The flowchart is constructed very easily using the mouse. Symbols are selected from a list as shown below. They are positioned automatically.
A short label can be added to each symbol to increase understanding of the chart. If more explanation is needed, longer notes can be added. The presence of a note is denoted by a small green triangle, which is replaced by a reference number when the chart is printed. The notes are displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the window when the mouse cursor passes over the cell, or can be printed with their reference numbers.
Once the flowchart has been drawn, the assembly process is analyzed to identify difficulties and calculate a time (cost) related value for each operation. These are the figures contained in the flowchart symbols. Insertion analysis is performed by double clicking on a symbol in the flowchart.
The assembly ratio is a measure of effectiveness of the product design from an assembly perspective. It is calculated as the sum of all the assembly indices divided by the number of 'A' parts. A value of less than 2.5 is generally considered to be a good target.
