Establishing Links Between Resources and Operations

Working, Nonworking and Organization Resources

Assigning links between resources and operations is a key functionality in Manufacturing Planning for capacity planning. You can use it to balance operations on resources. Operations are defined in systems.

Resource balancing allows:

Defining which resource will execute an operation. This is a working resource such as Robot or Conveyor. These are also known as 'Who' resources.
Defining the resource with which an operation will be executed. This is a nonworking resource such as Tool Equipment or Sensor. These are also known as 'With' resources.
Defining a resource where an operation is executed. This is an organizational resource, such as Manufacturing Cell or Area. These are also known as 'Where' resources.

Execute, Used, and Where Links

Execute, Used, and Where links connect operations to resources.

An 'Execute link' connects an operation to a working resource. This means that the operation is executed by the linked working resource. An operation can be executed by one working resource only.

In the example above, Working Resource 11 executes Operation 11.

A 'Used link' connects an operation to one or several nonworking resources. This means that the operation uses the linked nonworking resources. An operation can have 0 up to N nonworking resources as used resources.

In the example above, Non Working Resources 11 and 12 are used by Operation 11.

A 'Where link' connects an operation to an organizational resource. This means that the operation will be performed in the footprint area of that organizational resource. An operation can have 0 or 1 localization resource.

In the example above, Operation 21 is localized in Resource 2.

Rules for Linking Resources and Operations

There are a number of rules to observe when assigning working, nonworking, and organization resources to operations.

Assigning a Working Resource to an Operation

If the selected operation has no working resource already assigned, the operation is assigned to the selected working resource.

An Execute link is created between the operation and the working resource.

The resource name appears in the Executing Resource column in the Process Gantt charts as the executing resource for the selected operation.

If the selected operation already has a working resource assigned, a dialog box appears: use it to keep or replace the existing resource.

Assigning a Nonworking Resource to an Operation

If the selected operation does not use any nonworking resource or if the selected nonworking resource is not used by the selected operation, the operation is assigned to the selected nonworking resource.

A Used link is created between the operation and the nonworking resource.

The selected resource name appears in the Used Resource column in the Manufacturing System Gantt and Resource Utilization Gantt charts as the used resource for the selected operation.

If the selected nonworking resource is already used by the selected operation, a dialog box appears: use it to keep or remove the resource.

Assigning an Organizational Resource to an Operation

If the selected operation has no assigned organizational resource, the operation is localized in the selected organizational resource.

A Where link is created between the operation and the organizational resource.

The resource name appears in the Localization Resource column in the Process Gantt and Resource Utilization Gantt charts as the localization resource for the selected operation.

If the selected operation already has a localization resource assigned, a dialog box appears: use it to keep, remove, or move the resource.

Operation to Resource Assignments Using Drag

It is possible to drag an operation to a resource.

The following table summarizes the behavior for dragging an operation on an organizational resource, such as a Manufacturing Cell or Area, directly in the tree.


Operation implemented by a single object	Operation implemented by multiple objects	Drag used with Ctrl
The previous implement link is deleted. The operation is assigned to the organizational resource with a new implement link.	Drag is impossible.	A dialog box appears to indicate that there is already an implement link and requires confirmation before creating a new one. If OK, the operation is assigned to the organizational resource.

The following table summarizes the behavior for dragging an operation on a working resource, such as a Robot or Conveyor, directly in the tree.


Operation implemented by a single object	Operation implemented by multiple objects	Drag used with Ctrl
The previous implement link is deleted. The operation is assigned to the working resource with a new implement link.	Drag is impossible.	A dialog box appears to indicate that there is already an implement link and requires confirmation before creating a new one. If OK, the operation is assigned to the working resource.

It is possible to drag an operation from the tree to the 3D representation of a working resource. In this case, the working resource is assigned to the operation.

If the operation is already assigned to one or more working resources:

All those resources are unassigned and the operation is assigned to the new working resource.
If you press Ctrl during the drag, the operation remains assigned to those resources in addition to the new working resource.

The following table summarizes the behavior for dragging an operation on a nonworking resource such as a Tool Equipment or Sensor, directly in the tree.


Operation implemented by a single object	Operation implemented by multiple objects	Drag used with Ctrl
The previous implement link is deleted. The operation is assigned to the nonworking resource with a new implement link.	A dialog box appears to indicate that there is already an implement link and requires confirmation before creating a new one. If valid, the operation assigned to the nonworking resource.	The operation is assigned to the nonworking resource with a new implement link.

Replace Menu

The Replace context menu is available in the tree to replace resources.

Replace Commands for Monoselection

You can use the Replace by Existing command to replace the current resource occurrence by another one.

You can use the Replace by Revision command to replace the current resource occurrence by another revision of it.

The Replace by Latest Revision command to replace the current resource occurrence by its latest revision.

The Manage Latest Revisions command displays a Revisions management options dialog box: use it to update several resource occurrences by their latest revisions.

Replace Commands for Multiselection

You can multiselect objects to be replaced. In this case, the following types of replacement can be done:

N objects replaced by N objects.
N objects replaced by 1 object.

You can use the Replace Items by Latest Revision command to replace each selected object by its latest revision (N objects replaced by N objects). This command is available if different object types are selected (items and systems, for example).

You can use the Replace Items by Existing command to replace selected objects by a single object of the same type (N objects replaced by 1 object). This command is not available if different object types are selected.