Product Variants with Item Number

The purpose of this process is to create product variants with unique item numbers. These variants are created using a family item whose product structure contains all product structures of the product variants.

When a new combination of materials is specified in the family item's bill of material, a new product variant is created which is automatically specified in the item file as an item with a unique item number.

One reason for creating product variants with item numbers is when commonly recurring items are needed. Another reason is when one needs to place all product variants in a common product structure and still be able to save price or balance information for each unique variant.

Before you start

You must meet these prerequisites before you start the process:

Configuration options for product variants are specified in 'Settings - Product Variants' (CRS775).
An item having configuration code 2 (family item) is specified in 'Item. Open' (MMS001) and has a product structure with the appropriate features connected.

Outcome

A product variant with an item number is created and specified as an item in the item file when using this process.

Follow these steps

The process includes these activities:

Create product variant with item number.
Analyze and change product variant with item number.

Create product variant with item number

Product variants are created in 'Product Variant. Open' (PDS060). The product variants are created based on a family item. This offers these advantages:

There is only one product structure for all variants of a family item. This minimizes maintenance and decreases the risk for error.
Each product variant has its own item number. In this way, other functions such as inventory accounting, product costing and pricing can be performed.
Customer requirements can be entered for either the variant’s item number or the family item’s item number. In the latter case it must be configured; the item number is then automatically changed to the correct item number of the product variant.

See the procedure in Create Product Variant with Item Number.

Analyze and change product variant with item number

Product variants are analyzed and changed in the same way as for product configurations. When this is done, sorting order 4 is used in 'Config & Simulation. Open' (PDS605). Alternatively, product variants with item numbers can be changed in (PDS060).

See procedures in Analyze Product Configuration and Change Product Configuration.