Set up operations for production

Important

This content is archived and is not being updated. For the latest documentation, see Microsoft Dynamics 365 product documentation. For the latest release plans, see Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform release plans.

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

Operations represent the tasks that are required to produce items in your production. To set up operations, you must know what task or activity is being completed, the order of the process and operation priorities, and which and how many resources perform the operation.

Creating routes

You can set up operations to form different kinds of routes, depending on your production processes. A route is a series of operations linked in sequence, and describes the route the item must take through the manufacturing process to emerge as a finished product. You can work with two kinds of routes. The routes are controlled by the Route network check box in the Production control parameters form:

  • Simple sequence – Unless specified, each operation in the route is completed before the next operation is begun. This option is used if the Route network check box is not selected.

  • Complex route where parallel operations are allowed – When it is necessary, operations in the route can be set up in parallel. This option is used if the Route network check box is selected.

Set up an operation

  1. Click Production control > Setup > Routes > Operations.

  2. Click New on the toolbar to create a new line.

  3. In the Operation field, enter an alphanumeric identifier for the operation that you want to create.

  4. In the Name field, enter the name of the operation.

Define an overview of operation relations

  1. Click Production control > Setup > Routes > Operations. Click Relations.

  2. On the Overview tab, in the Item code field, select the item code:

    • Table – The operation refers to a single item with a specific item number.

    • Group – The operation refers to a group of items within a given Item - Customer group.

    • All – The operation can be used on all items.

  3. If you selected Table or Group in step 2, in the Item relation field, select the item number or item group that you want to use for the operation. Otherwise, leave the field blank.

  4. If you selected Table in step 2, in the Configuration field, enter the configuration, or the item's dimension, to use for the operation. Otherwise, leave the field blank.

  5. In the Route code field, select the kind of association the operation has with the route:

    • Route – Associate the operation with a single route.

    • All – Associate the operation with all routes.

  6. If you selected Route in step 5, in the Route relation field, enter the number to use for the operation. Otherwise, leave the field blank.

  7. In the Route group field, select the routing group to use for the operation. Routing groups control how the operation is calculated, how the feedback is provided on the operation, and how the operation is scheduled and job-managed.

Define general operation relations

  1. Click Production control > Setup > Routes > Operations. Click Relations.

  2. Click the General tab. In the Item code field, you can view the item code that you selected for the operation. This field is automatically completed with information from the Overview tab.

    • Table – The operation refers to a single item with a specific item number.

    • Group – The operation refers to a group of items within a given Item - Customer group.

    • All – The operation can be used on all items.

  3. In the Item relation field, you can view the item number or item group that you selected for the operation. This field is automatically completed with information from the Overview tab, but you can change it here if you want to.

  4. If Table is selected in the Item code field, in the Configuration field, enter the configuration to use for the operation. Otherwise, leave the field blank.

  5. In the Route code field, view the association that the operation has with the route. This field is automatically completed with information from the Overview tab, but you can change it here if you want to.

    • Route – Associate the operation with a single route.

    • All – Associate the operation with all routes.

  6. If you selected Route in step 5, in the Route relation field, view the number that the operation has. This field is automatically completed with information from the Overview tab, but you can change it here if necessary.

  7. In the Operation field, view the operation that you are setting up. This field is automatically completed with information from the Overview tab, but you can change it here if you want to.

  8. In the Site field, select the site on which you are setting up operations information. You can create an operation relation that is valid for all sites by leaving the Site field empty, or you can create an operation relation that is specific to one site only by selecting a site in the field. Route versions must be site-specific.

  9. In the Property field, if applicable, select the operation characteristics to use when the operation is being planned.

    Operation properties are values from the properties table specified in the calendar. When you schedule a production order, the operation with the defined property can be scheduled only during time intervals where the same property value is specified in the calendar. You can use this to control how operations are sequenced.

    Note

    To schedule by using properties, you must select the Finite property check box on the resource and in the settings for production scheduling.

  10. In the Route group field, select the routing group to use for the operation.

  11. In the Route type field, select one of the following:

    • If the operation engages a vendor, select Vendor.

    • If the operation is internal, select Standard.

Define the operation relation setup

  1. Click Production control > Setup > Routes > Operations. Click Relations.

  2. Click the Setup tab, and in the Formula field, select the method that is used to calculate the run time for the operation:

    • Standard – Use manually entered values for the run time.

    • Capacity – Calculate the run time based on the capacity specified on the resource, and the Run time and Factor fields for the operation.

    • Batch – Calculate the run time based on the values in the Run time, Process qty., and Factor fields, together with the order quantity.

    • Resource batch – Calculate the run time based on the Batch capacity and Capacity values from the resource, and the Run time and Factor fields from the operation.

  3. In the Factor field, enter the formula factor to use for the operation.

    The formula factor is used when Capacity is selected in the Formula field. The capacity value from the resource is then divided by the factor value to calculate the process quantity. A value of 0 is disregarded.

  4. In the Costing resource field, select the resource that you want to base estimation and BOM calculation on. When the operation is scheduled, estimation and BOM calculation use the resource that is actually scheduled. Default values from the selected resource are transferred to the form, but you can change these default values if necessary.

  5. In the Setup field, select the cost category to use for the setup costs of the operation.

  6. In the Run field, select the cost category to use as an estimate of the cost of run time associated with the operation.

  7. In the Quantity field, select the quantity category to use when the operation is conducted. The quantity category designates the cost price for each unit of finished item that was used in the estimate of the production order associated with the operation.

Define operation relation times

If you selected a costing resource in the Costing resource field on the Setup tab, and you inserted default values, all fields on the Times tab display the values specified for the selected costing resource. You can change the value in any field if you want to.

  1. Click Production control > Setup > Routes > Operations. Click Relations.

  2. Click the Times tab, and in the Queue time before field, enter the time that the operation must wait before it can start.

  3. In the Setup time field, enter the time that is required to set up the resource before the operation starts.

  4. In the Run time field, enter the time that is required to produce the process quantity on the resource.

  5. In the Process qty. field, enter the quantity that can be produced during the time specified in the Run time field.

    Note

    Run time and Process qty. are interdependent fields. One value cannot exist without the other.

  6. In the Transit time field, enter the transportation time that is used to move the item from one operation to another, or from one resource to another.

  7. In the Queue time after field, enter the time that the item waits at the resource after the operation is completed.

  8. In the Hours/time field, enter the time to use for the operation. This time is presented in hours with four decimals.

  9. In the Transfer batch field, enter the quantity of finished items that can be moved between operations. This quantity is also used to calculate the overlap quantity during estimation of production orders.

Add resource requirements to operation relations

  1. Click Production control > Setup > Routes > Operations. Click Relations.

  2. Click the Resource requirements tab, and then click New.

  3. In the Quantity field, enter the number of resources that are required to perform the operation.

  4. In the Load field, enter the percentage of the maximum capacity load that must be reserved for the operation.

  5. In the Requirement type field, select a requirement type. The requirement type you select affects the options that you have in the remaining fields.

  6. In the Requirement field, select the requirement for the operation. Depending on the selection in the Requirement type field, this can be one of the following: a resource type, resource, resource group, capability, skill, course, certificate, or title.

  7. Select the Operation scheduling check box if you want to use this requirement for operations scheduling.

    Note

    You can only use resource, resource group, resource type, and capability requirements for operations scheduling.

  8. Select the Job scheduling check box if you want to use this requirement for job scheduling. You can use all resource requirements for job scheduling. By default, the Operation scheduling and Job scheduling check boxes are selected. You can clear them if you want to.

Add descriptive information to operation relations

  1. Click Production control > Setup > Routes > Operations. Click Relations.

  2. Click the Description tab, and enter a detailed description of the operation in the available field.

See also

Operation relation (form)