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  Linking of Modes

Use

With automatic mode selection (for example, when creating an order) the system selects the mode for an activity automatically according to the mode priority and the availability date. However, you can also define that the mode to be selected for an activity depends on which mode has already been selected for another activity. The following link categories are available:

  • Linking modes with the same mode name

    You can only use this link category to link activities from different operations.

  • Linking modes with the same primary resource

    This link category is mandatory for linking the activities of one operation. You can also use this link category to link activities that belong to different operations.

    Note Note

    An operation is a simple, open chain of activities that are all processed on the same primary resource and that are linked by start and end dates. Every activity – with the exception of the last one – can only be followed by one further activity within the operation.The last activity may not have a follow-on activity in the operation. No other operation can be scheduled between the activities of an operation.

    End of the note.

Prerequisites

You have to make the following settings in the production process model (PPM) to link the modes of two activities when scheduling:

  • To link modes with the same name, you must:

    • Create a relationship between the activities that have to belong to several operations and assign the link category 3 ( same mode number ) to this relationship.

    • Define at least one mode with the same name for each of the activities.

    • Assign the same priority to the linked modes

      The system can automatically schedule modes with priorities A to O. You cannot use the mode link functions for modes that are only scheduled manually (mode priority Z).

  • To link modes with the same primary resource, you must:

    • Create a relationship between the activities and assign the link category 2 ( same primary resource ) to this relationship.

      The system automatically activates the primary resource link in the operation when you create the mandatory start and end relationship between the activities of an operation.

    • Define at least one mode with the same primary resource for each one of the activities.

      In the operation, all activities must have at least one mode with the same primary resource.

    • Specify the same resource consumption for the primary resource in the modes to be linked if the primary resource is a multi-resource.

      The same resource consumption is only required when linking to multi-activity and multi-mixed resources. In the case of single-activity and single mixed resources, the activity always uses the complete resource. That is, the resource consumption is always 1 for single-activity resources.

    • Assign the same priority to the linked modes

      The system can automatically schedule modes with priorities A to O. You cannot use the mode link functions for modes that are only scheduled manually (mode priority Z).

Dependencies

In certain circumstances, such as, changes in parallel modes, the linked modes in planning can be violated.

You can be informed of this situation in the alert monitor via the dynamic alert. Here, in the alert profile in tab page PP/DS, you have to select the following alerts:

  • Linking of modes violated in an order (under Constraint Alerts in Order )

  • Linking of modes between orders violated (under Constraint Alerts – Cross-Order )