Resources are everything that make up capacity that can be used in planning and execution processes in IFS Cloud. For instance, the same person or group of persons can participate in project, maintenance and manufacturing processes. The same tool/equipment can be used on a manufacturing shop order or a maintenance work order. A resource crew can exist of multiple persons and tool/equipment but the capacity of the crew is based on the schedule used by the crew. In general sense, material and money are also resources. However, their use is planned very differently because they are also consumed and generated by the business. There are several different resource types:
| Resource Type | Description |
| Machine | This represents a machine or other fixed production equipment. |
| Machine Group | Machine groups often define groups of one or more machines or work centers. It is one of the most important resources in manufacturing planning. |
| Person | A person is represented by one person ID in the system, but can be employed in several companies, and work on several sites. |
| Person Group | Person groups are essential for planning with people and often define a group of persons that can perform the same type of job. |
| Tool/Equipment | A tool/equipment is usually located in one place - until moved. It is often used together with people. |
| Tool/Equipment Group | Tool/equipment groups often define groups of equipment that can be used to perform the same type of work. |
| Crew | A crew can be assembled for a period to handle specific jobs. Persons and tool/equipment are assigned to work as members of a crew. |
| Crew Group | A crew can be connected to one Crew Group, but a Crew Group can have multiple crews connected. |
A person record has a corresponding schedule defined in Human Resources. Training activities are planned for both the trainer and the trainees. A person may also have planned absence periods registered such as vacation, parental leave or sickness, which may affect the capacity/availability of the person.
A person and tools/equipment are resources that can be allocated by planned and corrective maintenance. The Use in Maintenance indicator on the resource need to be set to Yes.
The work center is perhaps the most central resource in manufacturing. When scheduling shop orders and performing Capacity Requirements Planning, the capacity of the work centers will define the time it takes to complete the operations. In manufacturing, person groups are further defined as labor classes. As a result of the scheduling on work centers, the labor class load is also calculated. With Constraint Bases Scheduling and Advanced Planning Board, work center resources, labor and tools may be created as equally important constraints; the time it takes to complete an operation is defined by the concurrent availability of all these resources. The Use in Manufacturing indicator on the resource goup needs to be set to Yes.
Completing a project requires resources like people, equipment and so on. By assigning resources to activities you can determine the number of resources you will need, when they will be needed, and the cost of these resources. To manage your resources efficiently you should add them to resource groups in IFS/Project Management, and assign calendars showing their availability along with cost and limits. The Use in Project indicator on the resource group needs to be set to Yes.
You do not have to assign resources to activities to complete a project in IFS Cloud, but doing this in conjunction with scheduling your project in a 3rd party planning tool like Ms. Project or Primavera Project Planner makes it easier to complete projects within budget and time.
Microsoft Project and Primavera Project Planner factors resources into the schedule and provides information to help you manage them better, such as whether they will have to work overtime and how much each resource has cost to date, and whether it is according to plan.
A person and tools/equipment are resources that can be allocated in Request Management for Service. The Use in Service indicator on the resource group needs to be set to Yes.
Resources of type Tools/equipment can be planned and allocated for the work tasks used in Forward/Line Maintenance. The Use in Maintenance indicator on the resource group needs to be set to Yes.