Item Data

The basic terms of a product engineering structure are explained as follows:

• Generic item

  Before any manufacturing activities are performed on a generic item, the item must be configured to determine the desired product variant. The Item Type is Generic and the Default Supply Source is Assembly. The Order System for a generic item is Final Assembly Schedule (FAS) and the generic item is a Configurable End item or Subassembly. A generic item is always serialized.

• Engineering module

  An engineering module is a virtual item. The Item Type is Engineering Module. The Default Supply Source for an engineering module is Assembly.

  Engineering module in Assembly Planning, is a system, or, in other words, a logical unit of assembly parts, that is typically not manufactured as a separate physical unit. For example, the electrical system of a car is the logical unit of all parts required for the electrical system. The electrical system is not manufactured as a separate physical unit, but integrated into the dashboard, doors, and so on. An engineering module has no routings, assembly lines, options, and so on, and is for design and planning purposes only. In the bill of materials (BOM), the engineering module is the top layer of the non-configurable section of the BOM.

• Assembly part

  The Item Type of an assembly part is Manufactured/Purchased. The Default Supply Source for an assembly part is Job Shop (Manufacturing), Purchase (Purchase). An assembly part is a standard item.

Based on this master data structure, the real end product, called product variant, can be configured. During the configuration, for example, using PCF, based on the selected features and options, the product variant structure is generated. This process is known as Solving, because each product that is going to be assembled is solved against a master structure.

Linking product features to generic items

Start Manufacturing > Product Configuration > Product Features by Configurable Item (tipcf1101m000).

Use this session to link general product features and options to generic items. The product-independent features and options defined in an earlier stage are now made product dependent. When you link features to generic items, you can link valid constraints. Recording product features and options forms the basis for configuring product variants for the generic product in question. Product features and options serve as technical descriptions of a specific product variant derived from a generic product.

This section is relevant only if you use PCF. You must link product features to generic items when you define your product model. Features and options linked to generic items are taken as input for defining sequencing rules.

When you configure a product variant, the product features linked to each generic item in this session can be further specified with the options that you recorded in the Options by Product Feature and Configurable Item (tipcf1110m000) session. In principle, all options are possible if the Select Option check box is cleared in the Product Features by Configurable Item (tipcf1101m000) session. Constraints help you include or exclude any options or combination of options required in certain conditions.

Select the generic item for which to define product features and determine the appropriate product feature for each sequence number. For this purpose, use product-independent features that are recorded in the Product Feature (tipcf0150m000) session. After you link a product feature to a generic item, LN automatically copies the general data of the product feature, such as the description of the product feature, the options, the language dependent descriptions, and the texts for product features and options, to the generic item. You can then change this data.

After you select a product feature, you can define the validity period for the product feature and specify which constraint applies. You can choose from any current standard option that is defined earlier for this product feature in the Options by Product Feature (tipcf0160m000) session. You can add extra options or delete existing ones. Explanatory text can be entered with the text manager for the product features and options.

Product features and options are automatically adopted by the lower levels in the configuration structure from the higher levels. Therefore, you need not record these features on each level in the configuration structure unless you want to maintain these options at lower levels in the configuration structure.

On the appropriate menu, click Options by Product Feature to maintain options by product feature in the Options by Product Feature and Configurable Item (tipcf1110m000) session. You can copy the product feature data to an existing feature within the same generic item. Options that belong to the product feature, language-dependent descriptions for the feature, options, and option texts are also copied.

1. Select New Group on the toolbar and enter your generic item.

2. Link features to the generic item.

For more information, refer to How to define a product model.