Just as in life, manufacturing processes do not always follow a straight path. Often shop floor requires flexibility to perform operations out of sequence. Traditional ERP manufacturing routings functionality allows setting up operation steps in a sequence. ERP work execution module allows operation bookings only in the sequence as defined in the routing. This works well when there is a hard constraint where a subsequent operation cannot be performed without a previous operation completed. A classic example of this is a machine shop where steps must be performed in a sequence.
However, on many production floors, it is possible to perform operations out of sequence. On assembly lines, sub-modules are manufactured in parallel that is then assembled at the final assembly station. In instrument or medical device manufacturing, if certain components are not available to assemble on a board, it is possible to do subsequent testing operations first and then complete the previous operation when components become available. Sometimes production cell is not available to perform a step, but another cell is available to do a subsequent step first.
Shantanu Bedekar
ERP Professional
Diptikanta
ERP Professional
