Introduction
This demonstration shows a simple workflow for a typical usage of Notixia Assembly Planning System.
You can look at small screencasts by clicking on the links on the right of each step.
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PDM import/synchronization
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The first step consist of importing a product design definition from your existing PDM installation (including the product configuration information).
Notixia MPM solutions, being based on ECIP (Notixia's Proprietary Technological Information Management Platform), have different integration infrastructures
that can be enhanced to integrate with your specific PDM system deployment.
- Standard XML file import (for structures and configurations)
- Integration through integrated Scripting Language
- Integration through APIs
Generic solutions already exists to import directly your CATIA V5, Pro-Engineer and Solidworks designs.
This will result in a read-only eBoM (Engineering Bill of Material) that will be enhanced with additional
manufacturing information as shown in the following steps of this demo.
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See import of a PDM product definition
See integrated DMU
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mBoM management
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As defined previously, a read-only eBoM is available in the environment from the import action.
In order for the users to work on their own structure of the product (mBoM,
Manufacturing Bill of Material),
the system offers a duplication mechanism that helps create the initial mBoM.
The initial layout of the mBoM can be template driven, a simple duplication of the eBoM or just
the duplication of the leaf parts.
Once some work is done on the manufacturing processes, as we detail later on,
manufacturing engineers need to be regularly synchronized with the eBoM from the engineering department.
Two specific mechanisms has been developed to do so:
- The first one will synchronize (performed in batch mode)
the read-only eBoM with the up-to-date PDM structure.
- The second one is a reconciliation mechanism,
that will help manufacturing engineers select what change should be used for further process evaluation,
without disturbing the work previously done.
This dual definition of the product enables parallel work of the engineering and manufacturing
departments. Both departments have their own view of the product while being periodically
"reconciliated" to ensure consistency in the global product definition.
The manufacturing department will be able to attach processes and specific manufacturing
meta-information to the mBoM managed by the system, while your existing PDM system will continue
to manage the engineering product definition for the engineering department (eBoM).
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See the reconciliation
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Process design
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From the basic mBoM structure, the user can start working on the process
associated to it. Notixia offers multiple views and user interfaces
to author the process and assign product & resources information.
Product configuration is fully supported in the process definition.
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See process editing
See product assignation to a process
See resources requirement assignation to a process
See contextual 3D views of the process
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Process & mBoM relation
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While authoring the process the manufacturing engineers will modify the manufacturing view of
the product structure (the mBoM)
but from a process stand point. Notixia offers applications that synchronize the process
and mBoM definitions so that the work of the users can be process-driven, product-driven or a
mixture of both.
During this step the process planner can define manufacturing specific product components
like temporary assemblies, functional assemblies (reusable in other product definition) etc.
A product accountability is also provided to ensure that all parts are consumed for a given
product configuration.
This will shape the mBoM to its final structure and ensure that manufacturing information
is captured in the process definition.
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See mBoM-specific assembly creation
See process parts accountability
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Process & resources balancing
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While users build their processes, enhance product definition (by constructing the mBoM)
and assign resource requirements, the system gives live information about the resource load
(stations cycle time usage), time, cost analysis etc. This information is very useful
to help optimize and understand the process plans as they are built. Multiple scenarios of
assignation can be made for a given process (different plants, different cycle time,...)
The line balancing module enable the balancing of operations
to stations and operators based on constraints and requirements of the process. The result
can be fine tuned manually and gives the actual assignments and more accurate timing information.
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See operation allocation to actual resources
See dynamic assembly line 3D view
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Reporting & exporting
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Once the production strategy finished, the system can generate reports
or outputs (using automation features and standard XML exports)
for many usage including:
- Export and synchronize process plans and BoR (Bill of Resources) to your ERP
- Generate Operator/Stations instruction sheets
- Use our MES module (Manufacturing Execution System) to bring processes to the shop floor
- Generate specific analysis reports
- Export to simulation and analysis tools (DES, Robot Work cell simulation, etc.)
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See report generation
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