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A Set-up Matrix

examples exist in printing and food processing and with the shut height of presses. In these industries the sequence of the jobs
the amount of time the work centres are being set up, and therefore the productivity of the work centres.

The set-up times between products, or product groups is expressed in a matrix as follows:

Work Centre 1 - minutes Work Centre 2 - minutes

Prod C

Prod D
Prod B

Prod B
Prod A

Prod A
Prod A 0.00 0.50 0.50 1.25 Prod A 0.00 1.25
Prod B 2.00 0.00 0.75 1.00 Prod B 4.25 0.00
Prod C 2.00 2.00 0.00 0.75 Prod C 4.25 4.25
Prod D 2.10 1.75 1.50 0.00 Prod D 5.00 4.50
In Lotus 123 there is a handy function, XINDEX for referencing a value in a matrix, but in Excel we will do it with a combination
=MATCH and =VLOOKUP. First we need to name 4 ranges with Insert|Name|Define:

Top_row_1 Top_row_2
Matrix_1 Matrix_2

Use the name box to the left of the formula bar to see where the named ranges are.
The problem is to retrieve a set-up time given the following values

Work Centre 1
Previous product Prod D
This Product Prod B

name of top row Top_row_1 ="Top_row_"&D23


name of matrix Matrix_1 ="Matrix_"&D23
position of this product in top row 3 =MATCH(D25,INDIRECT(F27))
look up previous product in matrix 1.75 =VLOOKUP(D24,INDIRECT(F28),F29)

Put it all together and we get:

=VLOOKUP(D24,INDIRECT("Matrix_"&D23),MATCH(D25,INDIRECT("Top_row_"&D23)))
assume that the first product scheduled on the work centre is already running, so the set-up time is zero. We will test if it is the
product using the =IF function.
dustries the sequence of the jobs will effect
k centres.
Prod C

Prod D

1.25 2.75
1.75 2.50
0.00 1.75
3.50 0.00
we will do it with a combination of

DIRECT(F28),F29)

me is zero. We will test if it is the first

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