Serialized Items

A serialized item is identified by the combination of the item code and the serial number. You can set up the mask used to generate the serial numbers in such a way that the serial number includes some fields of the item data, such as the item group and the manufacturer.

In a multicompany structure, the companies can share the serialized item data. All the service departments in the various companies can refer to the same serialized items.

The serialized item can originate from a sales order or a project. The details of a serialized item indicate their origin, for example, by using specific sets of serial numbers for items that originate from sales orders and from projects. Serialized items can also originate from an as-built structure or directly from the production bill of material in Manufacturing.

In Service, serialized items can start the respective life cycles in As-Built mode or As-Maintained mode. Each serialized item, with or without the installation group, can be covered by a service contract or a warranty.

The serialized item status

Serialized items can be status controlled.

Each serialized item can have the following status:

Startup

The serial number is assigned, but the item is not yet included in a service order or contract. You can only change the status to Active.

Active

The serialized item is part of a service order or contract. You can only change the status to Revision.

Revision

You can only change the status to Active.

Defective

The serialized item is defective and cannot be used.

Working Condition

The serialized item is in working condition.

To be recycled

The serialized item can be recycled.

Removed

The serialized item is no longer in use and can be removed.

Superseded

The item supersedes the parent item.

Serial numbers

A unique serial number is assigned to each manufactured or purchased item. The serial number is assigned to track the life cycle of the item.

You can define a dummy serial number for an item. The dummy serial number is a temporary number and can be used to monitor the item until a permanent number is assigned.

For each serialized item, you can define an alternative serial number for customer reference. You can use the alternative serial number to search for items when you register calls, create service order activities, or register parts lines for a maintenance sales order.

Serialized item groups

You can group serialized items by serialized item groups. A serialized item group is a group of serialized items with similar features.

You can define the serialized item groups that you require, for example, to categorize the skills required for the maintenance of the items, or as a basis for enquiries and reporting.

For example, you can select service engineers on the basis of their skills for a specific serialized item group.

Serialized Item Log

Serialized Item Log is used to monitor each modifications related to a serialized item. The transaction date, modified entity and the name of the user who modified the item, old and new value are stored in the serialized item log.

You can view the log for the serialized item by selecting the Serialized Item Log option from the Reference menu in the Serialized Item (tscfg2600m000) session. The serialized item log is displayed in the Serialized Item Log (tscfg2103m000) session.

Serialized items in physical breakdown structures

Serialized items are the building blocks of physical breakdown structures. A physical breakdown structure is the relationship definition of a set of serialized items with their underlying parts and assemblies. Some serialized items, such as a photocopier, have a simple structure whereas other serialized items such as a ship or an aircraft have a complex structure.

A top serialized item occurs at the highest level in the physical breakdown structure, while the underlying structure consists of assemblies that are either effective or outdated. Use the View Tree option to display a graphic view of the structure.

Each serialized item in the breakdown can be linked to a functional element, with a common function across the entire structure, and can be used to group serialized items based on the functional importance.