Charting
The flow charting module works off the mBOM module and is an interface to view three types of graphs:
Viewing ‘Components & the Operations’ Flowchart
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In the mBOM tree, select the component and go to the ‘Charting’ Tab
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The ‘Show Operations Only’ should be unchecked.
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Click on the ‘Process Graph’ link.
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Figure 1: Process Flow Chart |
Viewing ‘Operations’ Flowchart
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In the mBOM tree, select the component and go to the ‘Charting’ Tab
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The ‘Show Operations Only’ should be checked.
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Click on the ‘Process Graph’ link.
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Note: Components which have not been assigned an operation appear as white circles.
Precedence, Sequence and Process Graphs
The “Precedence Graph” and “Sequence Graph” links are activated only when the user clicks on an operation in the mBOM tree, while "Process Graph" link is activated when user clicks on an End Item in mBOM tree.
What do they mean?
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Precedence graph defines precedence relations among couples of activities/operations. Each node represents an activity(yellow)/operation(green) and an arrow between them, precedence. Two activities A and B are connected by a precedence constraint A->B if activity B can only be started when A is finished, or later. Activity A is then said to precede B.
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While the precedence graph defines some order of succession among activities, note that it is different from a sequence graph. A sequence graph completely defines the succession of activities, while precedence graph only does so partially.
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For instance, consider the following precedence constraints defined for three activities A, B and C:
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Figure 2: Precedence constraints |
These two precedence constraints partially define the order of the three operations. Indeed, there are two sequence graphs compliant with the precedence graph, with time flowing from the left to the right: A -B and A-C, since there is no precedence defined between B and C.
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In addition, there may be several activities taking place in parallel, in particular on a workstation with several operators. In those cases, the number of possible sequences is even higher; although two activities connected by a precedence constraint still must take place one after the other. For instance, on a workstation with two operators, the operations B and C could be performed simultaneously, both starting at the end of A.
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Process graph shows the sequence of the operations for manufacturing the End Item. Process graph cannot be modified.
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Viewing/Editing Precedence graph
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In the mBOM tree select an operation and go to the ‘Charting’ tab. Click on the ‘Precedence Graph’ link. An unedited operation will show all the nodes under it in a single line fashion as they appear in the MBOM tree.
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Figure 3: Precedence Graph |
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Click on the ‘Edit’ button at the bottom. To move a node, simply drag it to where you want it in the window.
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To create precedence between nodes, move the cursor over to the center of the node till a hand cursor appears. Precedence will be created, if allowed to do so, by dropping the line on the desired node. Click on the ‘Save’ button to save the changes made.
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Properties of the node can be viewed by double clicking on the node.
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Viewing/Editing Sequence graph
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In the mBOM tree select an operation and go to the ‘Charting’ tab. Click on the ‘Sequence Graph’ link. An unedited operation will show all the nodes under it in a single line fashion as they appear for the Precedence graph.
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Note: Changes made in the Sequence Graph are reflected on the MBOM Authoring Gantt Chart.
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Click on the ‘Edit’ button at the bottom. To move a node, simply drag it to where you want it in the window.
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To create a sequence between nodes (conforming to the precedence graph), move the cursor over to the center of the node till a hand cursor appears. Sequence will be created, if allowed to do so, by dropping the line on the desired node.
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The following link properties appear by double clicking the sequence between two nodes.
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Figure 4: Link properties |
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Completion Start : The node at the end of the link begins its operation/activity after the starting node at the set ‘Delay Time’. For delay time > 0, the link between nodes is represented as a dashed line having a blue boundary.
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Start Start : Both the nodes begin their operation/activity at the same time or with a time gap defined in the ‘Delay Time’. For delay time > 0, the link between the nodes is represented as a dashed line having a dark green boundary
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Delay Time: The user keys in the desired delay time.
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Units: The user selects the desired units for the delay time from a drop-down menu .
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Note: Properties of the node can be viewed by double clicking on the node.
Toolbar Menu
Charting Toolbar Help
Figure 5: Tool bar menu |
Arcs Utility Tool
Figure 6: Arcs utility tool |
The user can either draw arcs manually between the nodes by clicking on the center of each node and releasing the left click on the next node. The user can also define these arcs using the arcs utility tool.
- Select the “From Node”, click on the drop down box and select the corresponding node.
- Select the “To Node”, click on the drop down box and select the corresponding node.
- Next click the “Add Arc” button.
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