Proplanner: Internet & Intranet Based Process Engineering

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Time Estimation

Select this link for a 10 minute video presentation

Proplanner's Time Estimation module organizes your elemental time data in an easy to use spreadsheet format. Studies can be referenced within the other Proplanner modules and rolled up to calculate times for operations, or displayed within Work Instructions.

Breaking the times into estimated, observed, or calculated times allows for easy input, independent of what types of time information your operations already have documented.

You can optionally integrate videos of your work tasks and perform BOTH observed and predetermined studies (i.e. MTM, Modapts, etc) from the same video clip and reconcile your results. In addition, video segments from your time studies are automatically reference-able within your work instructions.

Time Estimation Features

Proplanner’s time module accepts the most popular predetermined time standards such as MTM and MODAPTS, as well as allows users to modify these standards and even create their own. You can even create your own templates in Excel and import them into Proplanner for reference by users who are less familiar wirh your coding system.
Proplanner includes an observed time form for entry and computation of observed work times. Activities can include both predetermined and observed times.
Proplanner processes time data on an activity-by-activity basis so that companies can use multiple predetermined time standards concurrently. A must for organizations in transition from one system to another!

MTM example shown within the Time Estimation Tab

In the predetermined time tab, users can select from 1-Line (shown in MODAPTS example) or 2-Line (shown in MTM example) data entry forms, as well as the paragraph-based format supported by languages such as MTM-B, where keywords (such as WALK, PROCESS, ASSEMBLE) and keyword modifiers (such as quantities for Frequency or Time) are uniquely color coded.
Proplanner’s MS Excel-like data entry grids allow for easy insert, delete, cut, copy and paste functionality.
Gantt charts show the overlap of left hand, right hand, and processing elements within the overall activity time.

BASIC MOST example shown within the Time Estimation Tab

Our new MTM-B support, now allows users the ability to estimate activities using plain language descriptions suitable for shop floor work instruction use.
Users may also import customized time elements for each process, as well as create formulas that can compute complex machining times.

Process engineers can enter three different times for each activity in order to manage Observed Times, Estimated Times and Calculated times concurrently as the project evolves. The process engineer can also see the Gannt chart for the activities within the operations.
Users may classify each element as Value Added or Non Value Added time, and generate pie charts showing waste. In some cases (MTM and MODAPTS) these value added percentages are automatically generated by Proplanner.

Advanced reporting capabilities generate detailed process information for your Lean Process Improvement studies. Users can create their own report formats using XSLT (Stylesheets) from our intermediary XML output.
When defining time for processes, engineers can attach customized fields to the different processes, as well as store process histories.

View extensive data output in detailed reports

Time Estimation Benefits

Reduce Estimation Time. Using built-in MTM tables and pre-defined time standards, users can quickly estimate process times from the highly accurate MTM-1, 4M and MODAPTS standards to the less accurate MTM-B descriptions.
Save Money on software. Our integrated time estimation module saves you from needing to purchase or develop stand-alone predetermined time estimation systems.
Improve the accuracy and consistency of your activity times with user-defined formulas and look-up tables.
Benchmark activities according to lean principles to quickly identify tasks to focus on for lean improvement.
Save money and time by supporting your legacy time standards while transitioning to new ones. Only Proplanner can work with more than one predetermined time system concurrently.
Share and communicate elemental time definitions with our web-based environment and XML import/export capabilities.

MTM Support

Our predetermined time calculations are supported, and authorized by the North American MTM Association. Our application currently supports MTM-1, MTM-UAS, 4M (MMMM) and the newly released MTM-B standards.
Our MTM implementations are user configurable. Users may change time values, and even add additional codes by simply modifying our standard tables in MS Excel or Notepad.
Our new MTM-B parser also computes value-add percentages and makes for an excellent tool to use in benchmarking lean practices.
Our MTM parser includes support for fractional and multiplicative frequency definition (2x4 instead of 8, or 1/100 to imply 1 out of every 100).
In Fall 2003, a walkpath add-on will allow users of AutoCAD and Visio to use their workplace layouts to automatically generate distances and walkpath diagrams to our MTM editor.
Users can specify machine/fixed based process times (P or T codes) in any unit that they wish. Proplanner will automatically convert those units into MUs and show the original time value and associated time unit on the screen and in the reports.
Our MTM1 and 4M standards support the many Special Codes used by the MTM software applications over the years, including E/I, S/X/M/P, B/C, Dynamic Only and Within Normal Vision.

MODAPTS Support

Our predetermined time calculations are authorized by the International MODAPTS Association (IMA). Proplanner is a member of the IMA and regularly participates in the Spring and Fall IMA events.
Our MODAPTS parser includes support for fractional and multiplicative frequency definition (2x4 instead of 8, or 1/100 to imply 1 out of every 100). Mutiplicative factoring is also allowed within the MODAPTS code sequence. For Example: M1G1 2(M1P0 L2 W5).
Our MODAPTS parser allows users to specify walk distances in paces (W5), feet (W7.5f) or meters (W2m). The program automatically computes the appropriate MU’s.
In Fall 2003, a walkpath add-on will allow users of AutoCAD and Visio to use their workplace layouts to automatically generate distances and walkpath diagrams to our MODAPTS editor.
Users can specify machine/fixed based process times (T codes) in any unit that they wish. Proplanner will automatically convert those units into Mods and show the original time value and associated time unit on the screen and in the reports.