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Use this form to create different task groups with alternative work centers that can perform similar tasks. Use alternative work centers when capacity in the primary work center is insufficient. You can use task groups to enable efficiency during scheduling.

The alternative work centers in each task group must be assigned minimum requirement levels that reflect the varying skills (or in the case of machinery, different capacities) that exist in the work center. When you schedule a work center for an operation, all of the work centers that are in the task group are taken into account, regardless of the available capacity on the primary work center group or work center of the operation.

Note Note

Task groups are only used when you schedule by using finite capacity.

Example

Consider the following example:

  • Operator 1 - Assists with the operation of certain kinds of machinery - Requirement 1.

  • Operator 2 - Assists with the operation of all machinery - Requirement 2.

  • Operator 3 - Assists with the operation of all machinery and heavy equipment - Requirement 3.

The operators with the highest requirement level (Requirement 3) can perform all of the duties in the work center. That is, they can perform all of the duties that those with lower level requirements can perform, plus extra duties. Operators with a Requirement level of 2 can operate all machinery, but they can not operate heavy equipment. Therefore, if you lack capacity in the assigned work center and need operators to work on machine 1, for example, it is most efficient to assign a minimum requirement of 2 to the alternative work center.

When the application searches for an alternative work center, it searches for the work center that fulfils the minimum requirement first. In this example, it will check whether operator 2 is available. If operator 2 is not available, the application will assign operator 3. Although the assignment of operator 3 is not the most efficient use of resources, production can still remain on schedule, and you will not lose the time that you may have lost if you had to wait for the original work center to become available.

Navigating the form

The following tables provide descriptions for the controls in this form.

Tabs

Tab

Description

Overview tab

Create or view new task groups or alternative work centers. Identify the task group and its name.

Determine which work centers can use the current task group. A minimum requirement is associated with each work center. This requirement must be met before it can be selected.

Fields

Field

Description

Task group identification.

Task group name.

Enter the site to associate the task group with.

On the tab, only work centers that are associated with the same site are displayed.

Identification of an alternative work center.

Minimum requirement that must be satisfied for selection. In order for the operation to be scheduled for the work center, the operation must be attached to a requirement that is less than or equal to the requirement specified for the task group.

See Also