OEM Codes: Multi-Level Setup

This process is used when you define OEM codes in M3. OEM codes are codes that equipment dealers or service providers must report back to their OEMs following work on their equipment. OEM codes are codes that equipment dealers or service providers must report back to their OEMs following work on their equipment. OEM codes are known by other names depending on the OEM (e.g. SMCS codes - Service Management Control System codes).

Limitations

Ten OEM codes can be defined for each product/service. Each OEM code can have a maximum length of 15 characters. However, if the OEM code should be the service ID, the service ID may not exceed 20 characters.

Before you start

You must set up the basic data, including defining the structured numbering systems and linking these systems to the OEM code for the correct look-up in 'OEM Code Connect Numbering System' (MOS986).

Workflow

The basic data setup for OEM codes requires that you define the following:

  • one or more numbering systems in 'Standard Number System. Open' (CRS247)
  • one or more levels for each numbering system in 'Standard Number System Level. Open' (CRS248)
  • valid OEM codes in 'Standard Numbering ID. Open' (CRS249).

In addition to defining the numbering system, you must link the numbering system to a product or a generic product in 'OEM Code Connect Numbering System' (MOS986).

You can define a maximum of ten separate OEM codes. In the example below, we plan to use numbering system "O" to contain a valid list of all OEM codes but different levels for each OEM code, where, for example, Component Codes is level 1, Job Codes is level 2, and so on.

Follow These Steps

  1. Open 'Standard Numbering System. Open' (CRS247) and type the numbering system you want to create, such as "O". Select option 1=Create.

  2. On panel E, enter a description, such as "SMCS Code", deselect 'Significance' and leave 'Level logic' blank. Click Enter.

  3. Define the numbering system levels in (CRS248). (Open related option 11 from CRS247). One level will be defined for each OEM code.

  4. Enter the level you want to create, such as "1", and click Enter to access panel E in (CRS248).

  5. Enter the description and name, and start and ending position for the code. If only four characters are allowed, enter 1-4, and deselect 'Check item file'. If a multi-range can be defined for the code, enter the start and ending values for the range; otherwise, each separate value must be defined in the next level in the numbering system, 'Standard Numbering ID' (CRS249). It is important to note that the contents of the Name field will be used as text labels for the OEM code label when the OEM codes are displayed.

  6. If a range was not entered in the level, continue to enter the discrete valid codes for the level by selection option 11 from (CRS248) to access 'Standard Numbering ID' (CRS249). If you intend to define a valid list of codes to go with this level, then the range from and to must be blank. If they are not, the solution will allow codes to be entered that are not defined in the (CRS249) list.

  7. In (CRS249), enter the specific value you want to create for the level, such as "1000", and click Enter to access panel E in (CRS249).

  8. Enter the description and name for the code. Note that the Name field will be used within the OEM code process to populate the work request and work order text lines.

  9. Continue with all other valid values for the level. When you are finished, start defining the next level and code list for that level.

  10. Enter the next level you want to create, such as "2", and click Enter to access panel E in (CRS248).

  11. Enter the description and name, such as "Job Code", and the start and ending position for the code. Since the first level used 1-4, this level must start in position 5. If only three characters are allowed, enter 5-7.

  12. When all levels and codes defined for the first numbering system are defined, continue with the next numbering system used for next OEM code. Open 'Standard Numbering System. Open' (CRS247) and start over the process described here.

  13. When all levels are defined for each OEM code, continue by linking the standard numbering systems and level to the various OEM codes. This is done in 'OEM Code Connect Numbering System. Open' (MOS986).

  14. Open (MOS986) and enter the definition first for the generic/blank product byclicking Create, without entering any value in the 'Item number' field.

  15. On panel E, attach each of the 10 OEM codes used for the numbering system and level. If the option 'Confirm with Enter' is set, then pushing an extra Enter key is required to confirm the OEM panel whenever it is displayed. This allows you to check the description before the record is saved.

Outcome

The OEM code definition is now ready to use in the system in the service definition process and in the work order process.

For many companies, it will be sufficient to configure the OEM codes for a blank item number, which means that the OEM codes will be displayed for every product. However, companies that work with multiple OEMs might need to configure their codes by item number. The solution will always use the blank item number unless one is specifically configured for an item.

The OEM codes can be maintained from a new panel (J in most cases unless J was already used) available in the functions listed in the introduction of this document.

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