| | 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/discountpercentage.
- 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
| |