Linking a supply line to multiple parent lines (Divergent assembly line structure)
In the current business scenario, the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly beginning to operate on a global scale. This means that a end product can be assembled at one geographical location and its components can be assembled at one or multiple geographical locations. After the components are assembled, they are transferred to different locations where the final assembling of the end product takes place. To model this requirement, you can set up a divergent assembly line structure in LN. In divergent assembly line structures, you can link one assembly line to multiple assembly lines.
Example
In the divergent assembly line structure, as modeled in the figure below, one supply line is linked to multiple main assembly lines. In our example, the supply line E is linked to main lines A and B. The supply line F is linked to main lines B and C. The supply line F is located in a different geographical area with respect to main line B.
Linking a supply line to multiple parent lines
You must link a supply line to parent lines at the following two levels:
-
Line segment
-
Line station
Example
The following example shows a divergent supply line structure in which a supply line is linked to two different parent lines.
| A | First main parent line ( main assembly line) |
| B | Second main parent line |
| Z | Supply line for main lines A and B |
| S1A to S3A | Consecutive line segments on main line A |
| L1A to L3A | Consecutive line stations on main line A |
| S1Z to S2Z | Consecutive line segments on supply line Z |
| L1Z to L2Z | Consecutive line stations on supply line Z |
| S1B to S3B | Consecutive line segments on main line B |
| L1B to L3B | Consecutive line stations on main line B |
| Inverted Traingle | Buffer |
Line Segment
On the line segment level, you can link the last line segment of the supply line to line segments located on different parent lines.
In the above example, the last line segment (S2Z) on the supplying line Z can be linked to both line segments S3A on main line A and S3B on the main assembly line B.
| Line Segment | Next Line segment |
|---|---|
| Segment S1Z | Segment S2Z |
| Segment S2Z | Segment S3A |
| Segment S2Z | Segment S3B |
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You cannot link a line segment to more than one line segments of the same assembly line. In the above example, you cannot link the segment S2Z on supply line Z to both the segment S2A and S3A on main line A.
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Only the last line segment of the supplying line can be linked to multiple next segments which are on different lines. In the above example, only segment S2Z of the supply line Z can be linked to segment S3A on main line A and S3B on main line B.
Line Station
On the line station level, you can link the last station of the supply line to line stations located on different parent lines.
In the example above, the last line station L2Z of supply line Z can be linked to both line station L3A on main line A and station L3B on main line B.
| Station | Next Station |
|---|---|
| Buffer of Segment S2Z | Station L2Z |
| Station L2Z | Station L3A on main line A |
| Station L2Z | Station L3B on main line B |
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You cannot link a line station to more than one line stations of the same assembly line. In the example above, you cannot link the line station L2Z on supply line Z to both the station L2A and L3A on main line A.
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Only the last line station of the supplying line can be linked to multiple next line stations. In the example above, only line station L2Z of supplying line Z can be linked to line station L3A on main line A and L3B on main line B.
Linking a supply line to multiple supply lines
You can model an assembly line network with the following types of supply line structures:
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Convergent: You can link one assembly line (for example, serving as a supply line) to only one assembly line that can be a supply line or a main line.
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Divergent: You can link one assembly line to different assembly lines. Example one supplying line linked to different main assembly lines.
During configuration of an item, when a user selected a product model in which the routing of subassemblies is determined based on the configuration of the assembled main item (the assembled end item can use for example, either part X1 or part X2, which are supplied by two different assembly lines), the definition of an assembly line network model that has assembly lines modeled in parallel is allowed . Then, after configuration, when the routing is determined, a check is performed to determine that the selected routing does not contain assembly lines which are modeled in parallel. If assembly lines that are modeled in parallel are found, the system indicates that the specific assembly structure cannot be generated. As a result, the specific configuration cannot be built.
The figure above represents an assembly line structure in which two lines are modelled in parallel. Based on the selected configuration of the assembled main item Z (whether Z contains X1 or X2), either supply line C1 or C2 is included in the assembly line network model. You cannot select more than one line when lines are modelled in parallel.
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If option X1 is selected during the configuration of the main item Z, the assembly line C2 is excluded. The routing contains main supply line C3 that supplies item Y to suppply line C1. The supply line C1 uses item Y to manufacture the subassembly X1 which is supplied to main line M. M is the roll-off line for end item Z. This routing does not contain parallel assembly lines.
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If option X2 is selected during configuration of the main item Z, the assembly line C1 is excluded. The routing contains main supply line C3 that supplies item Y to suppply line C2. The supply line C2 uses item Y to manufacture the subassembly X2 which is supplied to main line M. The M is the roll-off line for main item Z. This routing does not contain parallel assembly lines.
Example
In this example, the assembled end item Z must contain either sub-assembly X1 or X2 supplied by different assembly lines.
| Z | Main configured end item( main item) |
| X1 or X2 | subassemblies). |
| Y | Part Y is required to manufacture X1 or X2 |
| C3 | Main supply line, supplying Y to C1 and C2 |
| C1 | Supply line for item X1 which is delivered to main line M |
| C2 | Supply line for item X2 which is delivered to main line M |
| M | Main assembly line which manufactures configured end item Z |
Divergent structure and Assembly Orders - Unique link
Divergent supplying line structure allows you to link a supply line to multiple parent lines. However, the assembly orders on the supply line must still refer to a single assembly order on a parent line, at any given point of time. The supply line can supply an item to different parent lines but a unique reference link is maintained between the assembly orders of the supply line and the assembly orders of the parent lines.
Example
Please refer to the figure for assembly order numbers.
| Assembly Line | Assembly Order | Parent Assembly Order |
|---|---|---|
| A | Z-0-0 | <None> |
| B | ||
| C | ||
| D | Z-2-0 | Z-0-0 |
| E | Z-1-0 | Z-0-0 |
| F | ||
| G |
| Assembly Line | Assembly Order | Parent Assembly Order |
|---|---|---|
| A | ||
| B | X-0-0 | <None> |
| C | ||
| D | ||
| E | X-1-0 | X-0-0 |
| F | X-2-0 | X-0-0 |
| G | X-2-1 | X-2-0 |
| Assembly Line | Assembly Order | Parent Assembly Order |
|---|---|---|
| A | ||
| B | ||
| C | Y-0-0 | <None> |
| D | ||
| E | ||
| F | Y-1-0 | Y-0-0 |
| G | Y-1-1 | Y-1-0 |