# Product Usage

## Key Features

| The Product Usage module includes all functionality required to create product platforms/applications and to manage the release of products assigned to an application. A product is typically a top-level item with a multilevel BOM.
| The main objects of the Product Usage module are: Product Platform Application
| The central object is the application which is referenced to different objects. These references specify the requirements/conditions for a product used in a certain application.
| ### Product Platform
| A product platform specifies the manufacturer and describes the characteristics of the platform. A product platform typically represents a product family of a manufacturer. A platform is very generic and the individual characteristics of how your product will be used is described with individual applications. The following functions are available: Creating a product platform Assigning objects to a product platform Assigning a product platform to an application
| Creating a Product Platform
| To create a product platform a unique number has to be entered in the product platform mask (Start > Products > Product Usage > Product Platforms). Optionally you can enter a platform name, a description, the name of the manufacturer (the company that creates the platform) and an alternative name for the product platform. Usually the platform is given an internal name whereas the alternative name is most likely a marketing term.
| A user can only modify a product platform in the state "110 - In Work".
| A product platform can only be deleted in state "110 - In Work". It is not possible to delete a product platform that is referenced to an application.
| Please note that the release procedure for the product platform may be different according to the Change Management configuration of your system.
| Change Management
| Assigning objects to a product platform
| Objects are assigned to a product platform to specify the product platform. The following objects can be assigned to a platform: Organization: The manufacturer who creates a product platform. A manufacturer is defined in the Organization module. Document: Mainly documents that define and specify a product platform (e.g. specification documents). Application: One or several assignments, each describing an individual application of a platform (see Application).
| A product platform cannot be assigned to an application if the application is in state "230 - Released" or "260 - Withdrawn". This also refers to the deletion of the assignment.
| The assignment of a product platform to an application cannot be deleted if the application is in state "230 - Released" or "260 - Withdrawn".
| ### Application
| An application describes how the item that you deliver (your product) will be used. Multiple applications can be defined for a product platform. An application collects all information that is characteristic for the product's usage. The following functions are available: Creating an application Assigning objects to an application Releasing an item - application assignment Classifying an application
| Creating an Application
| To create an application a unique number has to be entered in the application mask (Start > Products > Product Usage > Applications). Additional data for describing the application can be entered, e.g. a customer name for the company/department that uses your product. Typically this company is identical with the manufacturer of the platform. In some cases the manufacturer of the platform and the customer of the individual application are different companies.
| An application can only be modified in the state "110 - In Work" or "120 - In Approval".
| An application can only be deleted when it is in state "110 - In Work".
| Assigning Objects to an Application
| The following objects can be assigned to an application:
| Organization: The customer of your product. A customer is defined in the Organization module. Item: The product or assembly that is used in this specific application. Document: Specification documents or contracts defining and specifying the product usage within the application. Product Platform The product platform is the basis for specific applications your product is used for.
| The assignment between an application and a product platform cannot be deleted if the application is in state "230 - Released" or "260 - Withdrawn".
| The assignment of item and application can only be released if the application is set to the state "220 - Approved" and the item is either set to the state "220 - Approved" or to "230 - Released".
| Please note that the release procedure for the item - application assignment may be different according to the Change Management configuration of your system.
| Change Management
| Classifying an Application
| Similar applications can be classified by assigning them to a class. A class consists of individual attributes which have to be defined and added to a class. When assigning an application to a class, individual values for these attributes can be set, e.g. such as maximum lifetime = 5 years or maximum load = 1000 kg. Basically, the classification aims at providing a fast overview of values that are specifically important for an application. Attributes and the corresponding values are usually extracted from specification documents assigned to the application.
| Classification