Overview of Work Definitions
You can define discrete work definitions and process work definitions in a single manufacturing plant only if Enable Process Manufacturing is selected in the plant parameter. A work definition defines the manufacturing process for a product. It is essentially a template to create a work order for the work execution.
A discrete work definition defines the manufacturing process for a product that consists of operations, materials, and resources. The work definition effectively combines an item structure and routing into a single view. It corresponds to a single buildable level of the item structure. If a product consists of several subassemblies that are also manufactured, then you define a work definition for the product and a work definition for the subassemblies.
A process work definition consists of operations, outputs, materials, and resources. You can define multiple outputs in addition to the primary output that's defined at the work definition header. The manufacturing process moves in batch quantity instead of discrete unit.
You can define more than one work definition for a product. A primary work definition of an item is the work definition using work definition name of type Standard with the production priority equal to 1. The primary work definition is used by the supply chain planning applications to generate the planned orders and create the standard work orders of the item. You can also define alternate work definitions to account for variations in the operations, components, and resources. When there are more than one work definitions for an item, you can rearrange their priority; however there must always be a work definition with production priority equal to 1.
If you have a prescribed way of reworking a product, you can define a rework work definition using work definition name of type Rework. If the Rework work definition item is serial-controlled, then the work definition is always serial-tracked. If you perform upgrade or downgrade to a product to produce a finished good that's of higher or lower specifications, you can define a transform work definition using work definition name of type Transform.
You can define a work definition that enables the serial tracking through the manufacturing process, provided that the item's serial generation attribute is to Predefined. You identify the work definition operation from which serial-tracking must be enabled. Throughout the execution process, the serial-tracking is enforced in operation completions, material and resource transactions.
The table summarizes some key differences between discrete work definitions and process work definitions.
|
Feature |
Supported in Discrete Work Definitions |
Supported in Process Work Definitions |
|---|---|---|
|
ATO Model |
Yes |
No |
|
Rework, Transform |
Yes |
No |
|
Work Definition Header: Item Structure Reference |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Work Definition Header: Serial Tracked |
Yes |
No |
|
Work Definition Operation: Serialization |
Yes |
No |
|
Work Definition Operation Outputs |
Not applicable |
Yes ad hoc items |
|
Work Definition Operation Items |
Item structure components Ad hoc items |
Item structure components and Ad hoc items |
|
Process Item Structure Changes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
ADFdi |
Yes |
No |
A work definition consists of the following elements:
-
Header
-
Operations
-
Operation Outputs (applicable to process work definitions)
-
Operation Items
-
Operation Resources
Header
The work definition header captures details such as the work method, the product being produced, the production priority, and optionally costing priority. In a discrete work definition, completion subinventory and completion locator are captured at the header level, but in a process work definition, they're captured at the operation output level.
Operations
The work definition operations define the sequence of manufacturing steps to be performed in making the item. The operations are executed in a linear path based on the operation sequence. You can also define operations that can be resequenced during work execution. A work definition must have at least one operation. An operation must be associated to a work center. You can use either standard operations, or you can manually enter the operations. If an operation isn't indicated as a count point or an automatically transact operation, then it's considered as an optional operation. You can define descriptive flexfields for an operation.
Operations Outputs
In a process work definition, the operation outputs are the products and by-products that are yielded by the process. Product is materials of value that are desired and intentionally produced, whereas By-product is materials of value that are produced as a residual of, or incidental to, the production process. Outputs are assigned as ad hoc items. You can define descriptive flexfields for an operation output.
Operation Items
The operation items define the material requirements for operations. You assign the components of the item structure of the product to the operations where they're required. You can also assign existing items that aren't components of the item structure to operations. They are considered ad hoc items. Assigning ad hoc items requires the Override Item Structure Components in Work Definition privilege. You can define descriptive flexfields for an operation item.
Operation Resources
The operation resources define the resource requirements for operations. The pool of resources available comes from the work center assigned to the operation. A resource represents either a labor or equipment that adds value to the manufacturing process. You can define descriptive flexfields for an operation resource.