How are represented Operation Positions ?


    As of version 3.0 OptiLine supports two types of operation positions, letting you specify for each operation and each workstation its operator position both at the level of the entire workstation and at the level of individual operators. These constraints are often called ergonomic constraints, in particular in the automotive industry.

    Position constraints are shown, both for operations and for workstations, using the following standard representation (see below an additional representation in the workstation bars):

There are three circles, one for each workstation-level position constraint, and for each operator three squares, one for each operator-level position constraint. Each specified constraint is represented by a yellow symbol (circle or square) with the initial of the constraint value, while each unspecified constraint is represented by a gray symbol (circle or square).
    Thus the above example represents the following position constraints:

  • Workstation-level constraints:
    • No constraint was specified for the first constraint
    • The value "M" was specified for the second constraint, by default this means the product must be in medium elevation
    • The value "N" was specified for the third constraint, by default this means the product must not be tilted
  • Operator-level constraints:
    • First operator:
      • The value "R" was specified for the first constraint, by default this means "on the right of the product"
      • Nothing was specified for the other two constraints
    • Second operator:
      • The value "L" was specified for the first constraint, by default this means "on the left of the product"
      • Nothing was specified for the other two constraints

    This graphical representation of position constraints is used for both operations and workstations. It is shown in the following places:

  • In the bottom of the Operations tab, for the selected operation. For space reasons, only the workstation-level positions are shown, click on them to get to the following:
  • In the bottom of the Edit Position dialog window
  • In the Position column in the table in the Workstation tab
  • In the bottom of the Workstation tab, for the selected workstation. For space reasons, only the workstation-level positions are shown, click on them to view all the position constraints in the Edit Position dialog window
  • In the Position column in the table in the Operators tab.
  • When operator-level positions are defined for operators, they are shown in the operator bars in the detail view in the Operators tab.

    The meaning of each constraint is defined in the Edit Position Structure dialog, while the choice of a set of constraints for a particular operation or workstation is made in the Edit Position dialog.

    In addition to the above standard representation, workstation-level positions are also shown in the workstation bars in the Workstation tab, and below the workstation bars in the Operators tab. There, the position constraints specified for a workstation are complemented by possible new constraints due to the operations that are assigned to the workstation. Indeed, as soon as an operation is assigned to a workstation, the workstation's free (that is, unspecified) attributes are modified if necessary, to match other incoming operations (if any).

Consider for instance the station on the left. Its position is defined as follows :
  • Side : Any
  • Elevation : Medium
  • Tilted : Any

This station can carry out all operations that can be done in the medium elevation. This includes all operations with the following positions:

  • Side : Any or Left or Center or Right or Back or Front
  • Elevation : Any or Medium
  • Tilt : Any or Yes or No

Suppose we assign an operation with the following position constraints to the workstation :

  • Side : Left
  • Elevation : Any
  • Titled : Any

The station has now one operation assigned to it, as shown in picture on the left. But as the operation has to be done on the left, the station can now only receive operations with the following positions:

  • Side : Left (this position is now imposed by the operation on the station)
  • Elevation : Any or Medium
  • Tilt : Any or Yes or No

And so on, insuring that an operator does not need to change his/her position during work.

Learn more on the Edit Positions dialog here.