Setup - Lines

Overview

Lines represent production lines within your facility, configurable with a wide range of settings for scheduling, production tracking, scrap collection, and API integration.

Note: If Shifts are not set up but Production is enabled on the line, you won't be able to save the line without creating shifts first.

Prerequisites & Preparation

• Required Permissions: System Manager or Administrator

• Dependency: Shifts must be set up before saving a line with Production enabled.

Step-by-Step Configuration

1. Navigate to the Menu: Go to Setup > Lines.

2. Initiate Creation: Click Add New in the upper right corner of the Lines bar.

3. Enter Details:

   • Line Code: Enter a code. Administrators may change this later, and the change will update throughout the system.

   • Line Name: Enter a name common within the workplace and understood throughout.

   • Abbreviation Name: Enter an abbreviated name.

   • Line Category: If Line Categories have been created and one applies, select it from the dropdown.

   • Area: Select the assigned Area from the dropdown. If an Area isn't available, it has either been inactivated or not yet set up.

   • Line Cost Center: Select from the dropdown (Cost Centers are configured in Setup).

4. Define Attributes:

   • Default Machine: Select from the dropdown; used for launching automatic dispatches.

   • Default Product: Selecting a product allows it to be used as the default in the record_details API endpoint when there's no planned product for the line and actuals are being submitted via API.

   • External ID: Used only for integrations.

   • Color: Choose a color for display on the main dispatch screen — type in an RGB hex value directly, or click the field to open a color palette.

   • Status: Select if Inactive (should be unchecked for an active line).

   • Work Orders: Enable to allow Work Orders to be generated for this line.

   • Production: Enable Production for this line.

   • Production Standard Work: Select if you want this feature available on this Line.

   • API Collection: Select to enable API collection of production data (only functions if API is set up).

   • Automatic Production Status Dispatches: Enable to auto-create dispatches when Line metrics go into a red status (Production Module only).

   • Scrap by Machine: Enable if collecting scrap at the machine level rather than the line level.

   • Scrap by Type: Enable to narrow scrap numbers down by type.

     • Scrap Types: Select applicable types from the dropdown (configured in the Production Module).

   • Product Orders (eKanban): Enable for this line.

   • Order Based Line: For Operator Console use only.

     • Note: Enabling this alongside Operator Portal can cause pitch-related issues (splitting, missing, or out-of-order pitches).

   • Production Mode: Choose whether to run one or multiple products at a time.

   • Operator Portal Queue Size: Choose how many product orders are visible in the queue (defaults to the number set in Production Settings unless otherwise specified).

   • Automatic Pitch Splitting: Enable to automatically split pitches for new products. If Product Orders is checked above, this happens automatically; if disabled, reports are based on the first product in the pitch.

   • Production Order: Used to show flow through various lines.

   • Production Demand on Changeover: Enable for sites unable to determine demand ahead of time (e.g., job shops).

     • Note: If used alongside the API to create pitches, the API will overwrite the existing pitch schedule and remove the demand-on-changeover data.

   • Start/End Shift Buttons: Enable on the Operator Portal to inactivate the pitch schedule during non-production periods (e.g., a shift finishing early and moving to a new line).

   • Pace Start Date (Optional): Allows a single line's pace to be reset from a specific date.

   • Operator Portal Check-in: Enable to track operators' time worked per line. Operators can check into multiple lines at once, but checking into a new line separately will remove them from the prior line.

   • Operator Skill Tracking: Enable (requires operators by name) to track skills, established in the Skills Module.

   • Line Users: Select users who can check in to the New Operator Portal from this dropdown.

   • Skill Notification Dispatch: Create a dispatch when a user checks into this Line at or below a specified Skill Level (requires operators by name).

   • Production Shifts: Select applicable shifts (configured in User/Resource Setup).

   • Default Pitch Schedule Template: Set the template used by the product that runs on this line most of the time (configured in the Production Module's scheduling tool).

   • Hourly Downtime Rate: Enter the full cost per hour of downtime, including lost production throughput. This value is used to calculate and report Downtime costs.

     • Note: If the down machine is part of a Machine Group on this line, costs are amortized across the group. For example, if Machine A is down and belongs to a 4-machine group (A, B, C, D), the cost is 25% of the hourly downtime rate, and the line is considered to run at 75% throughput.

   • Production Thresholds: Used to set visual dashboard color thresholds in the Production Module (not needed if the Production Module isn't used).

     • Note: The Pitch Pace metric must be enabled for the Pace Threshold to reflect green/yellow/red status on Dashboards, Operator Portal, and Pitchboard.

   • Skills: Add any skills required for this line (skills must first be created in the Skills Module).

5. Save & Finalize: Click Save.