In this blog we will explore how ENOVIA manages Engineering Items (EI), Manufacturing Equivalent Items (MEI) and Vendor Items (VI):
ENOVIA manages the engineering definition through Engineering Items (EI), which represent the engineering specification for the OEM’s internal components. Each Engineering Item is defined as either a "Buy" or "Make" item to optimize production planning and decision-making.
This definition indicates whether a component should be sourced from external suppliers ("Buy") or manufactured in-house ("Make").
Manufacturer Equivalent Item (MEI) is a product that serves as a compatible replacement for an Engineering Item (EI) and represents the engineering specification of the manufacturer component.
Each MEI has an MPN, which is the Manufacturer Part Number as provided by the manufacturer.
For Engineering Items designated as "Buy" items, it is often beneficial to associate multiple Manufacturer Equivalent Items (MEIs) with each Engineering Item (EI). This approach minimizes reliance on a single manufacturer, enhances supply chain resilience, and helps ensure consistent availability. Different MEIs may represent manufacturers from various regions, allowing for localized sourcing to save on logistics and customs fees. By having multiple MEIs available, companies can reduce risks associated with supplier delays, price fluctuations, potential shortages or discontinuation, while maintaining quality and meeting production timelines.
Vendor Item (VI) is a part or item sourced from a specific vendor. It is used in procurement to identify the exact item that will be purchased from a particular vendor.
VI represents the orderable component sold by a Vendor. It describes the vendor component Delivery, Packaging and Price.
Each VI has an VPN, which is the Vendor Part Number as provided by the Vendor.
While the MEI serves as the engineering blueprint, the VIs translate that blueprint into actionable purchasing options from various vendors. This connection bridges engineering requirements with procurement operations, ensuring both technical and logistical needs are met.
Having multiple MEIs ensures engineering flexibility by maintaining compatibility and quality standards, while multiple VIs provide procurement flexibility by offering diverse sourcing options. Together, this structure enhances supply chain resilience, reduces costs, and ensures consistent availability of components.
MEI Qualification:
MEI Qualification is the process of evaluating and verifying a Manufacturer Equivalent Item (MEI) to ensure it meets the required specifications, quality standards, and performance criteria of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part. The qualification process aims to confirm that the MEI can function as an acceptable substitute for the OEM item, without compromising on quality, compatibility, or reliability.
In ENOVIA, we support two types of MEI qualifications:
- General Qualification
- This is a process used to evaluate an MEI independently of where it is used. It focuses on assessing compliance, performance, quality, and sourcing standards to ensure the MEI meets general requirements.
This type of Qualification is connected to the MEI and is automatically created once the MEI is created.
- This is a process used to evaluate an MEI independently of where it is used. It focuses on assessing compliance, performance, quality, and sourcing standards to ensure the MEI meets general requirements.
Equivalent Qualification
- This is a process used to qualify two independent objects as equivalent to each other.
This type of Qualification is done on the association between the two equivalent objects.
For example, Equivalent Engineering Qualification is a rigorous evaluation process used to verify that an MEI precisely matches the engineering specifications of a designated Engineering Item. This qualification ensures the MEI can function as an exact substitute for the specific OEM component, meeting all critical technical criteria, including specifications, tolerances, materials, and performance standards.
The engineering equivalent qualification is done on the relation between the Engineering Item and the MEI.
- This is a process used to qualify two independent objects as equivalent to each other.
The attached video illustrates how to create and manage the above items in ENOVIA:
