Initial Provisioning (IP)

The purpose of this document is to describe how to:

  • Create an IP production file from a source tape
  • Select and evaluate IP records
  • Create M3 item and item/supplier records
  • Create IP purchase orders
  • Create related distribution orders

Before you start

The process can be started after all basic data has been registered. For a detailed description, see IP - M3 Basic Data

Follow these steps

This diagram illustrates the activities in this process.

  1. Create IP production file

    Download from tape or file

    The download activity is started by registered a new version 'Tape Version. Open SPEC2000 Provisioning' (FLS504/A) using option 1=Crt IP file.

    • If the number of tapes specified is greater than 0, a new screen is displayed prompting for the tape station ID.
    • If the number of tapes is specified as 0, a screen is displayed to specify the location of the file and the library in which the file is located. Afterwards, the actual downloading is begun.

    Creating the IP production file results in the following:

    • The IP file is converted to M3 IP production file
    • The M3 IP production file fields Status and Responsible are updated
    • The actual number of PNS, PDS, LMS, EIS and CBS records is updated and displayed in 'Tape Version. Open SPEC2000 Provisioning' (FLS510).
    • An error log (observation log) is printed.

    The IP file consists of two types of records:

    • A copy of the original information per recorded version
    • A working production file which will be updated as long as the IP process continues where the version ID is set to 999999999. The most recent version is logged on this record.

    In M3, the PNS segment is updated with information from other segments and, in some cases, with information from M3. When updating the PNS segment from other segments, the following rules are applied.

    Field Segment Updated from….
    CSN LMS LMS segment with lowest Essentiality class (1, 2 or 3)
    Responsible According to Responsible table for selected CSN as defined in 'CSN Responsible. Open' (FLS540)
    ESS, MOR LMS For selected CSN
    QEC LMS When recorded
    Supplier PDS PDS segment with supplier with longest Leadtime
    Leadtime PDS From selected supplier
    Keyword PDS From selected supplier
    Internal Keyword Retrieved from M3, manual update in other cases.

    Error log

    When the IP production file is created, the IP records are checked against information in M3. Where problems and observations are found, an error log is created.

    Possible error log records include messages indicating that:

    • Supplier/Manufacturer record is missing in 'Supplier. Open' (CRS620). Check is performed for EIS segment as well.
    • Supplier has invalid status in (CRS620)
    • Item number is greater than 15 characters
    • Mandatory fields are incomplete
    • Item already exists in M3
    • Model is not defined in M3 for A/C or end items
    • U/M (several places in IP files) are missing in M3

  2. Select IP records

    Once the IP production file has been created, it can be found in 'Tape Version. Open SPEC2000 Provisioning' (FLS510). From (FLS510), you can move to the PNS segment for the version you are interested in evaluating.

    In 'PNS Segment. Open' (FLS511), report versions can be defined and used to select records. Selections can be made using the information fields in the IP production file PNS segment.

  3. Evaluate IP records

    The IP records that meet the criteria of the selection activity are displayed in 'PNS Segment. Open' (FLS511). In connection with evaluating the IP information, the majority of the fields can be updated and changed. M3 Security system can be used to set the rules.

    From (FLS511), the following data can be retrieved and displayed:

    • Procurement Data Segment – Using option 11=PDS Segment
    • Line Maintenance Segment – Using option 12=LMS Segment
    • End Item Segment – Using option 13=EIS Segment.
    • Use in IPC - Using option 20=IPC.
    • Use in Configuration.- Using option 21=Comp/Config

    As evaluation is normally performed by a number of person during the IP process, the status and IP responsible for records can be raised according to the predefined steps in 'CSN Responsible. Open' (FLS540).

    • For a single record – using option 30='Raise status'
    • For multiple records – using function key F16='Raise status'

    Print IP file information

    In 'PNS Segment. Open' (FLS511), IP data can be printed one of two ways:

    • For single records - using option 35=Prt IP Data.
    • For multiple records - using function key F20= Prt IP Data.

  4. Create M3 record

    M3 information can be created while in 'PNS Segment. Open' (FLS511) for those records that have status 40. The item template used when creating records is specified in 'Settings - Initial Provisioning' (FLS551). For more information about the template and basic data, see IP - M3 Basic Data

    If multiple PDS segments exist for a given PNS record, M3 is updated with purchase information for each occurrence. Depending on the configuration alternative specified in 'Update Setting. Open' (FLS551), configuration information from the LMS and CBS segments can update either:

    • 'Model/Site. Open Illustrated Parts Catalog' (MOS453) or
    • 'Position. Connect Components' (MOS450).

    After the records have been successfully transferred to M3 the records will be assigned status 50.

    Error log

    If an error is detected while creating M3 records, an error log (FLS561PF) will be created indicating the cause of the problem and the record is assigned status 43. Before an attempt can be made to create the records again, some type of corrective action must be taken. In most cases, this will involve registering information that was forgotten.

    Item template

    When creating M3 records from the IP file, templates are used to set the appropriate parameters. In order for records to be created correctly, the template must be filled in completely with all the necessary information as specified in the document IP - M3 Basic Data

    M3 records

    The M3 records that are created can be divided into three key areas, item information, configuration information and item supplier information. Each of the areas is described in greater detail below.

    Item information

    Item information is created for the items in the IP production file using the item template specified in 'Settings - Initial Provisioning' (FLS551). In connection with creating the item information, records are created in the following programs:

    • 'Item. Open' (MMS001)
    • 'Item. Connect Warehouse' (MMS002)
    • 'Item. Connect Facility' (MMS003)

    In connection with creating the item - warehouse records in (MMS002), the recommended quantity as specified in the IP file is distributed and registered in the reorder point field. The distribution of the re-order quantity is performed according to the values specified in 'Settings – Distribution' (FLS554).

    Configuration information

    Depending on the configuration alternative specified in 'Settings - Initial Provisioning' (FLS551), configuration information from the LMS and CBS segments can update either:

    • 'Model/Site. Open Illustrated Parts Catalog' (MOS453) or
    • 'Position. Connect Components' (MOS450).

    In both cases, position (IP CSN) attributes will update 'Model/Site. Connect Position' (MOS440) for the applicable model. End Item CBS segment will be processed like Aircraft LMS segments and, as such, update the configuration tables.

    Item/Supplier information

    An item/supplier record is created in M3 based on the default settings in 'Settings - Initial Provisioning' (FLS551).

    • If a supplier is not defined in the IP file, a default supplier ID is used.
    • If a supplier is specified in the IP file and the item/supplier combination does not exist for the item template in 'Supplier. Connect Item' (PPS040), one will be created using the supplier template.
    • An addition Item/Supplier record may be created for the A/C supplier if specified.

  5. Create purchase order

    In 'PNS Segment. Open' (FLS511), a purchase order or PO proposal can be created for those items that have either been transferred to M3, or already exist in M3.

    A PO proposal can be created one of two ways:

    • For a single record - using option 33='Crt PO'.
    • For multiple records (selection) - using function key F19='Crt PO'.

    When creating POs information such as the PO type, planned delivery date, buyer, etc. are retrieved from 'Settings - Purchase' (FLS553). Once a PO has been created, the PNS and EIS Segment statuses are updated to avoid additional POs.

    In connection with creating the purchase order, the following information is used/checked:

    • The status of the IP item record is checked to ensure that it has status 50 (ready for PO creation).
    • The recommended quantity for the item must be greater than zero.
    • The PO is created for the main warehouse as identified in (FLS553).
    • After the PO has been created, distribution orders are created according to the values defined in 'Settings – Distribution' (FLS554).
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