Configuration
Data Configuration
The AI Scheduler requires a configuration of the manufacturing environment to allow the creation of Schedules. The data configuration area allows for the creation of standard data templates for use in scenario modelling. These data templates include data such as:
Availability - Shifts, Maintenance Periods, Leave and other Time increments
Equipment - the physical assets, work centres, tools and resources used to manufacture product
Materials - the materials consumed and produced at various stages of the manufacturing workflow
Personnel - the human resources used to undertake work, operate equipment and perform tasks
Operations - the definition of the process, job, product or work function that requires scheduling
Optimisation Criteria - the attributes that will be utilised by the Optimiser to assist in creating and maintaining effective schedules
Once these entities are modelled, users can manage production, work or any other manufacturing order and schedule them against the data model.
Users can create any number of Configuration Templates for the operation. Templates may represent a standard daily schedule template or a "what-if" where different operating assumptions are tested such as adding another piece of equipment, reducing labour, changing materials or modelling different shift patterns.
To create a new data configuration click the + button. Name the configuration template and give it a description:
Once created, Configurations can be:
Edited - by clicking on the edit icon, you will enter the main configuration screens
Cloned - copying a previous data template into a new version
Downloaded - exporting the data template files which creates a standard set of .csv files.
See Data Templates for more information.
Mandatory and Optional Configuration Data
Some data is mandatory to ensure the AI Scheduler functions properly while other data is not mandatory but can improve model completeness. This includes:
Resources are the primary scheduled entities. Resources can be equipment or personnel that have scheduled activities assigned to them. If the system is being used for equipment scheduling only, then equipment types need to be modelled. If the system is for Scheduling personnel, then only personnel need to be modelled.
Of course, both personnel and equipment can be modelled simultaneously in very similar ways!