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Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Small and medium business | Business Central, N... / Work Center Capacity. ...
Small and medium business | Business Central, N...
Answered

Work Center Capacity. How do I measure it?

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Posted on by Martindc 15

Hi all,
How to measure information from the production floor and convert it into data that I can upload into NAV? I want to get a clipboard, go to the production floor and start gathering info, but unsure what questions/ what to look for. 

I work in a steel vessel manufacturing company. Many areas on the floor, but as an example I can say we have 3. Cutting, Welding, Painting. 

Cutting has 5 cutting machines, 2 operators. 1 shift.

Welding has 1 welder, 1 operator. 2 shifts.

Painting has 1 painting area, 1 painter, 1/2 shift.

Is this sufficient info to set up the work centers?  I imagine there should be 3 work centers, but I don't understand how to calculate the Scheduling\Capacity. I have read most times it should be 1.

What does the Consolidated Calendar option mean? 

Thanks.

I have the same question (0)
  • makdaddy8888 Profile Picture
    makdaddy8888 60 on at

    Hello MartinDC

    This is a very long conversation. I highly recommend spending 20 minutes reading this Design Details - Planning Parameters - Business Central | Microsoft Docs

  • Verified answer
    Ben Baxter Profile Picture
    Ben Baxter 6,620 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

    Yes, you should setup 3 Work Centers.  You probably want to use Machine Centers in your Cutting Work Center.  Some people setup Operators in the WC, others in their own WC depending on if they can work other machines.

    If you are not assigning the Operators in your Routing, there is no point in setting them up as WCs or MCs.

    Calculate the Capacity on the Machine Centers first.

    Then go to your Work Centers.  If there are MCs established for the WC, then use Consolidated Calendar, which rolls up the capacity calculated for the Machine Centers.  If the WC is by itself and represents a single piece of equipment, the capacity should be 1 and do not use Consolidated Calendar.  Once you have this set properly calculate the Capacity for the Work Centers.

    If you are not using Machine Centers then the WC capacity should be set equal to the number of machines available in it, even if you aren't using MCs to track the individual machines.  Again, Consolidated Capacity should be off when not using Machine Centers in the WC.  When you calculate Capacity it will use the Capacity number to account for more Machines even though they aren't uniquely identified.

    All that being said, this establishes the available capacity for the WCs and MCs, which is required to start creating Production Orders with Routings.  Capturing actual time, if you are interested in doing so, is a whole different discussion.

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