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Work Center, Product Line, Department, Resource

  • March 31, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 27 views
B
Sidekick
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Hi!

When create a new ‘Work Center’, there fields ‘Production Line’ and Departmet can be used. And also a tab ‘Resource’ can be used. But I don’t how map the real production process to these setting. Is anybody can give me some instruction?

For example, a plant with 3 workshops. Die Casting, CNC and Assembly.

In CNC workshop. There 2 types machines, CNC and Auto Washing. CNC equipments drill holes on Die Casting Semi-Finish goods. Then Auto Washing equipments cleaning surface of products.

There 2 types CNC machines, 10 Mazak FF-660 and 15 Brother TC-32B.

When I create work center for Brother TC-32B. Should I create 1 work center for it? And create 15 resources for each machine? What about production line and department?

And which one will be used for product capacity calculation & schedule production plan? Could you give me the relevant calculation formula？

Best answer by Lingesan08

Hi ​@Bright Zhao ,

A common IFS setup is:

  • Department = workshop/area, such as Die Casting, CNC, Assembly
  • Production Line = sub-flow inside the department
  • Work Center = machine group used in routing/planning
  • Resource = each physical machine

For your Brother TC-32B example, normally create 1 work center for Brother TC-32B and then create 15 resources, one for each machine. Do the same for Mazak and Auto Washing.

Capacity and scheduling are mainly driven by routing operation times, work center, resources, calendars, and efficiencies. Department and Production Line are more for structure/reporting.

Basic logic:

  • Available Capacity = working hours × number of resources × efficiency
  • Required Capacity = setup time + (run time per unit × quantity)

3 replies

L
Do Gooder (Partner)
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  • Lingesan08
  • Do Gooder (Partner)
  • Answer
  • March 31, 2026

Hi ​@Bright Zhao ,

A common IFS setup is:

  • Department = workshop/area, such as Die Casting, CNC, Assembly
  • Production Line = sub-flow inside the department
  • Work Center = machine group used in routing/planning
  • Resource = each physical machine

For your Brother TC-32B example, normally create 1 work center for Brother TC-32B and then create 15 resources, one for each machine. Do the same for Mazak and Auto Washing.

Capacity and scheduling are mainly driven by routing operation times, work center, resources, calendars, and efficiencies. Department and Production Line are more for structure/reporting.

Basic logic:

  • Available Capacity = working hours × number of resources × efficiency
  • Required Capacity = setup time + (run time per unit × quantity)
Lingesan R , www.linkedin.com/in/lingesanr86
B
Sidekick
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  • Bright Zhao
  • Author
  • Sidekick
  • March 31, 2026

Thanks a lot! Now I know how to map physical thing to IFS.

See your formula about Available Capacity , I have a question. Does it mean I have to create all resource in IFS if I want calculate available capacity or I want running MRP, schdule production plan?

L
Do Gooder (Partner)
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  • Lingesan08
  • Do Gooder (Partner)
  • March 31, 2026

You don’t need to create all physical resources

  But you must create enough resources to:

  • Reflect real capacity
  • Enable realistic scheduling
  • Support MRP/CRP
Lingesan R , www.linkedin.com/in/lingesanr86
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