Assembly Line - Assignments (tiasc5510m000)

This session displays the assignments, which are also called line balances, which are defined in Line Assembly Control (LAC). Assignments are used to define process characteristics.

Field Information

Assembly Line

Assembly line

Assignment

The name of the assembly assignment.

Effective Date

The first date when the assembly assignment is valid. If two assembly assignments are valid on the same date, the Active check box shows which one is active. This check box must be selected in LAC.

Expiry Date

The last date when the assembly assignment is valid. If two assembly assignments are valid on the same date or moment, the Active check box is selected for the one that is active.

If the current field is left blank, the assignment is always valid.

Cycle Time

The cycle time of the assembly assignment.

Cycle Time Unit

The units the cycle time is measured in (hours, minutes or seconds).

Average Cycle Time

An average cycle time is a cycle time that is valid for a whole day. A non-average cycle time is one that is used for part of a day (a shift). You define the beginning and end of the shift with the Start Time and End Time fields, in this session.

Note: An average cycle time is not a mathematical average, but is a value that you consider to be a suitable average for the nonaverage cycle times over the course of a full day.

Two types of assignments exist, both of which exist at the same time. The average assignment is used for more general purposes, especially for defining the average cycle time, whereas the nonaverage assignment has a very specific period and time range. The average cycle time is used if the AverageCycle Time check box in the current session is selected.

  • Average assignments

    Use an average cycle time that is based on the cycle times of the nonaverage assignments for the day. LAC uses the average assignment in planning. Planning in LAC is based on cycle time, calendar, and availability type.
  • Nonaverage assignments

    Use time-based cycle times that are based on the operations performed on the line. The cycle time can vary according to the time range that is provided for the assignment.

Nonaverage assignments are used to define order content. For generated (nonfrozen) orders, the order content is based on the first active, nonaverage assignment. So, if you have for a specific day 6 assignments, only the first (earliest) is used for the generation of the order content of all orders that are planned for that day. For frozen orders, the order content is based on the nonaverage assignment that is in effect at the time that the order is frozen.

Nonaverage assignments are also used to offset the lead time during sequencing. When the order is sequenced, a lead time is calculated for every order. This lead time is based on the cycle times, and the applicable cycle time is retrieved from the nonaverage assignment.

Example

There are two assignments linked to an assembly line.

Assignment A is effective from 0:00 through 12:00 hours and has a nonaverage cycle time of 5 minutes.

Assignment B is effective from 12:00 through 24:00 hours and has a nonaverage cycle time of 10 minutes.

You can define an average cycle time of 7.5 minutes for the day.

Note: You must define both an average and a nonaverage cycle time for the entire day, including periods during which no work is actually performed. LN takes the actual hours for the productive working day from the calendar.
Active

If this check box is selected, in Line Assembly Configuration (LAC), the assembly assignment is currently active.

You can select this check box if you have more than one average (or nonaverage) cycle time defined for any one period.

Note: In ASC, this check box is only a display check box. The value of this check box can only be set in LAC.
Start Time

The time the assignment is first valid.

You cannot enter a start time and end time for an average assignment, because an average assignment is defined for the entire day.

For nonaverage assignments, the entire day must be covered by assignments, including any times during which no work is actually performed. The start time and end time of the working day is determined by the calendar.

End Time

The time the assignment is no longer valid.

You cannot enter a start time and end time for an average assignment, because an average assignment is defined for the entire day.

For nonaverage assignments, the entire day must be covered by assignments, including any times during which no work is actually performed. The start time and end time of the working day is determined by the calendar.

Offset Time

This lead-time offset is used to calculate the start date and end time of an assembly order when it is generated. The lead-time offset is a factor in determining the start date of the critical material requirement.

Offset Time Unit

Hours, minutes or seconds.