Define and Maintain Rules

Explanation

Use this activity to define the back office manufacturing rules determining whether the specific configuration structure or routing element should be selected for a specific set of configuration values.  Rules are also used to define whether any additional actions or data manipulation should be performed to further modify the structure or routing resulting from evaluation of a specific configuration.

Rules are divided into two types: Conditions and Actions.  Conditions are a logical expression determining if the item should be selected or not for a specific set of configuration values.  If the condition evaluates to true, then the item is selected. Actions are a type of command that allows you to manipulate the values of the selected record, calculate and declare new characteristic values, and insert additional structure or routing elements. For more information about conditions and actions, see About Back Office Configuration Rules.

Prerequisites

IFS/Configuration Back Office and IFS/Configuration Characteristic must be installed. A configurable part must be defined in Inventory Part.  Configuration structures or routings must be defined for the part.

System Effects

A back office configuration rule is created and associated with either a structure or routing element for a configurable part with a configuration specification. This rule is considered whenever structures or routings are evaluated for a configured manufacturing order.

Window

Config Structure Alternate Rules
Config Structure Graphic
 Configuration Structure Rules
Configuration Structure Work Guideline Rules
Routing Alternate Rules
Routing Graphic
Routing Operation Rules
Routing Operation Tool Rules
Routing Operation Work Guideline Rules

Related Window Descriptions

Configuration Structure Alternate Rules
Configuration Structure Graphic
Configuration Structure Rules
Configuration Structure Work Guideline Rules
Routing Alternate Rules
Configuration Routing Graphic
Routing Operation Rules
Routing Operation Tool Rules
Routing Operation Work Guideline Rules

Procedure

Defining Conditions:

  1. Navigate to the configuration rules form from the context of the structure or routing element
  2. In the Conditions tab, click New (F5).
  3. In the Log. Op field, click the dropdown list and select either AND or OR if this is a compound condition (this line is in addition to the first line). No Logical Operator is required if this is the first condition line.
  4. In the ( field, click the dropdown list and select ( Open Paren if this condition line is to be grouped inside parentheses; otherwise leave null.
  5. Enter a Value 1 value, then select a Type 1 value from the drop down list. You can also select values from the Formulas, Characteristic, or Char. Qty tabs on the right hand side of the form by clicking in the Value 1 field, then either double-clicking on the desired formula or characteristic in the right hand tab, or selecting the value, right-clicking, and then clicking Set Value.
  6. In the Rel. Op field, select a relational operator from the drop down list.  The default is Equal To.
  7. Enter a Value 2 value, then select a Type 2 value from the drop down list. You can also select values from the Formulas, Characteristic, or Char. Qty tabs on the right hand side of the form by clicking in the Value 2 field, then either double-clicking on the desired formula or characteristic, or selecting the value, right-clicking, and then clicking Set Value. If the Type 1 value is a discrete characteristic, click the List of Values (F8) and select a valid discrete option value. To do so, Type 1 must be Characteristic Value, Value 1 must be a discrete characteristic, and Type 2 must be an Entered Value. 
  8. Click Save (F12).

Defining Actions 'Set' action:

  1. Navigate to the configuration rules form from the context of the structure or routing element.
  2. In the Actions tab, click New.
  3. In the Action field, accept the default of Set or click the dropdown list and select a different value.
  4. In the Item field, click List of Values (F8) and select the attribute name which will override the default value. The list of available values depends on the type of selected structure or routing element.
  5. Enter a value for Value, then click the dropdown list and select a value for Value Type. This is the value to which this attribute should be set. You can also select values from the Formulas, Characteristic, or Char. Qty tabs on the right hand side of the form by clicking Value, then either double-clicking on the desired formula or characteristic, or selecting the value, right-clicking and then clicking Set Value.
  6. Click Save (F12).

Defining Actions 'Declare' action:

  1. Navigate to the configuration rules form from the context of the structure or routing element.
  2. In the Actions tab, click New.
  3. In the Action drop down list, click Declare.
  4. In the Item field, click List of Values (F8) and select the attribute characteristic name to declare.
  5. In the Value field, enter a value, then click the dropdown list and select a value for Value Type.  This is the value to which the declared characteristic should be set. You can also select values from the Formulas, Characteristic, or Char. Qty tabs on the right hand side of the form.  Click Value, then either double-click on the desired formula or characteristic, or select the value, right-click and then click Set Value.
  6. If the characteristic to be declared requires a characteristic quantity, enter a value for Quantity and click the dropdown list and select a value for Quantity Type.  This is the numeric value to which the declared characteristic quantity should be set. You can also select values from the Formulas, Characteristic, or Char. Qty tabs on the right hand side of the form by clicking in Quantity, then either double-clicking on the desired formula or characteristic, or selecting the value, right-clicking and then clicking Set Value.
  7. Click Save (F12).

Defining Actions: 'Insert' action

  1. Navigate to the configuration rules form from the context of the structure or routing element.
  2. In the Actions tab, click New.
  3. In the Action field, click the drop down list and select Insert.
  4. In the Item field, click List of Values (F8) and select the type of record to insert. Available valid values depend on the type of selected structure or routing element.
  5. Click Save (F12).
  6. Select the Insert action row in the table, right-click, and then click Config Action Attribute. A dialog appears displaying all of the record's attributes to be inserted.
  7. For each attribute, enter a value for the Value field and then click the dropdown list and select a value for the Value Type field.  This is the value to which this attribute should be set when inserted.  You must specify a value for each mandatory attribute.
  8. When complete, click OK to save your work.