About Transition Matrices

Transition matrices and transition rules specify the product sequence-specific durations of changeover time between two batches on an individual resource.

Transition matrices are more complex than transition rules. Multiple transition matrices allow you to cover all possible aspects of product sequences for a resource. This enables you to specify changeovers with more precision. For example, you can consider different ways in which packaging and product color can affect changeover times. Each matrix cell defines a specific criterion-to-criterion changeover time. Each matrix cell can accommodate up to 1000 rows and 1000 columns.

Note: It is recommended to use multiple smaller matrices as against a single large matrix which can affect the system performance.

You can create more than one matrix because it is convenient to group the changeover data according to a theme and/or the idle time values. For example, the bottling and canning changeovers can be grouped together in separate matrices.

Two types of transition matrices can be used.

Duration: Used for time-based optimization.
Cost: Used for cost-based optimization.

Changeover criterion refers to changeover characteristics for both transition matrices and transition rules and is specified for each process step of the product.

After the creation of transition matrices and transition rules, the matrices and transition rules must be assigned to resources and after the process steps. It is a three-step process.

Automatic scheduling functions recalculate the sequence dependent changeover times after each modification.