Understanding Smart Parts
Depending on the item numbering scheme and the need for reducing assembly inclusion rules, you can set up smart parts, or special item numbers, to derive defined variable segments. Using smart parts is a simplified version of using assembly inclusion rules.
For example, a manufacturer might have 100 different paint options for a configured item. Rather than set up 100 different assembly inclusion rules to account for variations in paint color, the manufacturer might want to set up special item numbers, or smart parts, to keep track of the different paint values. These smart parts combine the segment item and the paint color into one item number, as defined in the smart part field on the Advanced Rule Functions form.
Smart parts work with P and Q rules. You can build smart part numbers by using the segment values from order entry. The system calculates smart parts in a similar manner to derived calculations. However, the resulting smart part is an alphanumeric string. You must define item numbers that are the result of smart part calculations in the Item Master (F4101) and Item Branch File (F4102) tables.
Smart part formulas can define short, second, or third item numbers. Smart parts use the part numbering symbol conventions that are defined in the branch/plant constants. For example, if the smart part formula uses the symbol to identify the third part number, the system places the third part number on the sales order and work order detail line.
You can build a smart part number by using these functions:
Function |
Description |
|---|---|
Segment referencing |
To reference segments that have already been
entered on a different level specify the item number of that level
with the segment number. For example, the notation for Segment 4 of
Piston is Derived Calculation
|
Substring |
To remove a particular string within a larger
string, use the substring function. It removes a string when you
define the segment, beginning position, and length. For example, if
Segment 4 equals 1234, the last three positions (234) can be used
with the notation |
Concatenation |
To combine two fields, use the concatenation
function. For example, |
Literal text |
To combine a literal (constant) with a segment
value (variable) to create a formula. When you are using literal
text in a smart part calculation, the literal must be placed in
single quotes. In this example, the smart part consists of the
literal P and the value of segment 4. Thus, the formula would
be |