What's new in Teamcenter Manufacturing with Easy Plan

By Koushik Kasturi

The latest version of Teamcenter Manufacturing with Easy Plan is here, offering a host of powerful enhancements designed to elevate your manufacturing process planning operations. With improved integration, intuitive usability, and greater flexibility and user control, this release empowers manufacturing engineers and planners to streamline workflows, foster collaboration, and optimize production planning through a task-based, intuitive user experience.

Teamcenter Manufacturing with Easy Plan is delivered your way – whether on the desktop, on the cloud, or via SaaS. This release brings new updates and enhancements to optimize workflows across BOM management, process planning, and body-in-white supplier collaboration. In this blog, we’ll explore how these updates can elevate your manufacturing efficiency and collaboration.

What’s new in BOM management

The latest release introduces enhancements to Manufacturing BOM (MBOM) authoring and management, empowering manufacturing engineers like you, to work smarter in managing your manufacturing process planning. Here are the highlights of some of the key enhancements:

Improved Change Management: Streamlines control over changes by supporting change request artifacts.
Merging and Splitting ECNs: Provides flexibility for manufacturing engineers to merge or split engineering change notices, facilitating the release of manufacturing changes at specific milestones.
Create Plant-Specific BOM: Tailor BOM views for individual plants, addressing plant-specific needs without affecting others.
Discontinue Part in Specific Plant BOM: Remove parts or assemblies from a plant’s BOM without impacting other plants, ensuring precise changes.

Calculating Manufacturing Impact of ECN for Work Packages

Manufacturing engineers can now swiftly assess the impact of engineering changes on work packages with the latest update. By utilizing the ‘Manufacturing Impact’ feature in the EBOM, impacted work packages are automatically identified, even at the sub-assembly level. This enhancement enables faster identification of affected work packages for both single product structures and sub-assemblies, streamlining product change management and ensuring accurate, timely updates throughout the manufacturing process.

Support Change Request in MBOM

Initiating and managing manufacturing-specific changes in the MBOM is now more efficient with the latest enhancement. You can create a Change Request (CR) to propose updates, identify problem and impacted items, and seamlessly derive a Manufacturing Change Notice (MCN) that automatically includes these details. The intuitive Change Summary Panel (CSP) makes it easier to navigate the MBOM in the context of an active MCN, highlighting problem and impacted items for quick identification and precise alignment. This enhancement simplifies change management, ensures clarity, and accelerates the implementation of manufacturing modifications.

Merging of changes from multiple ECNs into one MCN

Consolidation of multiple Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) into a single Manufacturing Change Notice (MCN) is now more seamless and efficient than ever. This enhancement allows you to merge changes from various ECNs and Change Requests (CRs) into one MCN, simplifying the change management process. The new Change Summary Panel (CSP) offers intuitive navigation to assess the impact of these changes across the MBOM. With the ability to switch between connected ECNs or CRs, you can easily view detailed information and track changes in the MBOM under the same MCN, improving efficiency and streamlining modification tracking.

Splitting of changes from one ECN to multiple MCNs

Divide changes from a single Engineering Change Notice (ECN) into multiple Manufacturing Change Notices (MCNs) with ease. The Change Summary Panel (CSP) provides increased flexibility and user control, allowing you to select and move changes, either linking them to an existing MCN or creating a new one. This capability helps manufacturing engineers efficiently manage complex changes and align EBOM and MBOM more effectively.

What’s new in Enterprise Integrated MBOM

Create Plant specific BOM

Creating plant-specific BOM views is a new functionality designed to enhance productivity across multiple plants. Plant Managers can now define plant locations and set revision rules tailored to each plant, while Manufacturing Engineers can generate, validate, and release plant-specific BOMs with effectivities. This functionality maximizes data reuse and offers the flexibility to customize BOMs to meet the unique requirements of each plant.

Discontinue part in specific Plant BOM

Discontinuing parts or assemblies in a specific plant’s BOM is now easier, allowing you to remove parts from one plant’s BOM without affecting others. With plant-specific effectivity, you can customize BOM views for each plant while ensuring consistency across the entire system. These changes are tracked through Manufacturing Change Notices (MCNs), providing clear and accurate updates.

Basic restructuring support in Plant BOM

Plant-specific assemblies can now be created by combining and splitting engineering assemblies within the Plant BOM. Plant Engineers can add new assemblies, move parts, and maintain 3D positions without affecting other plants. Restructuring indications highlight partially restructured assemblies, and once fully completed, the engineering assembly is automatically removed, streamlining assembly management and improving efficiency.

What’s new in Process Planning

The latest release brings significant updates to process plan authoring, enabling you to work smarter and innovate faster when managing manufacturing process planning data. Key enhancements include:

Visual indicators for cloned structures and alternative configurations, improving visibility and clarity in your process plans.
Support for multiple configurator contexts across different structures in the work package, offering greater flexibility.
Ability to calculate filtered effectivity, enhancing downstream integration and streamlining your planning process.
Directly assign resources to process stations for smoother, more efficient planning.
Easily switch between views of process resources and stations, improving flexibility and clarity.
Access detailed DCDs for process stations, ensuring greater accuracy and precision in planning.
Conduct selective time studies on specific resources, enabling optimized performance and resource utilization.
Plan for mixed production scenarios with new capabilities that offer increased flexibility and adaptability.
Leverage object-based reporting for targeted, actionable insights that drive informed decision-making.
Integrate effortlessly with Teamcenter Visualization Desktop, providing seamless access to the Bill of Process for improved workflow management.
Benefit from user-specific change notice tracking, offering tailored visibility and enhanced user experience.

Show Clone Indications (Classic BOP)

Clone indications in the latest update allow you to easily identify cloned operations and processes within the BOP. With a simple click, you can quickly access information about the parent and clones, as well as track them across multiple work packages. This feature enhances visibility and control, streamlining your process planning and improving accuracy throughout your manufacturing workflows.

Propagate mismatches to cloned processes & operations (Classic BOP)

Cloned operations and processes can now be seamlessly aligned with the master BOP to expedite change management. Any mismatches from the master operation or process are automatically propagated to the related clones, ensuring consistency across work packages. With changes propagated by default in asynchronous mode, you have full control over whether clones can be modified directly or only updated through propagation from the master, providing greater flexibility in managing revisions.

Alternatives – Compare & propagate for Plant BOP

With the new accountability check capability, you can effortlessly align the Plant BOP Master and Alternative. This enhancement enables you to identify and analyze mismatches between the two, using the accountability check for a comprehensive comparison. Mismatch details are displayed clearly, allowing you to seamlessly propagate changes to the target Plant BOP. By default, the comparison is executed using the ‘Easy Plan Default’ setting, and this feature is available exclusively to Plant BOP users, streamlining your process for greater accuracy and efficiency.

Alternatives – Clone Plant when creating Plant BOP Alternative

Reuse of the Plant BOE during alternative Plant BOP creation has been significantly improved with the latest update. Users can now clone the full or partial Plant bill of equipment (BOE) based on the selected cloning rule, providing greater flexibility in creating alternatives. Furthermore, the ability to create partial alternatives is now accessible from the High-Level Planning and Process Planning pages, in addition to the Line Balancing page, streamlining the process further.

Configure all structures in a Work Package

The new “Configure All” command has been introduced as part of the update to simplify the configuration of multiple Plant BOP structures. Users can apply a saved Variant Rule across all structures within the same configuration context, including EBOM, MBOM, and Plant BOP, in a single action. By eliminating repetitive configuration steps, it enhances efficiency and ensures consistency across connected structures.

Support Multiple Configurator Contexts on different structures

Work package configuration now offers increased flexibility and customization with the latest update. Configure multiple contexts for structures in work packages, allowing users to associate distinct configurator contexts with each structure, such as MBOM and BOP. By enabling configurations based on features and variants, including non-product-specific factors like plants or shifts, planners can ensure precise alignment with manufacturing needs.

Net Effectivity Filtered support (Classic BOP)

The latest update introduces a new property called ‘Unit Net Filtered Effectivity,’ which calculates BOP effectivity by factoring in both the effectivity of BOM assignments and the BOP itself. Previously, BOP effectivity might not have fully accounted for the specific timing or scope of the BOM assignments, but now, both are considered together for more accurate results. This feature calculates and displays the effectivity for BOP objects, such as Operations, based on the overlap between the BOM’s Unit Net Effectivity and the BOP’s own effectivity. For example, if the BOM assignments for a BOP operation have a Unit Net Effectivity of 10-30 and the BOP operation’s effectivity is 20-40, the ‘Unit Net Filtered Effectivity’ will be calculated as 20-30, ensuring more precise alignment between BOM and BOP data.

Assign resource to Process Station

Assigning resources to a wider variety of BOP objects now offers greater flexibility than ever before. In addition to operations, processes, and process resources, you can now assign them directly to Process Stations. Using the drag-and-drop or copy-paste functionality, resources can be quickly assigned from the Resource tree or Manufacturing Resource Library (MRL) to Process Stations, streamlining resource management and adapting to dynamic planning needs.

Change views from Process Resources view to Station view

A new usability enhancement allows you to hide resources as needed, offering greater control and clarity during the process planning task. You now have the option to hide Process Resources in the BOP tree and choose whether to display them within a station. When creating new operations or re-sequencing existing ones, they will automatically be positioned in the correct station order but remain unassigned. This feature enables you, as a manufacturing engineer, to customize your view and focus on the most relevant information.

Supporting DCDs for Process Station

Defining Data Collection Definitions (DCDs) on Process Stations is now possible, offering greater control over station verification. You can create DCDs directly at Process Stations, ensuring the completeness and accuracy of each station’s setup and enhancing overall process reliability.

Time Study for selective Process Resources

Resource utilization analysis has been significantly enhanced. You can now define optional plans for selective Process Resources through time studies, considering product variants and production rates to assess efficiency across lines and areas.

If the time study suggests a more effective plan, it can be published back to the Plant BOP, ensuring the most efficient process is adopted. This approach optimizes resource utilization by evaluating multiple plans for the same resource, driving improvements in overall production efficiency.

Mixed production

The latest enhancement in Easy Plan combines EBOM, MBOM, and Product BOP into a single Product Group, enabling the assembly of multiple products on a single production line. Planners can now use a mixed production work package to balance and mature the process plan, considering all relevant product groups. With special permissions, you can define which Product Groups can be planned, ensuring the right products are assigned to the right production lines. This feature is especially beneficial for industries like automotive, where multiple products are assembled concurrently.

Object based reports

You can now generate reports based on object types or specific selections, offering more flexibility than traditional scope-based reports. Simply select an object in Process Planning or on the Work Instructions page to access the relevant reports.

Reports can also be generated in the background using the “Create in Background” command, improving efficiency. Note: To use this feature, the environment must have the Dispatcher installed with “Asynchronous” mode enabled.

For example, selecting an Operation will provide options for an Operation report or an Excel report, while selecting a Process Station will present Station, Material, and Excel reports.

Teamcenter Visualization desktop

The latest enhancement allows users to view and access the BOP across systems and digital twins. The full or partial BOP can now be opened in Teamcenter Visualization Desktop to review and analyze the manufacturing plan. This feature is available from the High-Level Planning page and, for Plant BOP users, on the “Compare Alternatives” page.

Tracking change notices displayed as per logged in user

Notable usability enhancements have been made for tracking change notices. The latest update introduces a pre-filtered list that displays only the change notices in which the logged-in user is a participant, along with those in the ‘open’ or ‘executing’ state. This filtering logic is consistently applied across all menus related to selecting and tracking change notices. Available to MBOM and BOP users, the feature boosts efficiency by ensuring that only the most relevant change notices are displayed, simplifying and streamlining the tracking process.

What’s new in Work Instruction Authoring

This latest version of Easy Plan streamlines work instruction authoring, enabling users to create more detailed and precise instructions, which enhances manufacturing efficiency and clarity.

Include DCD’s while authoring work instructions

Work instruction authoring is now faster and smarter with the use of DCDs. By typing ‘||’ in the editor, a list of available Data Collection Definitions (DCDs) is displayed for easy selection. Additionally, you can create new DCDs on the fly using the ‘Create New’ command, simplifying the authoring process.

Sequence DCDs

Define and reorganize Data Collection Definitions (DCDs) effortlessly to optimize workflow and minimize downtime on the shop floor. The latest usability enhancement enables quick definition and reordering of DCDs using a simple cut-and-paste functionality. By displaying DCDs in a specific order, you can streamline task execution, ensuring that important information is efficiently passed to the planner, and minimizing time spent on manual adjustments.

What’s new in Line Balancing

The latest line balancing enhancements offer significant improvements to production program management. You can now:

Create and modify the Production Program Structure directly within the Production Program Page.
Calculate Takt time based on the Production Program definition for more accurate scheduling.
Export reports for individual product variants for detailed production analysis.
Remove Maximum and Weighted Product Variants from the Line Balancing dropdown list for a streamlined interface.
Perform time calculations for half-operator capacity to better manage resource allocation.
Add Cobots to the Process Resource types, enhancing flexibility and automation in production processes.
Control the appearance and order of chips in the Line Balancing dashboard for improved usability.
Manage resources more effectively with the addition of a new Resource tab in the Line Balancing overview.
Analyze bottleneck times to identify inefficiencies and optimize processes.
Ensure better process efficiency and alignment with production goals using the new cycle check feature.

Create & modify Production Program Structure in Production Program Page

Manufacturing engineers like you can now tackle more complex production scenarios with enhanced line balancing capabilities. With the latest update, you can define multiple production program definitions, set TAKT times for each, and assign model mixtures (SVRs) as product variants. Additionally, SVRs can now be filtered based on effectivity and variants, providing greater flexibility in managing production processes.

Takt time calculation based on Production program definition

Takt time can now be specified within the Production Program Definition, offering greater flexibility in managing production schedules. This update allows you to assign unique takt times for each production program, automatically adjusting the takt time based on the selected Product Variant, making it easier to manage different production scenarios. If no specific takt time is defined, Easy Plan will default to the line’s standard takt time.

Export report per Product variant

Export reports tailored to the selected Product Variant directly from the Process Planning or Line Balancing tasks. This enhancement allows you to generate reports in Excel or PDF formats, maintaining the same stylesheet format as in the rich client. Starting with Active Workspace 24.12, you can export the selected product variant as a report.

Remove Maximum and Weighed Product Variants from the dropdown list

The latest usability enhancement offers greater customization by allowing you to hide specific values from the Product Variant Line Balancing list. You can now remove Maximum and/or Weighted Product Variants. This functionality is easily controlled through a preference, giving you the flexibility to tailor the Line Balancing Product Variant list to better suit your needs.

Time calculation for a half operator capacity

Work smarter in Line Balancing with a new capability that allows you to set operator capacity for working time. Once defined, the operator’s working time is automatically calculated by multiplying the takt time by the specified capacity. This feature can be applied across all Process Resource types, including Human, Cobot, and Machine, with capacity values pre-defined in the TC server. To enable it, an admin must add the required capacity values to a preference.

Add a Cobot to Process Resource types

Cobots are introduced as a new Process Resource type in your workflow. Designed to work alongside humans, cobots provide the same capabilities as Operators, making them perfect for tasks in both Line Balancing and Process Planning. With advanced sensors and software, cobots can safely interact with people and adapt to dynamic environments, ultimately enhancing your line balancing capabilities.

Control the appearance and order of chips in Line Balancing dashboard

Line Balancing dashboard now offers enhanced flexibility, allowing you to select which chips to display and customize their order based on preference values. This update gives you greater control over the presentation of key metrics such as line takt time, cycle time, total wait time, and unassigned time. With dynamic updates, any changes in Line Balancing are instantly reflected, ensuring real-time accuracy and improving your workflow efficiency.

Line Balancing overview – Adding a Resource tab

All Process Resources in the line can now be easily viewed through the latest Process Resources overview tab. This enhancement allows you to see each resource’s working and waiting times displayed as bars, providing greater clarity and insight. Shared and half Process Resources are clearly marked with unique symbols, enhancing visibility and enabling more informed decision-making to optimize your production line.

Line Balancing bottleneck time

Line balancing is now more flexible with the latest update, allowing you to focus on the busiest station or Process Resource to optimize production. You can choose to base your calculations on bottleneck time instead of line takt time, offering a more precise representation of your production flow. By switching to bottleneck time mode, all calculations, such as working time and available time, will be based on the bottleneck, providing a more accurate view of your production line’s performance.

Cycle check

The latest version of Easy Plan simplifies the identification and resolution of cyclic issues in process plans. You can now load plans with cycles, automatically detect cyclic flows, and receive prompts for the involved operations and stations. By supporting multiple cycles and displaying data based on sequence, Easy Plan quickly addresses cycle-related challenges, improving efficiency.

What’s new in Body in White (BiW) Planning

The latest updates to Body in White capabilities enhance both simulation and alternative management:

Study Manager: Now allows loading studies configured by variants into Process Simulate, providing greater flexibility in planning.
Alternative Management Expansion: Accounts for and propagates Global Mount and Attach changes across Robot Packages, ensuring improved synchronization and accuracy in planning.

Study Manager – Load a configured by variants Study to Process Simulate

Study Manager now empowers simulation engineers to seamlessly work with configured data in Process Simulate by applying Product Configurator Variant Rules. This new feature eliminates the need for MPP and simplifies the process, allowing engineers to apply variant rules directly from a single field in Study Manager. With this update, all studies within the collaborative context are automatically configured to the selected rule, enhancing simulation workflows and boosting productivity.

Alternative management – account and propagate Global Mount and Attach changes of Robot Packages

Alternative management has been enhanced to support the identification and propagation of Global Mount and Attach modifications. Now, you can easily propagate changes to the master BOE structure, reducing redundant work and fostering better collaboration between applications. This update also allows for more granular reuse of Robot packages, streamlining processes and increasing efficiency.

Learn more

Explore Teamcenter Easy Plan, a task-oriented web solution designed to simplify manufacturing process planning. Leverage a comprehensive suite of intuitive, web-based tools to efficiently create and manage the Manufacturing Bill of Materials (MBOM) and the Bill of Process (BOP), ensuring seamless integration and enhanced productivity in your manufacturing workflows.

Try Teamcenter Easy Plan today, with a free-30 day software trial.