How Items Are Unique

One of the biggest challenges in manufacturing is determining how to manage items that may seem identical but differ based on their configurations. In many ERP systems, the same item (same SKU) might be used for different products simply because adding and maintaining a vast catalog of items is cumbersome. This approach, while simpler in the short term, can lead to serious problems:

• Operational Challenges: Using the same item for different products creates ambiguity. This makes it difficult to accurately plan manufacturing operations and manage the supply chain.
• Implementation Failures: When a system relies on overlapping item definitions, it can compromise the integrity of data and result in failed implementations.

Managing Thousands of Products with Ease

factory.online tackles this complexity by enabling manufacturers to manage thousands of items effortlessly. Here’s how:

• Automated Item Generation: With factory.online, you can generate hundreds or even thousands of items based on material classes with a range of characteristics— all in a single click. This functionality eliminates the need for manual entry, reducing human error and improving efficiency.

Matrix BOMs and Routings

Handling varied product configurations becomes seamless with matrix BOMs (Bills of Materials) and routings. Here’s what makes these features invaluable:

• Matrix BOMs: Instead of creating separate BOMs for each configuration, you can create one comprehensive BOM that includes all possible components. This BOM maps product characteristics to the specific composition of materials needed for each configuration.
• Matrix Routings: These routings help manage special operations and resource requirements for specific product configurations, streamlining production processes and reducing complexity.

Manage Alternative Materials and Components

Different suppliers provide different materials that can be used as alternatives in your product's manufacturing. Managing inventory and tracking consumption with separate SKUs is essential. factory.online offers robust alternative materials management, supporting both one-to-one alternatives and one-to-many alternatives (where one main material can be replaced with two or more different options). This feature reduces the complexity of master data while maintaining flexibility and clear inventory tracking.

Tracking Special Requirements

Certain products may have special requirements, such as specific markings that need to be printed. These could include product specifications for specific markets or symbols in different languages. factory.online provides tools to manage different marking versions without creating duplicate products, allowing you to track these variations batch-wise and maintain clear inventory records.

PDM Integrations

Integration with external Product Data Management (PDM) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems is crucial for efficient item management:

• Design Synchronization: factory.online supports the import of product designs from external PDM and PLM systems. This ensures that all product data is consistent and up-to-date, facilitating better manufacturing operations planning and execution.

Conclusion

Item management doesn’t have to be a bottleneck in your manufacturing process. By leveraging factory.online’s ability to automate item generation, utilize matrix BOMs and routings, manage alternative materials, and integrate seamlessly with PDM and PLM systems, manufacturers can simplify the management of thousands of products while enhancing accuracy and efficiency. Say goodbye to the limitations of traditional ERP approaches and embrace smarter, scalable item management solutions.

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