Automatic Scheduling
The visual processor relies on the tasks triggered by the Processor task manager . It automatically schedules these tasks in a calendar. Upon opening, all tasks that have not been scheduled will automatically be placed in the calendar according to their due date.

Note: This calendar only displays department and/or workshops, unlike the short-term calendar which is based on stations (see Short-term calendar )

Schedule Editing
Like the simulations of other calendars, the visual processor allows jobs to be edited and moved.

Note: the modification is done directly in the window, without having to go through a simulation. Once the changes have been made, however, it is necessary to save the new schedule. An automatic refresh will then be performed to ensure that all users have the latest up-to-date data and therefore tackle the right priority.

Sequence

Workflows also have a sequence to ensure consistency in the production process.

For example, it might be impossible to package a product if it has not been painted beforehand.

We can therefore see with the attached example that several tasks are dependent on each other. The doors must be painted before assembling them, but the assembly and special assembly can be done at the same time. This sequence is therefore used when moving the stick in order to validate that the action performed by the user respects the established sequences.

This functionality also allows that when moving the head of the sequence (ex. CNC), the rest of the tasks will move according to that flow.

Resource management
Resource management is also different, since it is not possible to divide a workshop into a station.

Instead, you can come and specify the number of resources available for a workshop/department within the schedules.

This number of resources will impact the job length in the calendar.

Eg: If a task takes 60 minutes from a resource, but 2 people are available in the determined time slot, the job will reduce its time by half and display a duration of 30 minutes.

Note: It is also possible to modify the number of resources for a specific job, by right-clicking on it and clicking on “Modify resources task”.

Additional functionalities

Punch and task status
It is possible to see if a task has not started, is in progress or completed. You can easily validate the status of punches by checking the color of the title section of your job. As in the task processor, the green color means the task is currently being worked on (open punch). The orange color means that the job has started, but no one’s currently working on it (punches closed). The percentage displayed on the task represents its completion rate. In the case of a job exceeding the budgeted time/minutes, the percentage will remain at 90% until the task is completed.

Flagging a modification on a task schedule
When a task changes its due date following a change to its influence date, a flag at the bottom left of the job is displayed. It serves to draw attention to the task that has undergone a change of schedule. A modification of the job (or a simple click on it) allows you to remove the icon.

Task lock
It is also possible to lock certain tasks in the visual processor. These locks are useful when you want to block the planning of certain workshops at a specific time slot, even if the influence date (work order due date or installation date) changes. If necessary, all the tasks will move according to the new date, but the locked task will remain on its initial date, as well as all subsequent and dependant tasks, based on the workflow.

To add a lock, just use the right click or open the task and check ‘'lock the movement of the task and its sequence”. A permission is required to add or remove a lock from a task.

Task location
It is also possible to quickly find a task in the calendar with the “Locate” button. It also allows you to navigate through the different tasks of the same work order.

Sequence of workshop/department display
It is possible to display workshops and departments in your calendar according to a desired order. To do this, you can go to the workshop/department file (Planning > Maintenance > Workshops/Departments) and a Sequence field will be available. The workshops will always be scheduled before the departments.

Resource View Selection
It is possible to choose the workshops and departments you want to display. To do this, you can choose them from the “Gear” button of the visual processor.
These views are customized by user. It is therefore possible to have several screens opened on the visual processor, but with specific displays (eg: In the assembly section, only the station preceding the assembly and the assembly is displayed).