Description

The Expert Configurator is an embedded, knowledge-based system within the Order Processing module of MAC-PAC.  It is used to simplify processing in custom sales order entry, pricing, and manufacturing environments.  The functionality available within the Expert Configurator is also available on a PC through the Configuration Maintenance module.

The Expert Configurator's primary functions are to:

·      Allow users to define and validate unique option select screens, and to select options from those screens at order entry.  Users control what screens are displayed, what default values are used, and which option combinations are valid.

·      Determine pricing, at order entry time, based on selected features and options.

·      Generate manufacturing orders or requisitions corresponding to the selected features.  The system allows you to use either traditional bills of material and routings or user-specified rules to generate component requirements and labor requirements for manufacturing orders.

The Expert Configurator module supports multi-level and multi-plant configurations.  Thus, multiple levels within a product structure may be configured, with each of the custom work orders or requisitions originating in any plant defined on the system.

These functions are performed through the use of user-defined rules, tables, matrices, and variables.

Each configured product can be associated with:

·      Three sets of rules:  one for sales order entry, one for pricing, and one for manufacturing.  Sets are also referred to as database types.  However, all rules reside in the same database.

·      A set of permanent tables and matrices where the rules can access a variety of information.

Sales order entry rules (distribution rules) define the features and options allowed for  configured parts, as well as the validation criteria applicable to each possible feature and option.  The options are displayed in a series of screens formatted dynamically by the configurator through the use of user-defined screen generation rules.  The validation rules are executed for each screen entry.  The manufacturing cost is computed later, during the manufacturing configuration process, but an estimated cost can be generated by executing a finalize cost rule during sales order entry.

Pricing rules define the calculation logic applicable to compute the sales price of a configured part.  Each configured part's sales price is computed individually, online at order entry time.  An executed finalized price rule will override other pricing methods, including contract pricing.

Manufacturing rules define the component requirements and the labor requirements for the manufactured configured part.  The requirements for purchased or manufactured configured parts and the cost of the products are generated off-line in batch or asynchronously upon completion of the originating sales order.

Matrices allow you to specify up to five dimensions of valid data combinations to retrieve a specific value.  In a matrix, you can define unlimited numbers of values for given options, variations, or variables.

Configuration codes allow you to more easily identify the options specified for a specific configured item.  You may cost configured items according to the configuration code (Configuration Costing) and you may inquire upon inventory based on the configuration code.  You may define a Configuration Code Template to break the configuration code into meaningful elements.  Using a template ensures that the configuration code will be formatted consistently.