Creating a custom process
Custom processes provide a way to represent and account for extra processing that isn’t included in a VPE’s predefined routings. You can create a custom process, supply inputs via process setup options, and drag the custom process into a routing.
To create a custom process:
1 In the Manufacturing Process pane, Select Routing Selection… from the Edit menu. The Routing Selection editor appears.
2 In the Routing Selection editor, select Create Custom Process… from the Edit menu.
The Custom Process/Operation window appears.
3 In the Name field, enter a name for your custom process.
4 Enter General Inputs:
• Capital Investment Cost
• Margin Percent
5 Choose a Model Type (see below).
6 Enter the remaining inputs that are relevant to the Model Type you chose.
There are two general categories of model type:
• Cycle-time-based model types:
o Cycle Time
o Cycle Time Per Length
o Cycle Time Per Each
• Cost-based model types:
o Cost Per Surface Area
o Cost Per Mass
o Cost Per Length
o Cost Per Each
For all cycle-time-based models, you enter the following:
• Labor Time (if you want to override labor time as calculated from cycle time—see below)
• Number of operators
• Batch setup time
• Labor rate
• Overhead information (either overhead rates or machine and workcenter information for bottom-up overhead-rate calculation)
You also enter the following model-type-specific information:
• Cycle Time model:
o Cycle Time: enter the total cycle time required for a part.
• Cycle Time Per Length model:
o Cycle Time Per Length: enter a time per unit length.
o Length: enter the length that should drive cycle time, or else specify that it should be driven by the part length.
• Cycle Time Per Each model:
o Cycle Time Per Occurrence: enter the cycle time per feature, for some cost-driving feature of parts, or enter the cycle time per item or operation for some item or operation associated with part manufacture.
o Number of Occurrences: enter the number of occurrences of the feature, item, or operation for a single part.
For cost-based models, you enter the following model-type-specific information:
• Cost Per Surface Area model:
o Surface Area: enter a surface area or specify that the model should use the part’s surface area.
o Surface Area Affected: enter the percentage of the specified surface area that should drive the cost of the part.
o Surface Area Rate: enter a cost per unit area.
• Cost Per Mass model:
o Part Mass: enter a mass or specify that the model should use the part’s mass.
o Mass Affected: enter the percentage of the specified mass that should drive the cost of the part.
o Mass Rate: enter a cost per unit mass.
• Cost Per Length model:
o Length: enter a length or specify that the model should use the part’s length.
o Length Affected: enter the percentage of the specified length that should drive the cost of the part.
o Length Rate: enter a cost per unit length.
• Cost Per Each model:
o Cost Per Occurrence: enter the cost per feature, for some cost-driving feature of parts, or enter the cycle time per item or operation for some item or operation associated with part manufacture.
o Number of Occurrences: enter the number of occurrences of the feature, item, or operation for a single part.
Cycle-time-based models calculate overhead costs and rates as described in the Cost Model Guide chapter Direct and Indirect Overhead. They also use standard formulas for labor and batch setup costs per part:
Labor Cost = (Cycle Time * Number of Operators * Labor Rate) / Final Yield
Amortized Batch Setup =
(Batch Setup Time * (Labor Rate + Direct Overhead Rate)) / Batch Size
Labor Time Standard for the custom process is assumed to be 1. Labor handling time is assumed to be 0.
Yields are calculated as described for the current process group in the Cost Model Guide. Good Part Yield for the custom process is assumed to be 1.
Cost-based models categorize costs (excluding capital investment and margin) under Additional Direct Costs .
To include the custom process in a routing, simply drag it and drop it into the desired routing sequence. After it is included in the routing, you can modify the definition or inputs to the custom process by right-clicking the node in the routing editor and selecting Process Setup Options.
Note that custom processes created within one scenario are not available for reuse in other parts.