
Tip: Different help images are displayed at the top of the Constraint Properties panel for each delay mode and dependency type, for both time constraints and product flows.
Is a Product Flow?

Specifies if the constraint must behave as a time constraint or a product flow

By default, the check box is not selected.

Note: For more information on creating product flows, see Creating a Product Flow.
Optional

Makes the constraint optional when selected. If not, constraint is mandatory.

Important: If the constraint is already defined as conditional product flow (that is, failed, alternate, or scrapped) and is modified to become Optional, the conditional extension of the constraint is removed. This means that the product flow category is changed to Good, and then the Optional attribute is applied. In this case, the constraint is colored with the optional product flow color defined in the Preferences options.

By default, the check box is not selected.

Note: By default, color of optional time constraint links is defined as purple and as pink for optional product flow links. You can modify these colors in Me > Preferences > App Preferences > Simulation > Process Engineering > Fastener Planning > System Grid Editor > Optional Constraints Display.
Product Flow Category

Changes the category to manage the most complex product flow. It can be:

  • Good
  • Failed
  • Alternative
  • Scrapped

By default, the product flow category is Good.

The Workload Balancing, the Process Gantt chart, and the Resource Utilization Gantt only take into account Good product flows; the other product flow categories are ignored.

The Product Build-Up takes into account Good, Alternate, and Scrapped product flows; Failed product flows are ignored and not available in the 3D. This is because of the time solver that cannot solve failed product flows that are meant to loop in the constraints graph.

Note: When selecting an operation with a failed flow, an error message appears.

Under the Product Flows section of the Relations Panel, the name of the previous or following operations and the product flow category are specified when a product flow link exists between operations.

Note: You can change the color of the arrows in the System Editor in Me > Preferences > App Preferences > Simulation > Process Engineering > Fastener Planning > System Grid Editor > Conditional Product Flow Display.
Reason Code

Specifies a description along with the reason code in the case of failed, scrapped, or alternative product flows.

You can configure your own reason codes by using the DELPPLReasonCode.xml and the DELPPLReasonCode.xsd files; you can find them in the win_b64\resources folder.

Your custom reason codes are available in the list and the description is displayed under this list.
Max. Number of Retries

Specifies a maximum number of retries for failed product flows.