Batch approval option

The Work Flow Control (WFC) module was designed originally to require a selected individual to review and then approve or reject each work order before it was distributed to the shops or work centers involved.  Although this requirement can now be bypassed, some sites want the approval step as well as a way to approve a group of (presumably similar) work orders at one time.

To that end, a new Batch Approval option for the Work Status Display allows multiple work orders to be approved at once.  This option is listed on the Item menu, and can also be accessed by a new toolbar button to the right of the Approve button.

This feature is available for customers running the GUI version of TMS only (in GUI mode).

View a sample of the Batch Approval option.

Sequential routing for TSR Work Orders

The Work Flow Control (WFC) module was designed originally to use “broadcast” routing.  This means that once the work order is approved (or submitted for distribution if the approval function is turned off), a distribution record is created immediately for each shop or work center identified on the work order.

Some customers have indicated that it would work better for them if the distributions were not broadcast.  They would like distributions generated sequentially once each shop or work center completed their part of the job.  As a result, the WFC module has been enhanced to provide this mode of distribution as an option.  Now an environment variable (set in a configuration file during start up) controls how TSR work orders are distributed.  If the option is enabled, all TSR work order distribution records that require a completion entry are routed sequentially (i.e., in the order of the distribution points on the work order entry form).  Information only (I) records are broadcast regardless of the variable.

With sequential routing, when a work order is approved, the work order distribution record is normally visible on the Work Status Display of the first distribution point requiring a completion, but hidden from others.  After the first distribution point enters a completion through the Work Status Display, the work order is “sent” to the next distribution point.  This continues until the last distribution record is completed.  Then the final close out record is created.  Actually, all of the distribution records are generated at the same time.  They are hidden by using a lowercase “Action Required”.  The distribution records can be viewed, but are annotated as “delayed” in the “Action Required” field.  The “Limits” function can be used to hide the delayed distributions from view.)

Note that this enhancement affects TSR Work Orders only; the other types of work orders are always routed sequentially.  This feature is available for customers running the GUI version of TMS only, but the text mode Work Status Display also supports this feature.

Man-hour details on completion

The Work Flow Control (WFC) module was designed originally to allow entry of man-hours, the man-hour rate, and the (calculated) labor total for each shop or work center involved with the work order.  The figures (along with others) can be entered by any user with permissions to enter completion records, but only one set of man-hour figures per work order is available for each shop or work center.  Some users have requested the capability to track man-hour expenditures in greater detail.

Consequently, an enhancement has been added to the GUI Work Status Display to allow tracking of man-hours expended for multiple people or crews within a shop or work center on any work order.  Instead of a single man-hour figure, the user entering a completion record has access to an almost unlimited number of entries for man-hour expenditures.  Each entry can include:

• The person’s or crew’s WFC ID number (from the WFC Personnel by Shop/Work Center file),

• Man-hours, man-hour rate, and calculated man-hour total,

• Start and end dates (optional), and

• Comments (up to 40 characters, optional)

New file maintenance and file list functions are provided to edit and print the “Man-hour Detail” records.  A new “Man-hour Detail” Report is included, too.

This feature is available for customers running the GUI version of TMS only (in GUI mode).

---

Return to top of page |TMS Newsletter Contents | K&R Home

Subscribe to the K&R newsletter list to receive an email notice when the newsletter is published.

Last updated: 09/20/2007