 |
 |
Optessa MLS is designed to allow the user maximum
flexibility and ease in the definition of rules and constraints.
Optessa
MLS lets the user organize units at arbitrary levels: you
may choose to organize the sequence in single units, small or large
lots or batches.
Optessa MLS also
allows an equally flexible definition of line capacity: the system
expresses line capacity in terms of
- Slots per week / day / shift / hour, OR
- Available time by shift patterns, OR
- Combinations of both
The user can choose a different line capacity for
each day or other time bins; the system allows empty slots so you can
easily accommodate changing line capacity from – say 5000
units this week to 4000 the next and then 7000 the week after.
Optessa
MLS lets the user define minimum or maximum feature
capacity limit to achieve an ideal model or feature mix on a daily
basis. The feature capacity limit definition can also be used to define
model year change and the ramping up or down of models of current or
previous years. Thus, the user can easily specify that between 200 and
400 red cars should be produced each day; in addition, in the last two
weeks of a certain month, model year 2006 cars should be reduced and
model year 2008 should be simultaneously ramped up.
Optessa
MLS accommodates a wide range of constraint types. These
include:
- Set pattern: to specify complex cyclical
and feature ordering patterns.
- Time windows: start after ( line on) and due date
( line off/ start by) for each unit
- Distribution: even distribution and patterns
- Feature capacity: daily minimum and maximum limits
for a feature
- Sliding window average: X out of Y
constraints
- Changeover: preferred model / color sequences. for
example, exterior color black unit can not precede a white unit.
- Change count: to limit the number of model or
color changeovers in a day or week.
- Run length: minimum or maximum number units that
can be consecutively sequenced. For example, at least 5 units and at
most 10 units in a row for any color.
- Bat order:
for example, daily production should be in the order: [ 2 door model] -
[4 door model] - [ Deluxe car].
- Spacing: to specify minimum or maximum spacing
between features. For example, after right hand drive units 100 to 200
cannot be of deluxe type.
Optessa MLS also
supports constraints with lags, that is rules for non-consecutive units
or more generally by applying filters. For example, in a sequence
combining SUVs and Minivans, ensure that amongst only the SUV units no
consecutive V8 engine units occur.
Defining constraints is simple in Optessa MLS. The
user has the option to let the system compute the constraint parameters
that are data dependant. For example, merely specify that an even
distribution of models is required and the system will compute the
distribution parameters.
- Each constraint has a time window within
which the constraint is effective. This may, for instance, be used to
specify a date for the introduction of a new feature.
- A priority
or weight can be associated with each constraint to
indicate its importance.
- The user also has a choice of how s/he wants to
define penalty functions
that will apply if a constraint is violated. For example, making a run
length constraint as a quadratic ensures that greater violations of the
maximum run length have much higher penalties.
|
|
|
|
|
