1. Implementing Manufacturing and Supply Chain Materials Management
  2. Configure Lot and Serial Descriptive Flexfields

Configure Lot and Serial Descriptive Flexfields

With lot and serial descriptive flexfields, you can create user-defined extension fields on the lot and serial pages to track additional information about a lot or serial number that's important and unique to your business.

To configure lot and serial attribute descriptive flexfields, complete these tasks.

  1. Define each attribute value set.

  2. Set up lot and serial descriptive flexfield contexts.

  3. Set up lot and serial descriptive flexfield segments in each context.

  4. Deploy the descriptive flexfield.

  5. Assign context mapping by item category or item.

Define Each Attribute Value Set

Value sets are the framework for a particular segment of a descriptive flexfield. They determine the module validation type, value data type, and the format of the descriptive flexfield.

Note: Before you define the value set for an attribute, you should determine its context requirements, including the types of values required for each context segment.

  1. In the Setup and Maintenance work area, go to the Value Sets task:

    • Offering: Manufacturing and Supply Chain Materials Management

    • Functional Area: Inventory Management

    • Task: Manage Inventory Value Sets

  2. On the Manage Value sets page, click the Add icon to create a value set using the values in this table.

    Field

    Value

    Value Set Code

    Initials_SERIAL_ATTRIBUTE1

    Description

    Initials_DFF_TEST

    Module

    Lots and Serials

    Validation Type

    Format Only

    Validation Data Type

    Character

    Value Subtype

    Text

    Maximum length

    10

  3. Click Save and Close.

Set Up Lot and Serial Descriptive Flexfield Contexts

Setting up lot and serial descriptive flexfield contexts involves defining a context for each type of item that will track different groups of attributes. You should define different contexts to do the following:

  • Track different attributes for different types of items

  • Provide different default values for different types of items

To set up lot and serial descriptive flexfield contexts:

  1. In the Setup and Maintenance work area, go to the Manage Inventory Descriptive Flexfield task:

    • Offering: Manufacturing and Supply Chain Materials Management

    • Functional Area: Inventory Management

    • Task: Manage Inventory Descriptive Flexfield

  2. On the Manage Inventory Descriptive Flexfield page, in the Module field, search on Lots and Serials to display the context codes that currently exist for lot attributes.

  3. Select Serial Attributes and click the Edit icon.

  4. On the Edit Descriptive Flexfield page, select the Manage Context button.

  5. On the Manage Context page, click the Add icon.

  6. Define the context using the values in this table.

    Field

    Value

    Display Name

    Initials_QUALITY

    The context code and API populate based on the context.

    Description

    Quality DFF

  7. Click Save.

Set Up Lot and Serial Descriptive Flexfield Segments

When you configure each attribute for each context, specify:

  • Database column in which to store the attribute. WMS supports data types of varchar, number, and date.

  • Whether the attribute is required or optional.

  • Default value for the attribute.

  • Value set for the attribute. The value set determines:

    • Length of the attribute

    • Type of validation of the data. Attribute validations types include no validation, independent validation, and table validation. Independent validation means that the attribute is validated against a manually defined list of values.

To set up lot and serial descriptive flexfield segments:

  1. From the Edit Descriptive Flexfields page, click the Add icon on the Context Sensitive Segments toolbar.

  2. On the Create Segment page, define these values for the segment:

    Field

    Value

    Name

    High

    Data Type

    Character

    Value Set

    Choose the Value Set created earlier: Initials_SERIAL_ATTRIBUTE1

    Prompt

    Accept default from name.

    Display Type

    Text Box

    Display Size

    10

    Table Column

    C_Attribute2

  3. Click Save and Create Another.

  4. Create two more context sensitive segments for Medium and Low quality.

    The result should be three context sensitive segments - High, Medium, and Low for Initials_QUALITY.

  5. Click Save and Close.

    A new context is created called Initials_QUALITY.

  6. Click Save and Close from the Mange Contexts page.

  7. Click Save and Close from the Edit Descriptive Flexfield page.

Deploy the Descriptive Flexfield

After you define your descriptive flexfield, including all of its components, such as segments and values, you must deploy the flexfield in order to use it. Once, deployed, the Deployment Status field shows as selected for the flexfield on the Manage Inventory Descriptive Flexfields page.

To deploy a descriptive flexfield:

  1. In the Setup and Maintenance work area, go to the Manage Inventory Descriptive Flexfield task:

    • Offering: Manufacturing and Supply Chain Materials Management

    • Functional Area: Inventory Management

    • Task: Manage Inventory Descriptive Flexfield

  2. Search for a select a flexfield in the search results table.

  3. Select the Deploy Flexfield button.

    When you click the Deploy Flexfield button, the changes are compiled and a process runs showing the deployment. Once the process complete, the Deployment Status check box displays as selected for the flexfield.

Assign Context Mapping by Item Category or Item.

After you deploy the flexfield, you must navigate to the Manage Lot and Serial Attribute Mapping set up page to assign the attribute context to its associated item or item category.

The purpose of the Manage Lot and Serial Attribute Mapping page is to assign the context value of additional lot or serial attributes that you have defined in a descriptive flexfield to an item, a range of items, or an item category. You can either find existing mappings or define new mappings on this page. You can select either Lot Attributes or Serial Attributes for the Flexfield Name option. Then, select either a specific item, a range, or item category for the Context Column option. Finally, click the Search button. Existing assignments populate in the search results area. To define new mappings, you can specify the same criteria and click the Save button.

Attributes contained in INV_LOT_NUBERS and INV_SERIAL_NUMBERS aren't supported for mapping default context. Only attributes contained in INV_LOT_ATTRIBUTES and INV_SERIAL_ATTRIBUTES are available for mapping as context in the Manage Lot and serial Attribute Mapping page.

Only categories within one category set can be used in an organization to assign attributes at the category level. When you assign a context to an item or item category, this occurs:

  • The application prompts you to enter the correct group of attributes for each type of item.

  • You can assign default contexts by item category or item number.

  • You can assign by categories that exist in any category set. However, by assigning an item to a context that's different from its owning category, the item takes the attributes assigned at the item level.

Note: If you assign an attribute to an item category, then the item inherits the attribute.

  1. In the Setup and Maintenance work area, go to the Manage Lot and Serial Attribute Mapping task:

    • Offering: Manufacturing and Supply Chain Materials Management

    • Functional Area: Inventory Management

    • Task: Manage Lot and Serial Attribute Mapping

  2. Assign the context value of additional lot or serial attributes that you have defined in a descriptive flexfield to an item, a range of items, or an item category.