Methods to assign parts to operations

Once a process revision contains an assembly and a process flow, you can assign parts to operations in the NPI Process Definition window. The process of assigning parts to operations tells FactoryLogix the specific parts that will be populated by operations in the overall process.

There are multiple ways to assign parts to operations:

• The ECAD View lets you visually select parts from the ECAD.
• The BOM View lets you select specific parts to assign from the bill of materials by Part Number or by Line Item.
• In the Inherit Operations View part assignments can be inherited from other part assignments already made. For example, surface mount parts assigned to placement equipment can be inherited automatically by an inspection operation through part inheritance. This way, you don't have to assign parts to multiple operations manually.

• Assign parts to operations automatically using the  Auto Route Materials global option.

Assign parts to operations in the BOM view

You can select parts from the BOM list and assign them to operations on the right side of the window. You can select individual references designators or entire line items using this method.

Assign parts to operations in the ECAD view

1. Select Part Assignments in the Process tree. If there is an ECAD present, the Part Assignments tool defaults to the graphical ECAD view as shown in the following illustration.
   
   Parts shown in Red are currently not assigned to an operation. This view allows process engineers to quickly see which parts still need to be assigned and ensure that all parts are populated correctly.
   
   
   
   
2. Select parts using one of the selection tools on the toolbar. (Selected parts are indicated by a light blue outline.)
   
   
3. Select an operation in the tree view on the right side of the window, then select the Assign to Operation button. (The assigned parts are displayed in Yellow.)
   
   

Assign parts to operations in the Inherit Operations view

Part assignments can be inherited from other operations. For example, parts assigned to be placed by a surface mount pick and place machine may also be assigned to an Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) machine. Instead of manually assigning parts to both operations, an inheritance can be added to the AOI to automatically inherit the part assignments from the pick and place machine.

1. To add an inheritance, select the Inherit Operations tab at the top of the Part Assignments area.
2. Select the operation that will inherit assignments, then select the Add Inheritance button.
   
   A list of potential operations is displayed.
   
   
3. Select the operation from which the parts should be inherited, then select OK.

Assign parts to operations using Auto Route Materials global option

Auto-Route Materials (global option) assigns parts to operations automatically based on the resource types assigned to the part numbers and the supported resource types assigned to the operations in the process flow.

• Part Numbers in the Part Library may have one or more assigned resource types
• Operations in process flows may have one or more supported resource types
• The Auto Route Materials global option controls the automation

Once a BOM is published in FactoryLogix, the system will automatically assign all parts with resource types defined to the first operation that supports the defined resource type.

FactoryLogix also takes the Operation Locator Mode (Basics tab of the New Operation dialog in NPI) into account at the operation level to distribute top-side parts to the top side operations and bottom side parts to the bottom side operations.