Routing constraint

Routing constraints provides you additional tools to limit resources used for production steps of a product. This functionality can significantly reduce the complexity that is encountered when modeling specific situations. In many process-manufacturing environments, there are limitations related to what a resource that can feed another resource. For instance, centrifuge 1 can only be fed by storage tank 1 or 2, or the bottling line can only be fed by tank 1.

Routing constraints can be defined between resource groups (process resource groups and tank resource groups), resources (processes and tanks), and between a resource and a resource group. A route can be allowed or not allowed based on various factors. For example, you have six existing tanks that connect to a can line. A seventh tank is installed, however, cannot be connected to the can line. The route is indicated as not allowed and linked directly to stages.

The route that is allowed are displayed as ----> in the type column, the one that is not allowed are displayed as --/->. Routing constraints that have been added automatically, display a tick mark in the Auto column. You can define constraints between resources that are not directly linked in stages by indicating that the connection is indirect.