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This is the PROSPAC component that manages part number routing information.

Basically a part number routing specifies how a part is to be manufactured.

Typically it consists of a series of steps, which must be performed in the prescribed sequence, called operations for each of which provides

bulletan operation number or name
bulletthe name of the required machine(s)
bulletthe standard time needed to set up the machine, called the setup time
bulletthe standard time needed to perform the operation on one part, called the unit run time
bulletspecific written instructions each machine operator is required to observe

These 5 five items of data appear on almost everyones' routings.  PROSPAC requires the first four as the minimum operation routing data.

In addition PROSPAC offers several optional data items for each operation:

bulletstep yield percentage
bulletdicing factor
bulletattention factor percentage
bulletstandard type    (MIL-STD-1567A only)
bulleteffective date     (MIL-STD-1567A only)
bulletrevision number (MIL-STD-1567A only)
bulletoperation authorization
bulletoverlap enable/disable
bulletconcatenation enable/disable
bulletflow time between operations (FTBO)
bulletlead time before operation (LTBO)
bulletoperation chain index
bulletproduction hold enable/disable
bullettool hold enable/disable

 

Manufacturing Engineering Revision Control

A routing is usually known by the part number whose manufacturing processes it defines.

However it is not uncommon for there to exist more than one such routing for the same part number.  These are generically called alternate routings.

PROSPAC includes a manufacturing engineering (ME) revision code system that allows for up to 80 different alternate routings for the same part number.

The revision code naming convention starts with A0, A1, ... A9, continues with B0, B1, ... B9, C0, C1, ... C9, ... , and finishes with H0, H1, ... H9.

Though similar in concept, ME revision codes are not to be confused with engineering drawing revision codes used by product engineers.

Furthermore the ME revision control system is enabled to be either

bulletsuperceding, or
bulletcontemporaneous.

Part number routings are assigned to work orders at the point of shop work order release.  ME revision codes define which alternate routing, if any, is assigned.

A superceding protocol ranks the {A0, ... , H9} sequence such that the highest revision code corresponds with the most up-to-date routing.

For example if three routings with revision codes A7, B4 and D1 exist for a part number, PROSPAC would automatically assign the D1 routing to any work order written for that part number.

The contemporaneous protocol does not rank ME revision codes.   PROSPAC therefore uses a feature called "directed releases", which simply requires that the ME revision code be declared as part of the shop work order release procedure.

Examples where contemporaneous ME revision codes for distinguishing different routings for the same part number are used include:

bulletSmall versus large work order quantities
bulletCustomer-owned material vs own
bulletCustomer-owned machine(s) or tools vs own
bulletRework
bulletOffload: Conventional machines vs DNC or CNC
bulletQuote or RFP vs regular production

 

 

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Last modified:  October 13, 2001