Operation relation (form)

Article
05/05/2014

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Click Production control > Setup > Routes > Operations. Select an operation, and then click Relations.

Use this form to set up and maintain detailed information about operations. You can attach operations to a single item, a group of items or all items. They can also be attached to a single route or to all routes. You can define relations to the operation route, such as the routing group it belongs to, and you can specify properties such as how many items the operation processes and how long the operation takes to complete.

Selecting the formula to calculate process time

The selection in the formula field is used to calculate processing time for the operation. Each formula uses a different set of information to make this calculation. The following information helps determine which formula to select for an operation.

Standard – Select when the run time is linear with the number of units to be produced, and the run time does not depend on the capacity of the resource. For example, when one piece requires one hour, then five pieces will require five hours.
Capacity – Select to control the run time based on the capacity of the resource that will perform the operation. Run time is still linear, but the rate of production is based on the resource capacity.

Example

The resource that is assigned to the operation is a machine that has the capacity to do 2000 strokes per hour. The run time is the time that is required to complete a stroke, which, in this example, is one hour. The factor is the number of strokes that are required to complete one piece. By using a factor of one in this example, the run time can be calculated as 1/2000. If a machine that has a capacity of 3000 strokes is selected for the operation, the run time will be calculated as 1/3000.
Batch – This formula is useful when the run time is not linear, and does not depend on the machine selection.

Example

The company receives orders for the different amounts of the same item. The amounts are 35, 44, 79, and 81. The run time for the operation is one hour for 1 to 40 pieces, and two hours for 41 to 80 pieces. The process quantity is the batch size, and is not dependent on the machine’s capacity. Amounts are always rounded up automatically. In this example, the batch formula will calculate process times for the order amounts as follows:
1. For 35 pieces, process time is calculated as follows: (35 (order size) * 1 (factor) / 40 (process qty.)) = 0.875. Rounded up to 1, one batch * runtime = 1 * 1 = 1 hour.
2. For 44 pieces, process time is calculated as follows: (44 (Order size) * 1 (factor) / 40 (process qty.)) = 1.1. Rounded up to 2, this will require two batches * runtime = 2 * 1 =2 hours.
3. For 79 pieces, process time is calculated as follows: (79 (Order size) * 1(factor) / 40 (process qty.)) = 1,975. Rounded up to 2, this will require two batches * runtime = 2*1 =2 hours.
4. 81 pieces will take three hours: (81 (Order size) * 1 (factor) / 40 (process qty.)) = 2,025. Rounded up to 3, this will require three batches * runtime = 3 * 1 = 3 hours.
Resource batch - Use this when the resources that are assigned to the operation have different capacities. The calculation is the same as the Batch formula, but uses the capacity of the resource.

Navigating the form

The following tables provide descriptions for the controls in this form.

Buttons

Button	Description
Applicable resources	Identify resources that can satisfy the specified resource requirements.
Maintain resource requirements	Start a wizard that will help you update information about the resource requirements for selected activities. The wizard helps with the following: Identify the activities to update. Specify the action to take and where it will apply. Add resource requirements the selected activities.

Applicable resources

Identify resources that can satisfy the specified resource requirements.

Maintain resource requirements

Start a wizard that will help you update information about the resource requirements for selected activities.

The wizard helps with the following:

Identify the activities to update.
Specify the action to take and where it will apply.
Add resource requirements the selected activities.

Tabs

Tab	Description
Overview tab	Set up relations for the operations. To add an item, select the item and the route code from the list. You can also select the resources and resource group that can be used for the current operation.
General tab	Enter information to identify the item and route in the current operation. You can also specify or view additional information about the operations resource and route.
Setup tab	Define whether the formula for calculating run time is set at Standard or Capacity. Select cost categories.
Times	View or change the times that are associated with the operation. This includes the queue time before and after the operation, the setup time, and the run time. You can also enter the quantity of items that can be produced before the next operation can begin.
Resource requirements	Enter the resource requirements for the operation. These requirements can include the resource type, resource group, or the individual resource that is needed. You can also define requirements according to the capabilities the resource must have in to perform the operation.
Description	Enter a detailed description of the operation.

Fields

Field	Description
Operation	Identification of the route relation's operation.
Item code	Code for the operation's item association. The following are available: Table - The operation can be used for a specific item number. Group - The operation can be used in a specific item group. All - The operation can be used on all items.
Item relation	Shows the item number, or item group, or is blank. What shows depends on the value that is selected in the Item code field.
Configuration	The specific configuration of the bill of materials item on which the operation relation applies.
Route code	The operation's association with a route. The following options are available: Route number - The operation can be used for a specified route. All - The operation can be used for all routes.
Route relation	Shows either the route, or it is blank, depending on the selection that is made in the Route code field.
Route group	Assign the operation to a route group. The route group selection controls the following: How an operation is calculated How feedback is given How an operation is scheduled How an operation is job managed Whether the Gregorian or working time calendar is used Route groups are managed in the Route groups form. On the Production route (form) for a production, the route group is filled in automatically with the route group that is specified for the selected Operations (form). The route group can be changed for the current operation in the production route. When you create operations in Operations (form), the route group is filled in automatically with the route group specified in Resource groups (form) or Resources (form).
Site	Select the site where this operation is performed.
Property	Assign a physical property to the operation. Properties indicate an operation's characteristics. If the production is job scheduled with limited capacity and limited properties, operations resource capacity is only reserved for a period during which the operations resource has this property.
Route type	Specify whether the operation engages an external vendor or an internal, standard resource.
Formula	Choose the predefined formula that will be used to calculate process time for the operation. The following are available: Standard - Use the values in the Run time and Process qty. fields in the following formula: (Run time/process qty.) Capacity - Use the values in the Capacity field for the resource, and the Run time and Factor fields for the operation in the following formula: (Run time/capacity) * factor Tip Capacity is defined for resources in the Resources form. Batch - Use the values in the Run time, Process qty., and Factor fields together with the order quantity in the following formula: [Run time * (order qty. * factor/process qty.)] Note Results are rounded up to the nearest whole number. Resource batch - Use the Batch capacity and Capacity values from the resource, and the Run time and Factor fields for the operation in the following formula: [Run time * (order qty. * factor/batch capacity)] Note Results are rounded up to the nearest whole number. Batch capacity and capacity are specified for resources in the Resources form.
Factor	This field displays an operation-based value if a user formula can be used to calculate process time. Typically, the field contains the number of capacity units of the resource that will be used for the production of a component of the finished item. The following is an example of how process time is calculated based on resource capacity. A machine with 1,000 rotations per hour is used to perform an operation where two pieces of the finished item are finished per rotation. The production of finished items per hour will then be 2,000 pieces. You specify 1,000 for the resource's capacity per hour, and set the formula factor for the operation in the route to 0.5 (P). The calculation is made as follows: Process quantity per hour = 1,000 (K) / 0.5 (P) = 2,000 pieces.
Costing resource	Select the resource to use as the basis for calculating cost information for the operation.
Setup category	Select a setup category for the operation. You can specify a Cost price for the setup category that will be used when you make a cost estimate for a production order. Cost categories are managed in the Cost categories (form). The cost is calculated as Setup time * Hours/time * Load * Quantity * Cost price. The sales price for the setup time is calculated through the cost group from the cost category. Each cost group has one or more profit settings and profit percentages. When you make a cost estimate for the production, you can specify the profit setting, and the profit percentage, that will be used to calculate the sales price. The cost group is managed in Cost groups (form).
Run time category	Specify the Run time category that is used when the operation is run. For the Run time category you can specify the Cost price that estimates the production order. Cost categories are managed in Cost categories (form). The cost is calculated as Quantity * Accumulated * (Run time / Process qty.) * Hours/time * Load * Quantity * Cost price. The sales price for the operator time is calculated based on the cost group from Cost groups (form). Each cost group has one or more profit settings and profit percentages attached. When an estimate is made for the production, you can specify which profit setting, and profit percentage, you want to apply to calculate the sales price.
Quantity category	Specify the quantity category that will be used when the operation is run. The quantity category specifies the Cost price that is used to make a cost estimate for the production order. The cost is calculated with the following formula: Accumulated * Quantity * Cost price. The sales price for the quantity category is calculated through the cost group. Each cost group has one or more profit settings with a profit percentage. When making a cost estimate for production, specify which profit setting, and which profit percentage, you want to use when calculating the sales price. The cost group is managed in Cost groups (form). Production route (form) is filled in automatically with the quantity category that is selected in Operations (form) when an Operation has been specified. The quantity category can be changed for the current operation in the production route. When you create operations, the quantity category is filled in automatically with the quantity category that is specified for the selected resource group or resource. The quantity category is changeable for the current operation.
Queue time before	Queue time before the operation can start. The queue time must be positive. You set up the field in the route group, where you determine whether the queue time is scheduled and which calendar is used. You can use the queue time, for example, with vendor work.
Setup time	The setup time, which must be a positive value, is the fixed time it takes to prepare a resource. The time is scheduled according to the calendar for the operations resource and is independent of the production quantity. In connection with scheduling, a capacity load is also registered for the time on the operations resource. The setup time is filled in automatically with the setup time that is specified for the selected operation route.
Run time	The time that is required to produce the process quantity. If a factor is not specified for the operation relation or the resource, Run time is expressed in hours with two decimals. If a value is specified in Hours/time for the operation relation, that value overrides the Hours/time value for the resource. Process quantity must be a positive value. For a description of conversion to other time intervals, see the description of Hours/time. The operation's Route groups (form) determines how time is scheduled. The system calculates time as follows: Run time * (Load) * (1 + Accumulated) * Quantity / Process qty.. If you selected Capacity in the Formula for the production route, Run time is always set to one and Process qty. is calculated based on the Factor with the number of capacity units that you specified under Capacity for the current resource.
Process qty.	Quantity that can be produced in the specified Run time.
Transit time	Transport time for transporting items between two operations resources or from the last operation to inventory. How Transit time is used depends on how the operation's route group is set up. The transport time must be a positive value.
Queue time after	Queue time following the time the items must wait after the operation is finished, before the next operation can start. The value in Queue time must be positive. The field is scheduled according to the setup for the route group in Working time and can use either the Gregorian calendar or the current working-time calendar. You can use the field, for example, to refer to the drying of items before the next operation can start.
Hours/time	The conversion factor for those times specified for the operation for conversion to hours with two decimals. Conversion uses the following formula: Hours equal operating hours * Hours/time. Example The following is an example of conversion of hours to hours with two decimals. The operation time is 0.50 (a half hour) and Hours/time is 10,000. The time is calculated as: 0.50 * 10,000 = 5,000 hours. If the operation time is in minutes, then Hours/time is set to 0.0167. For an operation time of 30 minutes, for example, that time becomes 0.50 hours when you apply the conversion factor. Time calculation: 30.00 * 0.0167 = 0.50 hours.
Transfer batch	Quantity that can be moved between sequential operations resources.
Quantity	Number of operations resources involved if a resource group is specified in the Resource field. This field always contains the value “1” if a resource is specified. Example The operation requires two resources from a resource group that consists of five machines. The process time for the operation is three hours, and two is specified in Quantity. For operations scheduling, six hours are reserved for the operations resource group. For job scheduling, three hours are reserved for two different operations resources. In the Production route (form) for the production, the operations resource quantity is filled in automatically with the quantity specified here. However, it can be changed for the current operation in the production route.
Load	The percentage of maximum capacity that has been reserved. The maximum capacity is specified in the work calendar. See also the Efficiency in percentage in the percentage field on the work calendar and the Load field on capacity reservations.
Requirement type	Select the type from the following: Resource type Resource Resource group Capability Skill. This requires the Human resources module. Course. This requires the Human resources module. Certificate. This requires the Human resourcesmodule. Title. This requires the Human resources module.
Requirement	Select the requirement from the drop-down list in the field. The options that are available are determined by the requirement type that is selected in the Requirement type field. For example, if resource type is selected, this field displays the following resource types: Machine, Vendor, Human Resources, Tool or Location.
Operations scheduling	Specify whether the operation will be available when scheduling is run at the operations level.
Job scheduling	Specify whether the operation will be available when scheduling is run at the job level.
Minimum level needed	If capability, skills, courses, certificate are selected in the Requirement type field, you can specify the minimum level of proficiency that a resource must possess. Note This field is available only when one of these requirement types is selected, and only if you are using the Human resources module.
Created date and time	The date and time that the document reference was created.
Type	Choose from the list of options when you are creating a new record. Click New item on the File menu. You cannot change the document type after you create the record.
Description	Enter a brief description of the document.