Hello,
I read that you can link a resource to a resource group. I our case, we want to link a resource (tool used in a machine) to a resource group (machine). It looks like this can be done at the MOM level through engineering workbench, but does Epicor look at the resource linked and schedule jobs accordingly if too many resource groups are calling for the same resource? Will the same resource be linked to the resource group anytime a new part is created with that resource group, or is it specifically done at the part level?
We have not used Resources yet within our company and I am looking into the proper way to set this up if it would work as I am asking.
I see you can set up a resource type, but there is a ‘Machine MES TYPE’ in there that is greyed out and I cannot select anything.. Is this normal behavior?
Every resource exists in a group, and only one group. You can assign multiple resources in a method, but I think you need a module (APS or APM, don’t recall).
MES is for users of AdvancedMES (formerly Mattec).
Excellent questions, I see where you are going but wanted to clear up a couple of things as what you wrote is not exactly correct.
A Resource Group is meant to group like things together and is the parent to a Resource. Some companies use RGs as cells, but most companies create a RG to contain all of their mills, lathes, etc. Unless you have cellular manufacturing or something similar, I usually recommend grouping the like machines together.
For each RG, you then add Resources to them. So, you would add all your mills to the mill RG, all your lathes to the lathe RG, etc. I recommend keeping the resources in a RG to machines where the employees are doing the work.
The reason why I say to keep it to just the machines is because of the extras that need to be considered when you build your MOM. The Primary Scheduling Resource on any operation needs to be a location. A location is where the burden for the operation gets calculated. When a resource is marked as a location, that tells the system to calculate the burden using that resources burden cost. So, you wouldn’t want to calculate burden based on tools that the resource uses. This is why I recommend keeping a RG as just the machines.
If you have tooling that can be used in multiple resources, I recommend creating a separate RG called Tooling and put all of the tolls there. And do not mark them as locations.
If you have the Advanced Planning and Scheduling module, you can add as many scheduling resources as you want to an operation in the MOM. If you do not have the module, you are limited to just two scheduling resources per operation.
The scheduling engine will schedule every scheduling resource that you add to an operation. Whether or not you mark the resources as finite and run finite scheduling will determine if jobs will move when the resources are not available.
Thank you John!
We currently have our resource groups set up for each machine (large mill, small mill, etc.) and have them marked as locations.
So, if I am understanding correctly.. It is possible to link a tool as a resource to the MOMs, and Epicor will recognize and schedule accordingly based on availability when those tools are scheduled?
Sorry, just realized I never responded. Yes, after you add the main resource, you can add additional resources (e.g. tools) and Epicor will schedule them too. So if your machine is free, but your tool is not, the system will look for another time block.