Define Activity Type

Explanation

This activity is used to define activity types for Scheduling. To do this, the work types defined in IFS/Service and Maintenance/Basic Data/Work Order and PM Basic Data should be set up as scheduling activity types. The following scheduling information can be defined per activity type:

• A scheduling value per hour. This value will be used in the activity base value calculation, i.e., the base value per hour will be multiplied by the default duration and any relevant weightings, to set the base value for the activity. Note: If the base value is set to zero, work tasks defined with the work type will not be scheduled in the Scheduling Engine.
• An Initial base value. If the initial base value is provided for an Activity Type this value will be added to set the total base value for the activity. The total base value will then be calculated as ((Initial Base Value + (Base Value per Hour)) multiplied by the activity duration) multiplied by any relevant weihtings. It is optional to define an Initial Base Value for an Activity Type.
• A default buffer time in hours and/or as a percentage. The default buffer time is added to the execution time when calculating the available time window, for work tasks for which a latest finish, SLA latest finish or planned finish date is specified. The buffer time is calculated to the highest value of the buffer time or buffer percentage multiplied by the work task duration.
• The duration in hours for the default primary scheduling type and/or default secondary scheduling type for the work tasks defined with the work type. If a work task is missing the primary or secondary scheduling type, the default primary or secondary scheduling type which is defined per dataset will be assigned to the work task. For such work tasks, or when the scheduling type duration cannot be calculated from the current work task dates, the duration entered for the default primary scheduling type or the default secondary scheduling type will be used to calculate the duration of the primary or secondary scheduling SLA window.
• The Availabilities defined in Scheduling Basic Data/Appointment can be connected to a work type, so that the default data required in Appointment booking functionality is taken from this Availability.
• The default setting for the Allow Multiple Visits field that will be defaulted on the Work Task for the defined Activity Type. If this checkbox is selected, the Activities with this Activity type should be allowed to be split into multiple visits. If the activity spans over a longer duration it can be split up between break-type activities and shifts in the resource schedule.
• The Display Color setting is used to set specific colors for different activity types and to be able to distinguish the different activty types in the Scheduling Workbench by color. To use this it is required to select the option Colour activities by.. Activity type in the Scheduling Workbench - Workspace.

Prerequisites

• The company must have been set up in IFS/Enterprise.
• Work types must have been defined in the Work Order and PM Basic Data/Work Types tab.

System Effects

As a result of this activity, the activity types which are to be scheduled are defined.

Window

Scheduling Basic Data

Related Window Descriptions

Scheduling Basic Data
Scheduling Basic Data/Work Task
Scheduling Basic Data/Work Task/Activity Type

Procedure

1. Open the Scheduling Basic Data window.
2. Click the Work Task tab and then click the Activity Type sub tab.
3. Verify that the correct company is in use. If not, right-click and click Change Company to change the company.
4. Create a new record (F5).
5. In the Work Type field, enter the work type that is to be used as an activity type. Use the List of Values to select a valid value.
6. In the Base Value per Hour field, enter the scheduling value for the activity. If a value is not entered in the field, when saving, 1000 is entered by default.
7. In the Buffer Time (Hours) field, enter the default buffer time in hours. Entering a value in this field is optional.
8. In the Buffer Time (%) field, enter the default buffer time as a percentage. Entering a value in this field is optional.
9. In the Scheduling Type (Primary) Duration Hours field, enter the duration in hours for the default primary scheduling type.
10. In the Scheduling Type (Secondary) Duration Hours field, enter the duration in hours for the default secondary scheduling type.
11. In the Availability field, enter an Availability id already defined in Scheduling Basic Data/Appointment. Entering a value in this field is mandatory.
12. In the Displaceable Until Days field, enter the number of days prior to the Primary Scheduling Type End where the Work Task activity may be displaced by Appointments.
    (E.g. If Displaceable Until Days has been set to 20 days, then the Work Task activity may be displaced until 20 days are remaining to the Primary Scheduling Type End. If Displaceable Until Days has not been set the Work Task will not be displaced.)
13. In the Allow Multiple Visits field select if Activities with this Activity type should be allowed to be split into multiple visits. If the activity spans over a longer duration it can be split up between break-type activities and shifts in the resource schedule.
14. In the Min. Visit Duration (Hours) field enter the minimum duration that a scheduled visit is allowed to have. If the value is set to 1 hour the visits scheduled by PSO cannot be less in duration than 1 hour. It is recommended to set this to a value greater than 0. This is only tvalid if Allow Multiple Visits is set as true for the activity type.
15. In the Scheduling Cost of Split field enter the cost applied by the scheduling engine when splitting an activity into two visits. Each split of an activity will get this cost applied. This is only valid if Allow Multiple Visits is set as true for the activity type.
16. In the Display Color field set the display color for the work task activites of the particualr activity type to be visualized in the Scheudling Workbench.
17. Save the information (F12).