| # Order-block planning To optimize the use of the various machines available for the production process in a factory, and minimize changeover due to other product characteristics, functionality is available to sort production orders based on set-up classes (such as color). Order blocks can assist you to set up an optimal production schedule by reducing the time lost in machine setup activities. If you generate order blocks, LN combines a number of production orders to form an order block. After you generated the order blocks, you can manually add or remove production orders to or from the order block. Example Examples of situations where you can use this functionality: Items with different colors must be spray-painted. If you apply a color that differs from the last used color, you need setup time to replace the paint and clean the equipment. If the previous color was darker than the new color, the cleaning must be extra thorough. A sequence from light to dark colors is the most efficient. A machine can be fitted with various tools. If you put the items that require the same tool immediately following each other, you save setup time. In the first example, you define a setup class "Color", and setup states, for example, "White", "Light blue", "Dark brown". To set up order blocks To set up order blocks: Define setup classes and setup states in the Tables module in the Common package. Link setup states to operations in the Setup Classes and States by Routing Operation (tirou1104m000) session. After you planned production orders, you can fine-tune the setup states in the Setup Classes and States by Operation (tisfc0133m000) session. For the details, refer to: To define setup classes and setup states To set up order-block planning To plan with order blocks To put a collection of production orders in an efficient production schedule, you must: Use the Generate Order Block Planning (tisfc0251m000) to generate the order blocks for the production orders you want to schedule. Modify these order blocks as you require. A graphical plan board is available. Update the planning data from the order blocks to the actual production orders, as displayed in the Production Planning (tisfc0110m000) session. For more information, refer to To plan with order blocks Limitation If a production order has many operations on many different machines, you can coordinate the schedule around just one of these machines. Related topics Backgrounds on setup classes and setup states in LN To set up order-block planning To plan with order blocks |