Introduction - general
Introduction - general
1. GENERAL
Production planning is one of the crucial tasks in farming. Planning can be short term, tasks within the season, or long term: planning of different productions and crops on various parcels. Usual long term plannings are Fertilization Plans or Crop rotation. Overview of resource occupation, reduction material costs (fuel, fertilizers, pesticides, seed) and reduction of an impact on environment because of better planned and better directed pesticide use, are so indicators of successful managing of agricultural economy.
New CROP module includes planning of Crop production through introducing of Expert models. Expert model is a kind of technology recipe for particular crop, which includes general information like: expected yield/ha and calendar placement of particular technology tasks which can be planned ahead during the season, with expected norms per hectare. Besides, certain types of mechanization and material quantities necessary for realizing tasks also can be determined and planned ahead. Particular tasks within expert models is possible to connect with phenology phases in order to link certain tasks even more precise ahead no matter of calendar dates. Cost overview is enabled per unit of yield and per hectare too.
Within the Plan user can easily choose or create different Plan versions, regarding to general farm strategy. Connecting Fields and Crop areas with certain version of Expert model is determined by Crop module crop rotation, on chosen Field and enables following several productions. Because of mechanical (texture) and structural characteristics of certain Field, it is possible to change tasks and material usage within Plan order. One CROP area is a starting point for creating of Work order. Every position on Plan order is planned task in Work order. Map viewer enables us to see what is occupation of certain Fields and Crop areas within chosen period.
On created Work order which has information about planned tasks for particular crop, it is possible to schedule certain unoccupied machines (Self-propelled and Implements) and add workers or group of workers. When adding material it is necessary to define a warehouse from which material will be moved. Also, it is possible to review quantities of chosen material on the stock.
Work orders can be created:
a) from Plan order,
b) by selection of Expert model (it is necessary to add Crop areas),
c) manually (manual adding of Crop areas and manual task addition).
Date and Time are used for Daily work scheduling, where on particular day a list of all planned tasks for particular worker with particular machines are shown. The result of this list is Working slip for particular worker or for supervisor. This Working slip answers to following questions: Who, When, Where and with Which machines, What material and How many material has to be used for particular task on particular day.
Recording of realized task is possible on several ways:
a) recording on Work order on particular task or resource combination through Daily work input per each worker,
b) recording via Task Input where simple and quick selection of Working order and enabled creating of Working order.
c) recording of task via Planned task input: complex input via several search parameters.
Confirmation of added realization creates documents for moving material and services.
Within AD HOC analysis creating of individual reports (templates) is enabled with graphical review for planned and realized material quantities and costs within particular planning stage (Expert model, Plan, Work order) and it is possible to compare realization with the plan.
2. PLANNING LEVELS IN PA FA
Planning in Farming has several levels regarding time component and is different plannings are placed within different UI`s:
- levels: General or seasonal planning: Farmer chooses a crop and adds it to the Field and Crop area
- In UI Expert models general planning is made regarding the crop with all norms of material and work per hectare,
- In Administrative Panel > Settings > Agriculture > Agronomy > Expert models, user can import already created Expert models for certain crops
- In UI Plan, production Plan is created with plan duration regarding farmers decision. He can choose Field, crop, and Expert models version on chosen Crop area
- level: Macro planning: User creates Working order and then adds different mechanization, workers, material for the purpose of production of the chosen crop.
- In UI Plan, Work order is created. This Work order represents production of 1 Crop on 1 Crop area
- In mask Work order, new Work order is created manually and by selection of Expert model
- level: Micro planning: User changes Daily plans for tasks per workers
- In UI Tools > Daily Plan > Daily Work Input, final planning is modified with possibility of task overview on Working Slips
Picture 1: Planning levels in PA FA
2.1 Starting point of planning
- »Crop planning« concept is transferred to GRASS module also; Expert models UI, Plan, Working order and in Task Input are the same. With further development it will be transferred to FRUIT&NUTS and GRAPES with additional adjustments according to special requests of agricultural production of perennial crops and permanent crops like apples, pears ...
- Daily Plan is a central point of all modules. No matter of production, report for Daily Tasks for a worker will be on one place - from UI Tools > Daily Plan > Daily Work Input
- Possibilities of different starting point in Production Planning:
- User starts to plan within Expert models UI (certain Expert models user can pick in Plan UI or Work order UI)
- User starts by planning in Work orders UI where he chooses Expert models
- User starts planning within Work orders UI without choosing Expert models
- User starts data input in Task Input UI without previous planning (Work order is created later)
2.2. Comparison of old and new CROP menus
Picture 2: Comparison of "old" and "new" CROP menus
2.2. Work order UI
Work order UI
2.3 Converting process
Example: Conversion of old CROP into new CROP