| Rev # | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Dec 2024 | Document created. |
Note
All SolidPractices are written as guidelines. It is a strong recommendation to use these documents only after properly evaluating your requirements. Distribution of this document is limited to Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks employees, VARs, and customers that are on active subscription. You may not post this document on blogs or any internal or external forums without prior written authorization from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation.
This document was updated using version 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS 2024 FD04. If you have questions or need assistance in understanding the content, please get in touch with your designated reseller.
Acknowledgments
This document was authored by GoEngineer, www.GoEngineer.com, and reviewed by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation.
Preface
A Bill of Material (BOM) is the most fundamental document in manufacturing and production. It essentially serves as a checklist for creating a product. It details every component, material, and subassembly, plus the quantities necessary to manufacture the end product. A BOM is the basis for planning, ensuring all the necessary items are available at the right time for a smooth and efficient manufacturing process.
There are several types of BOMs, including:
Engineering BOM (EBOM) is the CAD Structure and focuses on the design/engineering aspects of the product. The EBOM is created by the engineering team.
Manufacturing BOM (MBOM) is used by the manufacturing team. It includes all the items required for production, including subassemblies and raw materials.
Process BOM, or Bill of Process (BOP), lists the production line configurations, tools, machines, and equipment needed to make the product.
In the CAD system, a product “structure” is synonymous with the assembly. However, a product’s structure in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is considered to be the Bill of Material and it extends far beyond what is included from CAD. For example, documents are often connected to engineering items to fully complete the product definition. Alternate items can be defined for any component in the structure. A Bill of Material may also reference Make From components and equivalent supplier items.
The 3DEXPERIENCE platform provides a robust environment to manage Bills of Materials. The Product Release Engineer Role streamlines the creation, coordination, maintenance and release of a complete and accurate Engineering Bill of Material, and will be the focus of this SolidPractice document.
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Product Release Engineer in 3DEXPERIENCE
Related Roles
Product Release Engineer can be considered a gateway role. Numerous additional roles and apps contribute to creating a comprehensive Bill of Material. BOM Management on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform may include the following roles:
Product Release Engineer to manage the complete EBOM.
Specification Manager to control Raw Materials.
Supply Network Manager and Supplier Item Manager to create and manage Manufacturing Equivalent Items. They also control the approved and preferred vendors in an organization’s supply chain.
Manufacturing Item Engineer to create and manage the Manufacturing BOM from the Engineering BOM.
Manufacturing Process Engineer to create and manage the manufacturing process plan.
The Bill of Material can be included in other roles and apps, such as Change Management, Classification Manager, and many apps within Collaborative Industry Innovator (Compare, Tasks, etc.).
Unified Product Structure
The 3DEXPERIENCE platform features a Unified Product Structure (UPS) for seamless data management across all of its tools and applications. This consistent data format eliminates the need for importing, exporting, or recreating data when viewing, organizing, managing, or manipulating data.
Serving as a single source of truth, the UPS fosters better collaboration among teams and departments by providing a unified view of product information.
Overview of the Engineering Release Application
Engineering Release is an application within the Product Release Engineer role that manages the comprehensive Engineering BOM. It enables users to perform BOM-like tasks without needing a CAD license. A user can create structures, add objects to existing structures (both CAD and non-CAD items), remove items from a structure, edit existing objects in the structure, and adjust quantities all without opening the CAD tool. Engineering Release provides easy access to both lifecycle management and collaboration commands. Users can easily manage structures, their lifecycles and collaborate with team members, all within a single app.
User Interface
The Engineering Release user interface displays the product’s Identity Card at the top, showing the information of the open structure. The overall structure list and metadata are shown below the Identity Card. Information and commands are activated from icons, right click menus, and also from hyperlinked metadata in the structure list, denoted in blue text.
The Home icon will return to the Engineering Release Home Page.
The dropdown arrow at the end of the Identity Card displays the commands that can be performed on the open structure as a whole.
Some of the more commonly used commands are:
Set Enterprise Item Number allows users to generate an Enterprise Item Number for the structure. Detailed information about working with Enterprise Item Numbers is provided in Chapter 5: Creating a Bill of Material, Enterprise Item Number.
Delete allows users to delete an item or a structure from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform with the option to include structural objects and delete all the child components.
Users can view Revisions and perform revision management for the structure using the commands Revisions, New Revision, New Branch, and New Revision From.
Update Revisions allows a user to selectively swap revisions or create a new revision for an object in the structure.
The option Replace by Latest Stable Revision is available if an object has multiple revisions in both the Frozen and Released Maturity States. This will select the latest revision found in either the Frozen or Released Maturity States.
The Update Revisions dialog box displays a warning message as an alert if a revision change could create a potential issue, indicating that additional actions may be required.
Update Revisions on Entire Structure will automatically update all the objects to the latest revision and, when appropriate, create a new revision to avoid errors.
Duplicate will create a new object using the content of an existing object. Detailed information about duplicating structures is provided in Chapter 5: Creating a Bill of Material, Duplicate.
Compare opens the Compare app, designed specifically for analyzing and comparing two structures. Detailed information about comparing structures is provided later in this document.
Maturity allows users to manage the structure’s lifecycle.
Relations launches the Relations app to display parent and child references of the structure.
Export Menu allows users to export the structure in its native CAD format. Detailed information about exporting structures is provided later in this document.
Customize Header allows users to customize the information found in the Identity Card. The Identity Card can be collapsed or expanded. The option Display when Collapsed shows the selected attribute when the Identity Card is in the collapsed state.
Work Under Bookmark, found in the row of icons, activates an existing Bookmark to work under, capturing any new objects created in Engineering Release.
Columns
The columns in the user interface show the Structure list and the metadata associated with the objects.
Actions
The hyperlinks found in the columns are a quick access to view and perform certain actions:
The Title hyperlink will open the selected item in Engineering Release. The Back icon will return to the open item’s parent structure.
Figure 9 Back Icon
To select the item without opening it, hover over the left-most item number to display a checkbox and click the checkbox to select.
The Enterprise Item Number hyperlink will open the dialog box to set the Enterprise Item Number. Detailed information about Enterprise Item Numbers is provided later in this document.
The Revisions hyperlink opens the Revisions dialog box.
The Quantity hyperlink opens the Quantity dialog box to add, remove and manage the object’s instances. The Structure list must be in the Reference View to show the Quantity column, see Views below.
The Maturity State hyperlink allows users to manage the selected object’s lifecycle.
The Owner hyperlink allows users to move the selected object to a new Collaborative Space and/or Organization, and Change the Owner of the object.
The icons in the Lock column are toggles to Lock/Unlock the selected object.
These commands are also found in the right-click menu along with many of the commands found in the drop-down menu for the Structure.
The Detach command, found in the right-click menu, is unique to working with Structures. It allows users to remove the selected item from the Structure. It does not delete the item from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
Customization
Visibility of columns can be controlled by right clicking the column headings and selecting Configure Table View.
In the Table View Configuration dialog box, enable or disable the checkbox to show/hide the Column Name in the Engineering Release user interface.
If the Column Name is not listed in the Table View Configuration dialog box, click the Attribute Manager icon to open the Attribute Management list. This list lets you manage additional Attributes for visibility.
From this Attribute Management dialog box, clicking the More Attributes icon will open the Attributes Browser. Under the Select Attributes tab, users can access more Attributes to control their visibility in Engineering Release.
Figure 15 Attributes Browser, Select Attributes Tab
Once the Attributes are added as column headings, the columns can be rearranged with a drag and drop.
Column headings can also be configured and saved for a custom view of the data. From the Table View Configuration dialog box, the + icon will create a new view configuration. You can customize the visibility and order of the column headings. Moving a column heading up in the list will move the column to the left in the user interface. Moving it down moves the column to the right.
Tailoring and saving column heading configurations allows quick access to only the specific data you need, for instance, for Purchasing or as an Engineering Manager or a Designer.
Views
The structure list can be reorganized, restructured and sorted to display only the desired information. Column headings will sort the data according to that column’s metadata.
Structure View
Usage and Reference controls how component instances are shown in any of the display formats. Use the Usage view to display each instance individually. Use the Reference view to group the instances and display a quantity.
Preferences
The Edit Preferences dialog box also has options to change how the structure list is displayed.
The options Show Specification Documents in Product Structure and Show 3DShapes in Product Structure control the display of Specification Documents and 3DShapes in the Structure list.
For most customers, a Specification Document is relevant to the BOM, as it helps define the object. Enabling Show ‘Specification Documents’ in Product Structure will show the Specification document as a child of the referenced object in the Structure list. More information on working with Specification Documents is provided in Chapter 4: Physical Product Information, Specification Links.
The 3DShape, however, is simply a graphics file representing the item. It is not related to the BOM and typically does not need to be displayed in the structure list.
CAD Format (CAD Master)
Connectors for various CAD applications enable locally installed CAD software to integrate with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. When CAD data is saved to the platform, it is converted to a data format called a physical product. This format enables the various roles and apps on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to access, use and reuse the same data. This centralized data storage is considered the single source of truth. However, it is essential to know which CAD system generated the object for potential modifications. The CAD Format field indicates the authoring tool of a CAD object.
Grouping and Filtering
The structure list can be modified using groups and filters to display specific information.
The Group By
For example, grouping objects via the Owner filter can show who owns an item. Grouping objects via the Lock filter can indicate if someone is working on a specific item. The Maturity State filter can identify any objects that need to be promoted to the Released Maturity State prior to Releasing the overall structure. The option None will clear all groups.
Filters
Exporting
A product structure can be exported to a .csv file for review and further use in downstream applications.
The Export output of the BOM,
as shown, with the columns and format displayed in the user interface.
This is helpful for a quick review of the BOM for reference.
When exporting to a downstream application that requires specific column headings in a defined order, such as an ERP system, it is best to configure the column headings as previously shown in Chapter 3: Columns, Customization. The custom configuration can be saved, allowing the custom data view to be easily recalled and exported at any time.
If you need to download CAD data from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, from the Export Menu, select Export As. This command exports the CAD data in the native file format without having to open the CAD system.
Figure 25 Export Menu
Users have the option to include drawings and derived formats for both 3D and 2D data. A derived format is a file generated from the conversion of one format to another.
| File Type | Derived Format Filetype Options |
|---|---|
| 2D File | DWG, PDF, DXF |
| 3D File | STEP, STEP_AP203, STEP_AP214, STEP_AP242 |
A Notification is received when the export process has finished. This is a link that launches the CAD Data Processor Monitoring dialog box, displaying the status of the newly created ZIP file.
The ZIP file can be downloaded to your local drive and shared.
Physical Product Information
The Information Panel displays the 3DEXPERIENCE attributes of the whole structure or of a selected file in the structure list. The row of icons at the top of the Information Panel includes tabs for viewing the object’s details such as Properties, Revisions, Relations, Comments, and History. Additionally, it includes commands for enhancing the EBOM with information such as Specifications or Attachments, specifying and displaying Alternates, Manufacturing Equivalent Items, Raw Materials or Make/From connections. These commands may rely on other roles for the item’s definition. The data generated is easily accessible directly from within the Engineer Release user interface.
Figure 29 Information Panel Icon
Properties
The columns in the Engineering Release user interface display a subset of the object’s complete properties. The full set of properties can be accessed via the Properties Tab of the Information Panel. As additional properties are added to the object, they will become visible within the Properties Tab.
Enterprise Item Number (EIN)
An Enterprise Item Number is the equivalent of a Part number. This unique identifier complies with company policies on standardized naming conventions for downstream applications, such as manufacturing and integration with an ERP system.
The EIN can be assigned to an object through the hyperlink available in the overall structure list or within the individual component's Identity Card. Once assigned, it is visible in the object’s Properties Tab in the Information Panel.
More information on working with Enterprise Item Numbers can be found in the section Creating a Bill of Material.
Attributes
An attribute stores non-CAD information linked to the object and is regarded as metadata. Attributes can be created manually through custom attributes or automatically, either through the CAD system or within 3DEXPERIENCE. Attributes are displayed in the Properties Tab for convenient review.
Users can modify editable attributes using Edit Mode
Classification Attributes
Classification allows objects to be enriched by assigning Class Attributes that define their characteristics. These attributes provide further details or specifications, offering a more complete definition of an object.
The Class, along with Class Attributes and their values, is displayed in the Properties Tab for easy reference once assigned. For more information on Classification and Class Attributes, see Chapter 6: Appendix, Classification Manager Role.
Item Details
These general attributes are based on the item’s object type. The Name (Database Object Name) is displayed, and is the Platform-wide identifier for the object. The Collaborative Policy is also shown, and it governs various administrative settings and workflows.
CAD Item
Specification Links
Specifications are essential documents that define a product, such as a Product Definition Sheet or technical requirements sheet. They contain critical information about the product. These documents are often linked to an engineering item to provide a complete and comprehensive definition of the item.
A linked Specification document formally becomes a child of the object. A Specification document is revision controlled and follows lifecycle rules along with the parent object.
It is recommended to establish a lifecycle rule to ensure the child Specification document is in the appropriate lifecycle state prior to performing lifecycle management on the parent object. This will prevent confusion and errors during lifecycle operations on the parent object.
The lifecycle rule can be added by the Platform Administrator. In the Collaborative Spaces Configuration Center > Maturity Graph > Engineering Definition, add a rule on all the transitions leading into Released:
Figure 32 Rule to Enforce Specification Documents are Lifecycle Managed with the Parent Object
The Specification Tab in the object’s Information Panel will show existing linked Specification documents, and has commands to add new Specification documents. Attaching Specification documentation to the object centralizes the information and ensures traceability of changes to the Specifications.
Figure 33 Specification Tab in Information Panel
The Specification column in the Engineering Release user interface will display the Specification icon, indicating the object has a linked Specification document. Clicking the icon will open the Specification Tab in the Information Panel.
Figure 34 Specification Documents Column and Icon in Engineering Release
Attachments are supplementary reference documents that provide additional informal information about an object. Unlike Specifications, Attachment documents do not influence or contribute to the formal definition of the object. For example, an attachment can be a Material Safety Data Sheet, NC code or a QA report. The information is simply captured and travels with the object so that it is not lost.
A linked Attachment has no formal relationship with the parent object. It is not revision controlled, and it is not subject to lifecycle management.
Attachments can be added or removed to the object at any lifecycle state. The parent object can progress through its lifecycle independently without being constrained by the lifecycle state of the Attachment document.
The Attachment Tab in the object’s Information Panel will show existing linked Attachments and has commands to add new Attachments.
Figure 35 Attachment Tab in Information Panel
Alternate items can be defined for any component in the structure. They are other physical products that can be used in place of the specified primary object in the structure. Each Alternate must be validated for satisfying the form, fit and function of the assembly, ensuring the component meets quality and performance standards. Previous revisions of a component or comparable material specifications are common Alternates for a component.
Alternates are defined in the Alternates Tab of the object’s Information Panel. A physical product can be deemed the Alternate for:
all usages of the primary object in any structure
all instances in this structure
one selected instance of the primary object in this structure
Figure 36 Alternates Tab in Information Panel
The Alternate column and Alternate (Instance) column in the Engineering Release user interface will display Yes or No, indicating if the object has an Alternate item(s) specified. Clicking the icon will open the Alternate Tab in the Information Panel.
A Make From connection is a relationship between the final product and the initial component from which it was created. The relationship can be made with another physical product or a Raw Material. For example, a bent part (final product) is made from a piece of bar stock material (initial component). Both items have part numbers and are tracked through inventory. The Make From relationship identifies which components need to be pre-produced or sourced, reducing unnecessary delays in production. It also ensures the traceability of materials and components.
The Make From relationship is similar to a parent-child relationship in that the child component (initial component) is revision controlled and follows lifecycle rules.
This relationship is defined in the Make From tab of an object’s Information Panel. Any existing Make From connections are listed here as well.
Figure 38 Make From Tab in Information Panel
The Made From column in the Engineering Release user interface will display the connected physical product title with revision or the Raw Material. Clicking the title will open the Make From Tab in the Information Panel.
Figure 39 Made From Column in Engineering Release
Material
Materials are for organizations that are leveraging the Material Definition app within a SIMULIA role in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The Material Definition app enables a material library to be established prior to applying materials to objects.
In the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, Materials represent engineering materials and are composed of a Core material and a Covering material. Engineering materials are applied to individual objects and specify the physical properties of the material, such as strength, weight, and mass.
Materials can be specified in Materials Tab of the Information Panel or within the configured CAD system. The Materials Tab also shows the assigned Core and Covering materials.
Figure 40 Materials Tab in Information Panel
These Materials should not be confused with Raw Materials. Engineering materials define a material’s physical properties, whereas 'Raw Material' on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform pertains to sourcing.
In Engineering Release, the assigned materials are indicated within the Core Material and Covering Material columns. If these columns are not shown, right-click in the column headings and select Configure Table View. Enable the check boxes for Core Material and Covering Material in the Visibility column.
Having the Material details readily accessible ensures clear communication of the exact material, grade, and other requirements for manufacturing the product. It also supports simulation and physical-property analysis.
Manufacturing Equivalent Items (MEIs) are for organizations that are leveraging Supplier Item Management and Supplier Network Management in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
A Manufacturer Equivalent Item designates the supplier-provided item(s) to serve as the primary component in the structure list. For example, a bolt used in a structure is a purchased part, and the Manufacturer Equivalent Item identifies the specific manufacturer and manufacturer part number to be used in manufacturing.
Manufacturing Equivalent Items provide a method to track and approve vendors and part numbers in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Commonly, SOLIDWORKS users will add a SOLIDWORKS custom property to a component to represent the Vendor and Vendor Part Number. If either of these designations need to be updated, those components will need to be revised and rereleased. Using MEIs will reduce the unnecessary component revisions for modifications to vendor information.
MEIs can be viewed from the Manufacturing Equivalent Item Tab of the component’s Information Panel. More information on Manufacturing Equivalent Items can be found in Chapter 6: Appendix, Supplier Item Manager Role.
Manufacturing Responsibility is for organizations that are leveraging Manufacturing Bills of Materials (MBOMs) in 3DEXPERIENCE. This allows a user working on the Engineering BOM to create initial Manufacturing Items and tie them to the responsible party at the organization.
When an item in the Engineering BOM is added to the Manufacturing BOM, a Manufacturing Item and a Scope relationship are created. The Manufacturing Item and related metadata can be found in the Manufacturing Responsibility Tab of the component’s Information Panel. More information on working with Manufacturing Items can be found in Chapter 6: Appendix, Manufacturing Items Engineer Role.
Creating a Bill of Material
There are several methods to create a new product through the EBOM in the Engineering Release user interface. These include creating a new product (structure) directly within the interface, importing a spreadsheet to create a new structure, or using the Duplicate command.
Creating BOMs and Using Existing Parts
The New Product command in the Engineering Release home page provides a method to create a new empty structure.
The New Product dialog box provides options to select a specific template from a CAD authoring tool. If an organization is using a single CAD tool within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, it is recommended to align the template with the preferred CAD system. Classifications can be assigned to include specific attributes in the product. Classifications will be discussed in the Appendix.
Once the Structure has been created, components can be added, building out the structure.
The New Product command within an existing structure will create a new, empty, assembly in the structure list. The New Part command will create a new, empty, single component in the structure list.
In both the New Product and New Part dialog boxes, there are options to select the specific template from the CAD authoring tool.
Existing CAD data can be incorporated into the new structure by dragged it from another widget or from Search Results. The drop location determines the component’s level within the structure. Dropping the component onto an assembly in the structure triggers a prompt to confirm its insertion into the assembly.
Note: Dropping an existing component into the Identity Card opens the component in the Engineering Release application.
The structure list can be rearranged while in the Usage View. With a drag and drop, components can be reordered (moved to another position within the structure) and reparented (dropped onto a new parent, such as an assembly). Dropping the component triggers a prompt to confirm reordering or reparenting the component.
This allows users to build the product structure by creating, inserting, reordering and reparenting components in the structure list without the need for a CAD license.
Importing a Spreadsheet
Structures can be created or updated by importing a spreadsheet. The file formats .csv, .xls, and .xlsx are supported. The Create from Spreadsheet command must be enabled in Preferences to display and launch the Create from Spreadsheet command in the home page of Engineering Release.
The spreadsheet must follow a precise format for successful import. A template can be downloaded containing all necessary headings.
Figure 46 Spreadsheet Template for Importing Structures
The data entered into the spreadsheet determines if a new physical product is created as a root or child component, or if the structure is updated by adding new physical products. The Level and Type columns must be filled in for each component whether you are creating a component or updating one.
If only the Level and Type columns are filled in, a new object is created.
Level 0 is the Root assembly. There can only be one Level 0 component in the structure.
Level 1 is a component of the Root assembly.
Level 2 is a subcomponent of the Level 1 component preceding it in the spreadsheet
Figure 48 Resulting Structure from Import
To update a structure, reimport the same spreadsheet with the Level, Type, Name and Revision fields filled in for the existing objects. This will reuse the existing objects, while allowing new objects to be added.
Figure 49 Example Updating a Structure from a Spreadsheet to Add New Components
Figure 50 Resulting Structure from Import
Use Export
To save time and minimize errors when updating a structure, customize the column headings for the import format and save as a new Table View Configuration, as previously shown in Chapter 3: Columns, Customization. Then, use the Export command to generate a spreadsheet preformatted for the required import format. All the fields will be automatically populated with the metadata for the existing components and new components can be added.
When importing items from a spreadsheet:
Each new object imports as an assembly.
The CAD format is 3DEXPERIENCE for all newly created objects and cannot be changed.
The CAD format is honored when existing CAD objects are specified in the spreadsheet.
Figure 51 Resulting Structure from Importing an Existing SOLIDWORKS File
BOM Compare
Compare, when launched from Engineering Release, displays two BOM structures side by side. The user interface includes Revision and Quantity columns to facilitate comparing the details of the structures.
Common use cases for Compare include comparing the previous revision of a BOM to the latest revision to identify changes between revisions. Also, in the case of creating a new BOM from an existing structure, Compare helps to account for each component, preventing any from being inadvertently omitted.
The Compare command is found in the drop-down menu in the Identity Card.
The structures can be shown in the Structure view or List view. List view displays the total quantity of instances in the Quantity column.
Differences between the structures are highlighted and color-coded, with filters at the top that enable users to analyze the differences in detail. For example, users can identify which components have changed and which remain identical, or which components have a new revision and which have changes in quantity. This provides clear insights into the changes and differences.
The types of differences found between the structures (for example, revision, identical, quantity) determines the available filters.
Figure 53 Example Filters in Compare
Being able to compare the structure lists from different revisions or two different models is especially useful for large structures. It enables users to quickly filter out identical components and focus only on those that have changed. It helps track changes and ensures the correct parts are used in production. It can help identify the differences in components and quantities to ensure an accurate inventory supply and avoiding delays.
Duplicate
A highly efficient and commonly used method for creating a new structure is to Duplicate an existing one. Duplicate will create a new object using the content of an existing object. Advanced Duplicate provides editing options to exclude components, reuse components, or duplicate a component and provide a new title.
In Engineering Release, Duplicate can be launched from the dropdown arrow of an object in the Home page or from the Identity card, or from the right click menu on an object in the structure list.
The Include Drawings option will duplicate the associated drawings, maintaining the file references. However, the copied drawing will not adopt the title of the new object. Retitle the copied drawing separately in Bookmark Editor to align with the new object name.
Figure 55 Resulting Structure from Duplicate Command
Enterprise Item Number
An Enterprise Item Number (EIN) is a Part Number that uniquely identifies an inventory item across the entire organization. Having every component labeled consistently according to an organization’s naming policies will clearly categorize the item, eliminating any confusion. It allows interoperability with downstream systems, such as an ERP system, and it facilitates inventory management and tracking.
There are a few administrator settings for Enterprise Item Numbers found in Collaborative Spaces Configuration Center > Engineering Definition that should be considered.
The Platform Administrator will configure the Enterprise Item Number formula. The formula can contain up to 15 fields, but only one global counter field containing up to 15 digits. For example, XXX1-YYY2-123456.
Figure 56 Enterprise Item Number, Formula Configuration Dialog Box
Under Enterprise Item Number: Admin Configuration, the Administrator can enforce using unique Enterprise Item Numbers by enabling the setting Enable Enterprise Item Number uniqueness for Product.
Enabling this option will ensure each EIN will be a unique identifying part number and will reduce the confusion of having duplicate data.
The option Allow different Enterprise Item Number for a Product within its revision chain controls whether a new revision of an item with an EIN can be assigned a new EIN.
Commonly, this setting is disabled. When a new EIN number is introduced during a revision update, the new part number does not start with the initial revision (Rev A). Because the structure is derived from the existing revision, it lacks the complete revision history of the development process. This breaks the continuity of the revision chain and disrupts the traceability across revisions. If the changes in the new revision justify a distinct part number, it is best practice to start by creating a new structure beginning at Rev A.
The option Always allow Manual Input for Enterprise Item Number allows the EIN to be edited manually.
If manual entry of part numbers is enabled, ensure the Enable Enterprise Item Number uniqueness for Product setting is enabled to prevent users from creating duplicate part numbers in the system.
Figure 57 Enterprise Item Number: Admin Configuration Settings
Once the Enterprise Item Numbers are configured, an EIN can be set from the EIN hyperlink or by right-clicking on an object(s) in the structure list in Engineering Release.
The Enterprise Item Number dialog box displays an existing EIN where the user can edit or clear the EIN number. To set a new EIN number, the user must select the item’s check box in the list, click the + sign to open the Configured Formula dialog box, and then click OK prior to clicking Set.
Appendix: Roles That Integrate with Product Release Engineer
The Product Release Engineer role serves as a gateway role. It connects with numerous additional roles and apps that either utilize the structure data or generate detailed information for line items in the Engineering Bill of Materials. The roles include the Collaborative Industry Innovator role with the Change Execution app, the Classification Manager role, the Specification Manager role, the Supplier Item Manager role and the Manufacturing Item Engineer role.
This Appendix will introduce each additional role and explore how it impacts or enriches the Engineering BOM.
Collaborative Industry Innovator, Change Execution app (CSV)
The Change Execution app, within the Collaborative Industry Innovator role, enables users to initiate a Change Action. A Change Action contains all the information required to implement a change on an object or structure. It formally documents the modifications and ensures the change process follows an organization’s standard approval workflow. The automation built into a Change Action can create a new revision, promote the object(s) to the Released Maturity State, and manage approvals.
Working under a Change Action
The setting to control the visibility and location of the Work Under icon is found under Preferences. Enabling Work Under in Engineering Release will track and record any modifications to the structure while the Change Action is active.
The Realized Changes Tab in Change Action (Change Execution app) lists the modifications to the structure made in Engineering Release. It displays which objects changed as well as how they changed.
The Change Action further documents who made the changes and who approved the changes, with any comments and the approval date. This provides a clear record of the change, ensuring traceability.
For more information about the Change Execution app, please see SolidPractices: Change Management.
Classification Manager Role (CCM)
The Classification Manager Role in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is for organizations looking for a flexible and secure approach for classifying, organizing and retrieving data.
Data is organized within a classification framework consisting of Libraries, Classes and Subclasses. It is tailored to an organization’s functional groups, such as engineering, design, purchasing and marketing. Different teams, departments, or purposes within the organization can categorize data according to their specific needs. The same content can be classified in multiple ways depending on its use.
Classification provides a method to enrich the object by assigning additional Class Attributes that pertain to an object’s characteristics. These Class Attributes are in addition to the general 3DEXPERIENCE platform Attributes assigned per the content type. The Class Attributes provide further information or specification for a more complete object definition.
The Classification Manager Role consists of the IP Classification Editor and the IP Classification apps.
Overview of the IP Classification Editor
The IP Classification Editor app, found in the Classification Manager role, defines the framework to categorize data. Libraries serve as the primary category or criteria. Within each Library, the Classes and Subclasses define specific subcategories and assign unique Class Attributes.
For instance, a plastic molded housing is categorized within the Molded Parts Library and Polypropylene Class. It is assigned a Class Attribute that list the compliance number for the material. A socket-head cap screw is categorized withing the ANSI Hardware Library, Screws and Bolts Class, and the Socket Head Cap Screw Subclass. It is assigned Class Attributes that list the thread length and pitch. Each item is classified in its respective Library and Class and receives only its relevant Class Attributes. For example, a screw does not require a material compliance number, and a plastic molded part does not require thread information.
There are several methods for users to classify items:
In Bookmark Editor, use the Classification Tab from an object’s Information Panel to assign or view Classifications.
In the IP Classify and Reuse app (Collaborative Industry Innovator role), users can drag and drop content into their respective Classes, assigning the Classification.
The New Part dialog box in Engineering Release contains the Classifications Tab to specify the Classification Library upon creation.
Figure 62 New Part Dialog Box with Option to Classify Object on Creation
When a user classifies an object in one or several Libraries, the Class Attributes are saved in the metadata of the object. This provides a more well-defined object in 3DEXPERIENCE. There are several important reasons for adding Class Attributes to an object:
The metadata per object can now be easily tracked based on an item’s function.
Objects can be easily found using a global search (3DSearch) or the local search within the IP Classify and Reuse app. Using combinations of Class Attributes for searching enables quick and precise filtering, allowing users to "drill down" to the exact object they need for reuse.
Class Attributes can be added to the Bill of Materials.
Adding Classification Attributes to Engineering Release
Class Attributes can be displayed as column headings in the Engineering Release user interface, as previously shown in Chapter 3: Columns, Customization. The user interface updates, displaying the column headings and populated metadata within the columns.
Class Attributes enrich the product’s definition by providing additional details that further characterize the object. Displaying Class Attributes in the Engineering Release user interface enables quick access and visibility to critical information for downstream business activities, such as purchasing, manufacturing, and more.
Specification Manager Role (XSR)
The Specification Manager Role in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, in the context of integrating with Engineering Release, is for organizations that are leveraging Raw Materials in 3DEXPERIENCE.
Raw Materials in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform are physical products used for sourcing. It can be the resource from which to make an object, or it can be an object that will be consumed during the manufacturing process. Raw Materials have dimensional properties, for example length, width, or volume. Raw Materials do not define the mechanical properties of a material. Instead, they inherit the characteristics from the source material.
Creating Raw Materials in Specification Manager
The Specification Management app, within the Specification Manager role, creates and manages Raw Material objects that can be used in other apps, such as Engineering Release. When creating a new Raw Material object in Specification Management, there are various options for defining the Type of Raw Material object. By selecting a specific type, the object is assigned additional specialized attributes that reflect the characteristics of that type. For instance, an object designated as the Cable Raw Material type will receive attributes such as bend radius, outside diameter, and gauge.
Note: These attributes can only be modified within a specific modeling application on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
Instead, to enhance accessibility, it is recommended to use the generic Raw Material and use Classifications to organize the Raw Material objects. Classification Libraries will assign specialized Class Attributes to the object with editing capabilities.
The Raw Material object in the Released Maturity State will be visible and accessible to other members in the Collaborative Space. The Raw Material object in the In Work Maturity State is only visible and accessible to the owner.
Using Raw Materials in Engineering Release
The most common use case for Raw Materials is when the item is consumed during the manufacturing process. For instance, the rear differential in the powertrain assembly requires a specific volume of gear oil. The oil must be accounted for in the Engineering BOM and is used during the assembly of the rear differential.
Selecting the Existing Raw Material option from the New menu will search for Raw Materials created under the Specification Management role.
The Volume or Mass field is determined from the selected Raw Material and cannot be changed. Users provide the quantity value and units of measure, or specify As Required, for the quantity of the line item in the BOM. The following figures are examples of each.
Figure 67 Choose Quantity of Raw Material, Mass
The Raw Material is added to the structure as a separate line item. The Structure View must be set to the Reference view in order to see the Quantity column.
Using Raw Materials in Made From
A Made From connection is another use case for Raw Materials. The Made From relationship is created between the final product and the Raw Material from which it will be created. For example, the metal coil (final product) is made from 34 inches of the #12 Stainless-Steel Wire (Raw Material).
The Make From relationship is created in the object’s Information Panel, in the Make From Tab. The Raw Material must be created in the Specification Management app prior to creating the Make From relationship.
The Quantity and Units of Measure are mandatory and are editable in the Connect dialog box. There is also the option for As Required.
The Make From relationship can be displayed as a column heading in Engineering Release. As described in Chapter 3: Columns, Customization, enable the check box for the Made From and Raw Material Quantity Attributes from Attribute Management. The user interface updates, displaying the column heading and populating the metadata within the column.
Supplier Item Manager Role (XSP)
The Supplier Item Manager Role in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is for organizations that are managing vendor items in 3DEXPERIENCE. It connects engineering information with sourcing. Users create relationships between objects in the structure list and approved sourced items from vetted suppliers. This facilitates the reuse of certified components from trusted suppliers, ensuring quality and compliance.
Overview of Supplier Item Qualification
The Supplier Item Qualification app, within the Supplier Item Manager role, creates and manages Manufacturer Equivalent Items (MEIs). A MEI is the manufacturer or supplier item that fulfills the primary item in the BOM or structure list. A single primary item can be fulfilled using multiple components sourced from various approved suppliers.
| Internal Part No. | Vendor | Vendor Part No. | |
|---|---|---|---|
Engineering Item in Structure List | Transistor-123 | ||
| MEI: Sourced Component 1 | ST MicroElectronics | ST3408 | |
| MEI: Sourced Component 2 | Texas Instruments | TI3897 |
Manufacturer Equivalent Items
In Engineering Release, MEIs are indicated within the Manufacturer Equivalent Item column. If the Manufacturer Equivalent Item column is not shown, please refer to Chapter 3: Columns, Customization for instructions on how to enable its visibility.
As shown above, the user interface displays an icon (or combination of icons) that reflects each MEI’s validation status:
An X indicates there are no valid MEIs for this item.
A check indicates there is at least one valid MEI.
An up triangle indicates there is a qualification process ongoing for at least one MEI.
A clock indicates at least one MEI is expiring soon and is pending Obsolete.
A filled circle indicates at least one valid MEI and at least one is in the qualification process.
Users can click the status icon to open the Manufacturer Equivalent Items Tab in the component’s Information Panel, allowing them to review the existing Manufacturer Equivalent Items.
Displaying the Information Panel in the Table View provides a quick reference for downstream activities. The Purchasing department, for example, can easily see if MEIs exist, and have easy access to detailed information such as the Manufacturer and the Manufacturing Part Number for sourcing.
Manufacturing Items Engineer Role (MFN)
The Manufacturing Item Engineer role is for organizations that are leveraging Manufacturing Bill of Materials (MBOMs) in 3DEXPERIENCE. Within the Manufacturing Items Management app, users can create the Manufacturing Bill of Materials and generate the Manufacturing Items associated with the components of a structure. Users can also create Manufacturing Items directly from Engineering Release.
Overview of Manufacturing Bills of Materials and Manufacturing Items
A Manufacturing Bill of Materials (MBOM) is created from, and is linked to, an Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM). An EBOM shows the design intent and details each component from a design perspective. In contrast, the MBOM is structured according to the actual manufacturing processes. The MBOM breaks down the assembly structure into specific stages, defining in-process parts and assemblies, establishing the sequence of the steps for production. The MBOM used for manufacturing is commonly exported to or integrated with a manufacturing management system such as ERP or MES.
A Manufacturing Item is generated when an Engineering Item is incorporated into a Manufacturing Bill of Materials. The same Engineering Item and corresponding Manufacturing Item can be included in multiple MBOMs.
Various Manufacturing Item Types
A Manufacturing Bill of Materials (MBOM) can include various types of Manufacturing Items. For example, components such as provided parts (purchased or fabricated), manufacturing kits (a collection of parts prepared in advance), manufacturing assemblies (an assembly that exists only in the manufacturing process), among others, are common types of Manufacturing Items.
Creating Manufacturing Items from Engineering Release
An engineer can also proactively define the Manufacturing Item for a specific component within Engineering Release. From the object’s Information Panel, in the Manufacturing Responsibility tab, the user will create the Manufacturing Item corresponding to the function of the object. The most common types are Make (Assembly), Make (Material) or Buy.
| Make (Assembly) | Creates a manufacturing-specific intermediate assembly. |
|---|---|
| Make (Material) | Creates an individual part from a fabricated or produced material. |
| Buy | Creates individual parts that can be produced internally and raw materials are identified. |
The user defines the Organization if applicable and the Collaborative Space in which to save the Manufacturing Item.
Preemptively creating the Manufacturing Items within the Engineering Release user interface can save time. For instance, if a product is to be manufactured in two different plants or organizations, the engineer can create two Manufacturing Items, designating the appropriate Organization and Collaborative Space for each one. The Manufacturing Item will integrate into each Plant’s MBOM, giving access to relevant items and streamlining the MBOM creation by using items that have already been defined.
In the Engineering Release user interface, Manufacturing Items are indicated in the Manufacturing Responsibility Column. If the Manufacturing Responsibility column is not shown, please refer to Chapter 3: Columns, Customization. The Manufacturing Responsibility column displays the Manufacturing Item Type with Organization. This indicates an MBOM item exists, with quick reference to whether it is produced or purchased (either Make or Buy, depending on the specified Manufacturing Item Type) along with the responsible organization. If a component has two Manufacturing Items, one being produced, the other purchased, the Manufacturing Responsibility column will display “Multiple.”
Users can click on the component’s Manufacturing Responsibility to open the Manufacturing Responsibility Tab in the component's Information Panel. Displaying the Information Panel in Table View shows the Manufacturing Item Type, Owner, responsible Organization, and the Collaborative Space. This provides further detailed information to determine if the item is being used in manufacturing.
Use Relations to list all of the MBOMs referencing the selected Manufacturing Item. This provides a clear view of where the item is being used and what products will be impacted by a proposed change.
Note: Use the popout view .
Figure 80 Relations Showing Manufacturing Scope
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