Verifying Resource Behaviors 

In addition to processes defined under the process node of the PPR tree, there are a special category of process referred to as the behavior of resources.  These behaviors comprise discrete task specification activities (TSAs). In a production line, resources often behave sequentially, or linked in a product flow. The TSAs under the behaviors of different resources may be linked, too. The types of links that may exist between these TSAs are:
  • precedence constraints
  • synchronization links (i.e. start/start and end/end links).

The TSAs belonging to the same behavior can be linked through control flow links (i.e., the sequence of TSAs as specified within the behavior).

These links must be created in the System Editor to assure that they have been set up properly before you can verify resource behaviors using Process Verification Across Resources.

This procedure describes how to verify resource behaviors.  The Process Verification Across Resources command works like the Process Verification command, so this procedure describes the differences between the two commands.  Refer to the Verifying the Process for descriptions of the functions.

To have product flow considerations taken into account while executing this command, select the Consider Product Flow check box in Tools > Options >  Digital Process for Manufacturing > Gantt Chart.
 

Verify Resource Behavior 
 

  1. Click Process Verification Across Resources .

    If you do not select an object, process of the process list, or a product prior to selecting the command, then the first physical activity under the top resource which has a behavior is used as start object for this command. The activity is highlighted.

    If you first select a resource and this Resource has behavior, then the first physical activity under this resource is used as start object for this command. The activity is highlighted.

    If you first select a resource  and this resource does not have a behavior then the first physical activity of the first child resource with behavior is used as start object for this command. The activity is highlighted.

    If a logical activity (Start, Stop) with behavior is preselected, then the first physical activity in this level is used as start object for this command. The activity is highlighted.

    If a physical activity under the ResourcesList (TSA) is preselected, then it is used as start object for this command. The activity is highlighted.

    The Process Verification Across Resources dialog box appears:

  2. Navigate through the behavior.

    		3.  Go to first TSA of previous Resource

    Go to the first physical TSA of the previous resource.

    		Previous

    Go to the previous activity.  This button enables the user to jump levels (from a parent to the next child).

    		Go to first TSA of parent resource

    Goes up to the first physical TSA of the parent resource.

    		Up

    Goes up to the parent activity. (This button does not work if there is not a parent activity.)

    		Pause/Continue

    This button only works when animation is on.  It toggles between stopping and continuing.

    		Go to first TSA of first resource at next level

    Goes to the first physical TSA of the first resource below the current object.

    		Down

    Goes to the last child activity below the current activity. (This button will not work if there is not a child activity; to go the first child activity by default, see Tools > Options > DPM > Verification.)

    		Go to first TSA of next Resource

    Go to next resource

    		Next

    Go to next activity.  This button enables the user to jump levels (from a parent to the next child).

    		End Level

    Go to the end of the current activity level or sub-activity level

  3. Use the options as described below.
 

About Process Verification Across Resources Options 
 
Animation When enabled, actions taking place during each step are animated.

When not enabled (default), you will only see a static representation of the objects, or the sub-set of the same, you have opted for in this dialog box. 
Step size

This option enables you to change the simulation rate for each step.  By altering the numbers, you can make the sub-steps smaller or larger, which makes the simulation run more slowly or quickly.  Step Size is only available when the Animation check box is selected.
[s]

This box shows the amount of time elapsed in the process from the process's start to the current activity.
Hide Unassigned Parts Selecting this check box hides all items that are unassigned to activities (that is, items in the product list; this option does not affect parts that are in the resource list).  For more information on how this option affects product visibility, see Product Visibility in Process Verification.
Keep Assembly State after closing PV If the check box selected, then the visibility state of all parts remains.

If the check box is not selected, then the visibility state of all parts is restored to the states that they had before starting process verification. See also Examples of Process Verification
Cross-Highlight If this check box is selected, cross highlighting occurs for objects that have been linked to processes by means of relations. The objects affected by the cross highlight are highlighted and every process is separately displayed step-by-step in both the PPR tree and 3D graphic views.

The following assigned objects can be cross highlighted:

  • processes
  • products
  • resources
  • manufacturing assemblies and manufacturing kits
  • FTA objects and geometric elements linked to an FTA object.

When the Cross highlight check box is selected, the Cross highlight options button becomes available.  For a more complete discussion of this dialog box and the cross highlighting options, see Cross Highlighting for Process Verification.
Hide Unassigned Resources Selecting this option hides all unassigned resources.

Licensing
  The Show Welds check box appears only if you have license for the DPM Fastening Process Planner product.
Show Welds Selecting this check box allows you to see the effects of weld assignments in the 3D geometry.  The information is provided by colors:
  • Green: a weld is consumed (i.e., assigned).  Green appears under these conditions:
    • If the Show Weld option is off and the weld is assigned to any activity
    • If the Show Weld option is on and it is assigned to any activity other than the current activity.
  • Red: the weld is consumed by the current activity.  A weld is red if the Show Welds check box is on and it is assigned to the current activity.
  • Default color (set to yellow, initially): the weld is not consumed (i.e., it is not assigned to any activity).

When you do not select the Show Welds check box, the welds are not highlighted in any activity.
Active Window for Switch If you have a switch activity and you select this option, the Select Next Activity dialog box appears, which enables you to select the activity you want to see. 

If you do not have this option selected, the default next activity appears.
TSA Products Shown/Hidden
(For information on how these selections are affected by the Hide Unassigned Parts option, see Product Visibility in Process Verification.)

Please note the following:

  • The process verification visibility options are independent from the visibility status of a product or resource before starting process. If a product/resource is in hide mode before starting process verification, it can be be set to show mode while process verification is running.

Hide Products

 This option hides all products assigned to any of the activities. 

 
Show TSA's Products This option shows only the products assigned to the TSA, the preceding activities, and all products not assigned to any activity (unless you selected the Hide Unassigned Parts check box, as described above).  

This option is best explained with an example.  The assumptions for this example are:

  • Part A (assigned to Activity 2)
  • Part B (assigned to Activity 3)
  • Part C (unassigned)
  • Hide Unassigned Parts check box is clear (i.e., unassigned parts are shown)

When Process Verification shows you:

  • Activity 1, you see only Part C, the unassigned part. 
  • Activity 2, you see Part A, which is assigned to that activity, plus Part C. 
  • Activity 3, you see all the parts:  Part A, from the preceding (second) activity, Part B, from the third activity, and Part C because it is unassigned. 

If you have select the Hide Unassigned Parts check box, you see Parts A and B associated with the activities as described above, but you do not see Part C.

The relation type Process removes product removes the product from the process and sets its visibility status to hidden as long as it will be reassigned with process processes product.
Show All Products This option enables you to see all the products assigned to any of the activities. 
Show Current TSA's Products This option enables you to see only the products assigned to the current TSA.
TSA's Resources Shown/Hidden

Hide Resources

 This option hides all resources assigned to all of the activities.  
Show Activity's Resources You see only the resources associated with the active activity and all resources unassigned to any activity.

Behavior for the different types of relations:

  • Process runs on resource: here the resource is only seen at the activity to which it is assigned.
  •  Process uses resource: here the resource is only seen at the activity to which it is assigned.
  •  Process attaches resource: here the resource is seen at the activity to which it is assigned and at all succeeding activities until the resource is detached with Process detaches resource.
  • Process detaches resource: here the resource is hidden at the activity to which it is assigned and at all succeeding activities until the resource is reattached with Process attaches resource.
Show All Resources You see all the resources.
Reframe 

Reframe All Items

 The 3D geometry is reframed with each new step.  The reframing is centered on the center of the items as a group. 
Reframe Off the 3D geometry is not reframed, even when the effects of the process put some items beyond viewing range.
Reframe Activity's Items The 3D geometry is reframed with each new step.  The reframing is centered on the center of the items used in the activity only.  Therefore, if a specific activity involves moving a handle away from a reel, then the center of the reel and handle, looked at as a single entity, is the center of the frame.  
State Management
  • When the State Management check box is selected, if the user wants to start Process Verification at a specific activity, Process Verification synchronizes to the start condition of that activity before executing the details (assuming that there is a start condition defined for that activity). Navigating through each activity executes the start condition of the activity before executing the details.

  • When the State Management check box is not selected, only the details are executed for each activity. By enabling/disabling this option, you can decide whether you want to apply the start condition for each activity.
Apply End Condition When the Apply End Condition check box is selected, Process Verification synchronizes to the end condition of that activity before executing the details (assuming that there is a end condition defined for that activity). Navigating through each activity executes the end condition of the activity before executing the details.