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How does PDM/ERP handle configuration names?

Question asked by Grant Kirkland on Mar 17, 2017
Latest reply on Jun 18, 2018 by Andrew Schutte

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My current understanding of PDM and/or ERP softwares is that every part must have a unique identifier (part/drawing number).

We currently use a third part serial number generator for our part numbers such as 2-12345.

The "2" indicates an 11x17 drawing

The 12345 is the root of the part number.

If a part is configured, we will add a -XX, such as 2-12345-01.

The configuration tree would look like:

2-12345

2-12345-01

2-12345-02

My question is, how does PDM and/or ERP software handle configuration names? Will we need to pull a unique part number for every configuration and scrap the base part number? Such as:

2-12345

2-12564

2-12945

Or is it possible to have a serial number inside of a serial number? If that makes sense.

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Victor Frauenfeld Mar 17, 2017 2:45 PM
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One thing you need about configurations is that if you assign a revision letter to the part file, each configuration will need to be at the same revision. This is because PDM sets the revision to the part file, not the individual configurations within it.

If you take your configuration tree, all of the configurations need to be at Rev A for example. You cannot have 2-12345 as Rev A, 2-12345-01 as Rev B, and 2-12345-02 as Rev C.

PDM will understand that 2-12345-02 is a configuration within part file 2-12345 though.
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- Grant Kirkland @ Victor Frauenfeld on Mar 17, 2017 2:59 PM
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  I didn't know that. Interesting. Lucky for us, we have currently have no revision tracking. So, anything will be an upgrade.
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Steve Calvert Mar 17, 2017 2:52 PM
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That's very close to what we do.

We have a "country of origin" code and then a 6 character numeric string and when there is no suffix, it is a drawing and with a suffix it is a purchased part or built assembly. Configurations are handled as dash numbers

The PDM system we use doesn't show revision in the part number string but when you're in the PDM system you can see the revision.

Be careful though, some might not want to keep drawings in your ERP system. This is wrong, IMHO, because most use the ERP system to purchase and plan and need quick access to drawings.

Steve C
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- Grant Kirkland @ Steve Calvert on Mar 17, 2017 3:01 PM
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  What do you mean by 'not keep drawing in your ERP system"? We've been told "every purchased and in-house manufactured part must have a unique numerical identifier in order to attaching routings".
  
  In my mind, this would mean each configuration will now required a manually entered serialized part number.
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  - Steve Calvert @ Grant Kirkland on Mar 17, 2017 3:23 PM
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    So, when you make an Engineering charge to a part, say a piece of sheet metal. That part is a SW part and it has a drawing to support it. That's two files that need to be rev controlled. Some might say that the drawing doesn't need to be rev controlled IN the ERP system but you and I know that the drawing will be change in most any PDM systems along with the part file itself.
    
    Yes, if I design a bracket that has two configurations, I will have two dash numbers of one base number AND one drawing file. I'm not sure what you mean by having a serialized number for each unless you mean having what I've said.
    
    Steve C
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    - Grant Kirkland @ Steve Calvert on Mar 17, 2017 3:55 PM
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      Our work flow is generally:
      
      Create virtual part in an assembly
      Finalize design
      Generate automated serial numbers
      Assign serial numbers to parts
      Save all part externally to a drawings folder
      
      So typically the part number and file name are the same, say 2-36001. The configuration name in the configuration tree would be "Default", we set the "Part number displayed when used in a bill of materials" to "Document Name". Of course, in the BOM under part number is shows "2-36001".
      
      If we come back later and want to use that same part but extend it 3". We would make a new configuration, name it 2-36001-01 in the configuration tree, and set "part number displayed" to "Configuration Name". Now in the BOM is displays "2-36001-01".
      
      2-36001 is stored in our serial number generating software. If we search 2-36001 we get back the part info, date created, who created it, etc.
      2-36001-01 is not store anywhere outside of SW. As far as our serial number generator is concerned, this part doesn't exist.
      
      My understanding is that when ERP is implemented the ERP system handles the serial file numbering. So ERP generates a serial number, the engineer types it in as the file name or configuration name. So, the -01 is gone if the ERP system only generates 5 digit numbers.
      
      Similar with Custom Tools, it generates a set number of digits in series. So I don't understand how we can continue to use a 2-36001-01 style numbering scheme is it can only serialize as 236001.
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Andrew Schutte Jun 18, 2018 4:47 PM
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Grant,
I'm not sure what ERP system you are using, or if you are willing to entertain switching ERP systems. However, if you are our ERP solution COUNTERPART offers direct SOLIDWORKS integration with full configuration support, honoring the native SOLIDWORKS BOM. We also have read-only PDM document retrieval integration, enabling users to gain access to SOLIDWORKS files with ease. If you would like more information, you can contact me here, or directly via:
aschutte@smoothlogics.com
616-886-1523
Thanks!
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How does PDM/ERP handle configuration names?

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