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Overview
The
Configurator module gives you the tool to streamline your order
entry and manufacturing processes. By working with pre-defined features
and options, your sales department can develop a properly priced
and engineered product during order entry.
The
process begins with the definition of models, features, and options.
This is done with an easy-to-use group definition program where
groups are defined and linked in a manner similar to bills of material.
The group definition consists of:
- Whether
the group is optional or required.
- If
the parts within the group are to be selected during entry or
automatically included.
- Minimum
and maximum selections.
- Special
instructions.
- Units
of measure.
- Price
and cost.
- On
which documents the detail should be printed.
In
addition to the above data, the system can be easily tailored to
include prompts for such information as weight, color, or dimensions.
This information can be used in customizing the entry process to
more closely meet your organization’s needs.
Groups
can contain other groups. This hierarchical structure gives you
the tool to define custom bills of material of any complexity with
the greatest accuracy.
By defining features and options instead of all possible configurations,
the amount of maintenance and storage required is drastically reduced.
With the Configurator, all you need to do is define
the groups and link them to the model. Each configuration will be
saved within the order, eliminating the need to create a unique
end item part number and bill of material for each combination.
From
order entry the system can follow several different paths. For companies
where final assembly labor is not captured against individual orders,
it can create a picking list based on the features and options selected.
As an alternative, it can automatically or on demand create a unique
final assembly shop order linked back to the customer order.
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Features
Unlimited
Number of Levels
By allowing for an unlimited number of levels, the Configurator allows
you to define products where selections are dependent on previous
selections. A decision tree can be developed allowing rules to be
put in place without special coding.
Flexible
Print Formatting
You
can control whether or not items print on the customer order acknowledgments,
picking lists, packing slips, and invoices. In addition, you have
the option of including an item in the configuration’s total
price or listing it as a separately priced option.
Optional
and Required Groups
Groups
can be defined as required or optional. Required groups are for
product features where every configuration must include the group
or a choice from the group. Using an automobile as an example, engines
would be a required group. The user would be forced to choose from
a list of available, engines for a given model. Sound systems could
be classified as an optional group, with no choice required. To
ensure that the option was offered, you may choose to make sound
systems a required group with “no sound system” a valid
choice.
Special
Instructions
Option
groups and the choices within groups can carry additional text.
This text can be displayed to the user, printed on internal documents,
or printed on customer documents.
Minimums and Maximums
A
range of values can be determined for each selection. This can be
based on the individual item selected or the total number of items
selected within a group.
Product
Configurator Integration
- Customer
Orders
- Engineering
- Process
Sheet
- Shop
Orders
- Inventory
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