Flow Sequencing Rules

You can define flow sequencing rules to influence how flow schedules that are assigned to a production line are going to be sequenced.

Enable the following setting so that the solver considers the sequence you define:

For applicable production lines, set the Scheduling Strategy to Rule-based sequence in the Production Lines UI.

Define Flow Sequencing Rules

  1. Click the Action menu for an organization.
  2. Select Production Lines.
  3. Set the Scheduling Strategy value to Rule-based sequence.
  4. Open the Action menu for the production line.

  5. Select Flow Sequencing Rules.

  6. Click Add.

  7. In the side drawer, enter the rule priority, select a rule type, and specify the underlying details for the given rule type. You can optionally enter a rule name.

  8. Click OK.

The following rule types are available. In addition to rule priority, rule type, rule name, attribute and attribute value, the following details must be specified:
Rule Type Additional details to specify
Minimum Run Minimum Run Size
Maximum Run Maximum Run Size
Must Follow Previous Attribute Value
Must not Follow Previous Attribute Value
At Least K of N At Least (K Value), Out Of Every (N Value)
At Most K of N At Most (K Value), Out Of Every (N Value)
Must be First -

Production Scheduling attempts to respect all specified flow sequencing rules. However, this isn't always possible, as contradictory rules may have been specified by the user, or it may simply not be feasible for a given set of flow schedules assigned to the various days and production lines and their specific attributes. If rule violations are necessary, then rules with lower rule priority are less likely to be violated than those with higher rule priority.

You can also copy flow sequencing rules from one production line to another production line using the Copy Flow Sequencing Rules action. This will replace existing rules on the current production line with the rules from the other production line. Rules are copied from the selected production line only if their attributes are also assigned to the target production line.