Configured Part

Clients who have the Expert Configurator module installed work with an additional type of part: a configured part.  A configured part can be ordered, priced, and manufactured according to features and options chosen at order entry time.  Rules determining how the part is ordered, priced, and manufactured are defined in the Expert Configurator module.  Configured parts, like standard parts, are defined and maintained in the Design Engineering module.

The difference between defining a configured part and defining a standard part is the information entered on the Part Master Configurator Maintenance Screen (DE100S09).  When defining a configured part, the user may select order processing configuration and/or manufacturing order configuration.  Sales Order Entry, Pricing, and Manufacturing groups and subgroups may be associated with the part so valid rules defined for the active version of the group or subgroup can be used.  The group or subgroup used must exist on the Reference File.  See Common Features:  Reference File Categories Y21, Y22, Y23, Y24, Y25, and Y26 for more information about groups and subgroups.

The flexibility offered by the Expert Configurator module allows for both rule-based and/or standard component and labor requirement generation methods.  The product reference code identifies the method to be used to generate component and labor requirements.  Valid values are:

If product reference code 0 is entered, the part will not be configured, it is treated as a standard part.  No manufacturing rules will be processed, and the user must either define a routing and bill of material, or associate a standard default routing and bill of material of an existing part.

If product reference code 1 or 3 are selected, the user must define labor requirement rules, using the routing for the configured part, or associating the routing of an existing part to the newly-defined configured part.  The user associates the routing of an existing part by entering the "referenced routing part" for the configured part.  For product reference code 3 the user must also define component requirement rules applicable to the part.

If product reference code 2 is selected, the user must define component requirement rules for the part, and define a routing or associate the routing for an existing part with the newly defined configured part. 

The product reference codes are not directly related to the costing of configured parts.  If standard costing is used, via Design Engineering and Product Costing, then all of the rules that apply to non-configured parts will also apply.  For instance, if standard costing is used, the part must be costed from the BOM, the BOM and routing, or the Part Cost Maintenance conversation (the Cost BOM and Cost Routing flags are on the Part Master Maintenance Change Description screen).  Non-configured parts cannot be costed from the routing and not the BOM, as the system will not allow this situation.  This does not prohibit the use of any of the product reference codes however, as the user can still use code 2.  If the user is using this code, configured costing must be used, which will obtain its labor cost from the standard routing and its material cost from the rule based component requirements.  The user can also use standard costing and add the costs through the Part Cost Maintenance conversation.

See the Part Master Configuration Maintenance Screen (DE100S09) in the Screens Section of this manual for more information on defining a configured part.

To change configuration parameters for a part, the user may directly access the Part Master Configuration Maintenance screen by selecting the Change Configuration option on the Part Master File Maintenance Function Select screen (DE100S01).

Configuration parameters for a part are displayed along with all other part information in the Part Master Inquiry conversation.