The Scheduling system in Virtual Office begins with defining Line Types and configuring Job Types. A Line Type serves as the parent category for production lines within your facility. Each Line Type can contain multiple Lines, which must be created before scheduling can occur. We will create and setup the Lines after this initial setup.
For example, a Line Type called Stick Packs may include two separate Lines representing two individual stick pack machines. Once Line Types and Job Types are setup and sequenced, Lines can be created. The final step is Scheduling BPR’s for production so they can then be applied to the Calendar. Learn how to schedule your BRP’s here.
Initial Scheduling System Setup
Line Types, Setup for Job Types, and Lines typically only require one-time setup, though they can be edited or expanded as needed. These items can be named or renamed as you see fit. However, the system will initially include Line Types for Dispensing, Mixing and Packing.
- Line Type creations
- Setup Jobs
- Lines creations
Virtual Office System Location/Navigation:
Scheduling > Line Types
Grid Action Buttons
Add Type – Create a new Line Type.
Edit Type – Edit an existing Line Type entry.
Setup Jobs – Define the order of Line Types for each Job Type.
Column Visibility – Customize which columns are visible in the grid (preferences saved per user/browser).
Excel – Export current grid data to Excel.
Adding or Editing Line Types
When creating or editing a Line Type:
- Provide a name.
- Set the status (active/inactive).
- Save changes.
Step by Step Process: This page will display a grid that will contain all of the Line Types created in your system. By default the Virtual Office system will automatically include the Dispensing, Mixing and Packaging Line Type grid entries. You can add more Line Types to the system by clicking the “Add Type” action button at the top of the grid. Adding and Editing Line Types is fairly simple and only allows for name and status designation. Give your new Line Type a name and click the save button.
Setting Up Jobs
Jobs determine the order of Line Types in production workflows.
- Select Setup Jobs from the grid.
- In the pop-up window, choose a Job Type (e.g., Powder).
- Add, reorder, or remove Line Types as needed:
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- Add Line – Select from the dropdown, then click Add.
- Reorder – Drag and drop entries using the handle on the left.
- Remove – Click Remove for unwanted entries.
The sequence of Line Types directly impacts the production order, so ensure that the workflow matches operational requirements (generally Dispensing, then Mixing and finally Packaging). Once configured, click Save. Repeat this process for all Job Types in the system. Below, we will run through this process step by step.
Step by Step Process: The next step in this initial process is to Setup Jobs for each Line Type. These can always be revisited for editing or rearranging in the future but will generally only need to be addressed once for each Job Type available in your system. Click the “Setup Jobs” action button at the top of the grid to begin this process. Within the new pop-up window, seen below, click the Job Type input to select from the job types available in your system. In this example we will start with a Powder Job Type.
Within the Setup Jobs window you can add lines, re-order lines and remove lines. The initial Dispensing, Mixing and Packaging Line Types are already present in each Job Type. Be mindful that order/sequence of these entries are relevant to the order in which they need to happen during production. You can re-order the entries by clicking and dragging via the 3 vertical lines icon located on the far left of each entry. You can also remove individual entries by clicking their “Remove” button.
Custom Line Type Example:
We have created a unique Mixing Line Type called Auger Mixers. This new Line Type will need to be added and sequenced into our Powder Job Type.
Within the Line Types window we clicked the Setup Jobs action button and then selected the Powder Job Type from the first input dropdown. We then clicked the Line Type input to select our custom Line Type “Auger Mixers” from the drop down options and then clicked the green “Add Line” button. This will immediately add the Line Type to the listed entries. We then re-ordered the list by clicking and dragging via the 3 vertical lines icon on the left of the entry. Next, we clicked the “Remove” button for the “Mixing” Line Type that we are replacing with our custom Line Type. Click the blue “Save” button in the bottom of the window when you have completed the Setup for this Job Type. See example image below – click to enlarge.
You can follow this same process until you have completed Setup for all Jobs Types available in your system.
