Additional Constraints

The options rule balance can only be done on end items that have at least one model mapped to it. In order to create an option based balance, the following steps are to be followed -

1.	Map the options to an end item. using the Options Library. Note: This is the list of all possible options that can be mapped to the End Item.

2.	Once the options are associated to the end item, the next step is to map the options to the activities. This can be done through the 'Edit Child Options' control.

3.	Next, create a scenario in the line balance module. The scenario creation brings in all the model, tasks and location information into the scenario. The next step is to associate options to models.

4.	In order to set the model - option mapping, select the Option Rules menu.

5.	The Option Rules control lets the user associate options to models. Note that the option mapping in the Options Library was for all possible options, the user can narrow down the association by selecting a set of options applicable to this scenario.

6.	Once the options list is finalized, the user is ready for a balance. Click on the Balance => Default Assignment menu.

7.	First, select the balance type as minimizing stations or Takt time. Next in the Algorithm section select the Option Rule Method.

8.	Specify a Takt time or number of stations and click OK.

9.	The task model data view allows the user to look at the task assignment per model and the options mapped to the same.

The task grouping feature allows the users to group tasks together. The grouping is done to ensure that certain tasks are alwatys performed together, as one entity. In order to group tasks select the Task grouping option from the Edit menu.

2.	Next select the tasks that are to be grouped together and right click in the space highlighted above. Select the 'Add to Group' option.

3.	Type in the name of the group and click OK. If the user has already created groups, the tasks can be added to any existing group.

4.	The group now behaves as one entity, i.e. if the user tries to move HP001-1 from one station to another, HP001-2 and HP001-4 will also move along with it. Also since it is one entity, the time of the group is the sum of all three tasks.

5.	If the user creates a group with tasks that violate precedence, for e.g. a group with task HP001-1 and HP001-5 , the task grouping editor will allow the user to create such a group. However when the balance is run, the following alert is shown.