We have two operations that are performed back to back, often by the same people, we'll call these SEQ 20 and SEQ 30.
SEQ 20 uses a WELD-OP (welder) + Work Center A
SEQ 30 uses a WELD-OP + Work Center B
Right now the schedule is scheduling SEQ 20 and then it might be a week until it schedules SEQ 30.
Our production environment is set up as a line so the scheduler often conflicts with what the shop is doing. Usually, the part goes from SEQ 20 right to SEQ 30 and the guys at SEQ 30 jump right on it.
Is there any way to force the scheduler to schedule two operations back to back?
Along these same lines, because our facility is set up to run in lines we're trying to get our scheduling set up where production managers can look at what is "starting" next to dispatch new work orders and we can assume that we will run that part from start to finish.
Right now we try and force the shop to match what the schedule is telling us to do so that estimated completion dates stay accurate to the schedule giving all departments "reliable" information. Doing so is causing some headaches and frustration on the shop floor as parts are started and finished at a work center only for that operator to go and do something completely different before coming back to finish his next project (SEQ 20 and SEQ 30 work centers are next to each other and the same operator, at this time, works within each one).
