| How to configure product variants and generate product
structuresThe procedure to
configure product variants and generate product variant structures is composed
of a number of separate steps. The product variant configuration process differs dependent on
the module it is initiated from: If you initiate a
product variant from Product Configuration, you must define a product variant code before you start
the configuration process. The product variant has the Standard Variant reference type. In the other modules, LN generates a product
variant code so you can start the configuration immediately. The product
variant has one of the following reference types: Sales Quotation, Sales Order, Budget, Project (PCS), Standard Variant, or Project. The configuration process The configuration process section consists of the following
subsections: - To configure a product variant
- To select an option value
- To validate an option value
- To validate an option set
- To validate a product variant
To configure a product variant - Open the Product Variants (tipcf5501m000) session, and start the details session.
- Determine the generic item for which you want to configure a
product variant.
- Start the
configuration process from the Product Variants (tipcf5501m000) details session.
- LN reads the generic configuration structure
and searches for the option set for the top of the product structure.
- If the option set is
found, the set is displayed in the Product Configurator (tipcf5120m000) session; go to step 6. If the option set
is not found, nothing is displayed in the Product Configurator (tipcf5120m000) session; go to step 10.
- LN reads the first option set of the generic
item. Refer to subsection To read option sets.
- Click the Option field of a product feature. Double click '...'
to display the valid options. The options are displayed in the Options by Product Feature and Configurable Item (tipcf1110m000) session. Select the desired option value. Refer to
subsection To select an option value.
- LN validates the selected option value. Refer to subsection To validate an option
value.
- Repeat steps 7 and 8
for each new feature. After you selected a option for each product feature, LN validates the entire
option set. Refer to subsection To validate an option set.
- Click the next group
button to prompt LN to
search for the next (lower level) option set for the item.
- LN searches for the next option set and
performs the constraint section Validation for the
components of the generic bill of material.
- LN checks if another option set is available on
this level. If Yes, go to step 5. If No, go to step 13.
- LN validates the product variant. Refer to
subsection To validate a product variant.
To read option sets - LN reads the product features of the generic
item and searches for the first product feature (the first option set) of the
generic item in the top of the structure.
- LN checks if a product constraint is linked to
the product feature. If Yes, go to step 3. If No, go to step 7.
- LN reads the product constraint and performs
the Before Input constraint section.
- LN checks if the input or display of option
values is allowed. If Yes, go to step 5. If No, go to step 6.
- LN checks if there are any additional features
for which steps 2 through 4 must be performed. If Yes, go to step 8. If No, go
to step 7.
- If the input of an
option value is not allowed, LN initializes the option with the value
defined in the Before Input constraint section, and continues the
procedure from step 8. If input and display are not allowed for any of the
options, LN disables the
option field. Such option sets are called invisible option sets. Invisible
option sets are option sets in which the input or display of an option value is
not allowed for any product feature. These invisible option sets are
automatically initialized and subsequently validated by the product
configurator.
- Select the option
values. Option values are discussed further in the To select an option value
subsection.
- LN searches for the next product feature of the
first option set.
To select an option value - Double click the
Option field of the product feature for which you want to select an option
value.
- LN checks if a product constraint is linked to
that product feature. If Yes, go to step 3. If No, go to step 5.
- LN reads the product constraint and performs
the Before Input constraint section.
- LN checks if the input or display of option
values is allowed. If Yes, go to step 5. If No, go to step 6.
- Zoom to the allowed
options. Click '...' to display all valid features in the Options by Product Feature and Configurable Item (tipcf1110m000) session. To compose the list
of allowed options, LN carries out the Validation constraint
section of the relevant constraints for each available option. Go to step 7.
- If the input of an
option value is not allowed, LN initializes the option with the value
defined in the Before Input constraint section. Continue the procedure
from step 9.
- Select the option
value.
- LN validates the option value selected. Refer
to subsection To validate an option value.
- Check whether another
product feature is present for which options must be selected. If Yes, go to
step 1. If No, go to step 10.
- LN validates the option set. Refer to
subsection To validate an option set.
To validate an option value The option value is only validated: - If the input of an
option value is allowed for the product feature.
- If the option value is
not empty.
- LN checks if the options are selective (that
is, a set of option values of which you can select one), or whether you must
type a value yourself. If selective, go to step 2. If not selective, go to step
3.
- If a product feature
has selective options, LN checks if the selected option value is part of a set assigned to the feature.
Then LN checks if the
selection date falls within the validity period of the option.
- If the product
feature has no selective options, LN checks if the entered option value falls
within the option value domain.
- LN reads the product constraint and performs
the constraint section Validation, which
determines whether the selected option value is allowed.
- LN checks if the selected option value is
allowed. If Yes, go to step 6. If No, go to step 7.
- Double click the
Option field of the next product feature.
- If you entered a
value that is not allowed, you can call the constraint expression involved.
- You can record an
extensive description or explanatory text that relates to the product variant
option by selecting the record in the Options by Product Feature and Configurable Item (tipcf1110m000) session, and click Text..
To validate an option set Option set validation
occurs for each product feature of the product variant option set. LN performs this step
before searching for another option set and before terminating the
configuration process. - LN reads the first product feature of the
option set.
- LN reads the product constraint and carries out
the Before Input constraint section.
- LN checks if the input or display of option
values is allowed. If Yes, go to step 4. If No, go to step 5.
- LN checks if the options are selective. If Yes,
go to step 7. If No, go to step 8.
- If the input of an
option value is not allowed, LN initializes the option with the value
defined in the Before Input constraint section.
- LN performs the Parameter Substitution constraint section. You can give the option a fixed value
in this constraint section. This value may or may not be calculated with a
formula.
- If the product
feature has selective options, LN checks if the option value selected is part
of a set assigned to the product feature. Then, LN checks if the
selection date falls within the validity period of the option.
- If the product
feature has no selective options, LN checks if the option selected falls within
the option value domain.
- LN reads the product constraint and performs
the Validation constraint
section, which determines whether the option value selected is allowed.
- LN checks if the option value selected is
allowed. If Yes, go to step 11. If No, go to step 12.
- LN reads the next product feature of the option
set.
- If you have selected
an option value that is not allowed, you can correct the option value.
To validate a product variant The product variant is
only validated if you have selected an allowed option value for each product
feature of each option set. The generation process After you configured a product variant, you can continue to
generate the product variant using the following sessions: - Generate (Project) Structure for Product Variant (tipcs2220m000) session.
- Generate (Budget PCS) Structure for Sales Quotations (tdsls1201m100) session.
- Generate (Project PCS) Structure for Sales Orders (tdsls4244m000) session.
The generation process is explained in the following
subsections: - To generate a product variant structure
- To generate item data
- To generate a variant routing
- To generate a purchase/sales price
To generate a product variant structure - Select the product
variant for which you want to generate the product variant structure.
- Click Generate to
start the process.
- LN reads the generic product structure and
searches for the first item in the top of the structure.
- LN reads the product constraint linked to the
bill of material component and performs the Validation constraint
section.
- LN determines whether the item is part of the
generic product structure. If Yes, go to step 6. If No, go to step 7.
- LN reads the item type of the item. If the type
is Generic, go to step 8. If it is another item type, go to step 7.
- LN searches for next item on this level.
- LN searches for the product variant and reads
the selected features and options.
- LN includes the item in the variant structure.
- LN generates the product variant structure on
the basis of the features and options selected. The following are generated
consecutively: product variant item data, purchase/sales price, bill of
material, and routing. Refer to the subsections below for more information.
- LN checks if the item is a generic, purchased,
or manufactured item. If the item is Manufactured, go to step 7. If the item is
Purchased, go to step 12.
- LN continues the search for the next item on
the next lower level. The procedure is resumed from step 4.
- LN generates the item data, the purchase and
sales data, the bill of material and the routing of the product variant.
To generate item data - LN reads the first line of the generic item
data.
- LN reads the product constraint and performs
the constraint section Validation.
- LN determines if the item data element can be
included in the variant structure. If Yes, go to step 4. If No, go to step 5.
- LN includes the data element in the product
variant structure.
- LN reads the next line of the item data.
- LN reads the first component of the generic
bill of material.
- LN reads the product constraint and performs
the constraint section Validation.
- LN determines if the component may or may not
be included in the variant structure. If Yes, go to step 4. If No, go to step
5.
- LN performs the constraint section Parameter Substitution. Using the formulas of this constraint section, LN calculates the length,
width, number of units, and net quantity of a bill of material component.
- LN includes the bill of material component in
the product variant structure.
- LN reads the next component.
To generate a variant routing - LN reads the first operation of the variant
routing.
- LN reads the product constraint and performs
the constraint section Validation.
- LN determines if the operation can be included
in the variant structure. If Yes, go to step 4. If No, go to step 5.
- LN performs the constraint section Parameter Substitution. Using the formulas of this constraint section, LN calculates the setup
time and the run time for the operation.
- LN includes the operation in the product
variant structure.
- LN reads the next operation.
To generate a purchase/sales price - LN reads the first line of the generic price
list.
- LN reads the product constraint and performs
the constraint section Validation.
- LN determines if the price list line can be
included in the price structure of the product variant. If Yes, go to step 4.
If No, go to step 5.
- LN performs the constraint section Parameter Substitution. Using the formulas of this constraint section, LN calculates the
purchase/sales price or the surcharge/discount percentage.
- LN includes the price list line in the
purchase/sales price structure of the product variant.
- LN reads the next price list line.
To configure product variants that contain purchased
configurable items You can configure product variants that contain purchased configurable items. You can use a configurable item to create a item structure that can hold a configurable purchased
sub-assembly. The purchased sub-assembly is issued at the assembly line like
other assembly parts. For more information on procuring purchased configurable items in Assembly Control module, refer to | |