PDM-UG: Product Concept Configuration Identification
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Product configuration identification is the explicit identification of the configurations that exist for a given product concept and the representation of their composition. A product configuration is specified as a configuration_item. Product configurations can be related to appropriate part versions to specify the designs that implement the product configurations through the configuration_design. Configuration items relate to part versions that implement the product configuration through the configuration design.
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The Instance Model: EXPRESS entities and attributes
The EXPRESS entities and attributes essential to support the identification of customer oriented product configurations are illustrated in Diagram 64 below. The corresponding STEP exchange file encoding is given in Example 63.
Diagram 64: Product Concept Configuration Identification Instance Diagram
Configuration item
The configuration_item entity is a key concept to support explicit configuration management. It represents the identification of a particular configuration, i.e., variation of a product_concept. A configuration_item is defined with respect to the product concept, i.e., the class of similar products of which it is a member.
The configuration_item defines a manufacturable end item, or something that is conceived and expected as such. The association between a configuration_item and a corresponding part design is established using a configuration_design. The valid use of component parts for planned units of manufacturing of a particular configuration_item may be specified using configuration effectivity (see Configuration Composition Management).
NOTE - Depending on the type of products, and the organization that defines and sells the products, a product_concept may directly correspond to a particular part design, which means that only one variation, i.e., one configuration_item exists for that particular product_concept.
NOTE - ISO 10303-44 allows the configuration_item to be a variation of a product concept, or of any of its discrete portions that is treated as a single unit in the configuration management process. According to this definition, it is possible to associate a configuration_item describing a particular configuration of, for example, an engine to a product concept describing a class of cars. This usage is not recommended.
Attributes
- The id attribute specifies an identifier that distinguishes the configuration_item.
- The name attribute specifies the word or common name used to refer to the configuration_item.
- The description attribute specifies additional information about the configuration_item.
- The item_concept attribute specifies the product_concept of which the configuration_item is a member, i.e., of which it is a configuration.
- The purpose attribute specifies a descriptive label providing a reason to create the item_concept.
| ENTITY configuration_item | Attribute Population | Remarks |
| id | type: identifier = string | identification of view owner must be unique in relation with a specific product_concept |
| name | type: label = text | may be 'product identification' |
| description | type: text = string | OPTIONAL |
| item_concept | type: entity = product_definition_formation | reference to the product_concept the configuration_item is a configuration of. |
| purpose | type: label = text | OPTIONAL |
===Preprocessor Recommendations=== There is no standard mapping for the id attribute of configuration_item; however the value should be unique in conjunction with the id attribute of the associated product_concept.
The description attribute is optional, but may contain any appropriate/mutually-agreed-upon string. If this attribute is not used, it should be assigned the value '$'.
The purpose attribute is optional, but may contain any appropriate/mutually-agreed-upon string. In AP203 it is used to convey the stage in the life cycle of the product (e.g., Technology and Concept Development, Development and Refinement, Manufacturing and Assembly Validation, and Production) in which a particular version of the design of a configuration_item is being exchanged. If this attribute is not used, it should be assigned the value '$'.
===Postprocessor Recommendations=== There are no specific postprocessor recommendations.
===Related Entities=== A configuration_item may be referenced by the following entities:
- configuration_design to associate the configuration_item to a corresponding part design. A configuration_item can be established prior to the existence of a corresponding part design, i.e., a configuration_design does not need to exist for a configuration_item.
Configuration design
The configuration design entity represents an association between a configuration_item identifying a particular product configuration and a product design intended to implement that item. Thus, a configuration_design entity represents the association of a configuration_item with a product_definition or product_definition_formation to specify that the corresponding design is a solution for a given configuration_item. A given design may be the design for different configuration_items belonging to the same or even different product_concepts.
The configuration_design entity may have, at most, one name associated with it through the entity name_attribute. If a name is associated, the configuration_design is referenced as the named_item by a name_attribute where the name is stored in the attribute attribute_value. It is not recommended to instantiate this additional value.
The configuration_design entity may have a description associated with it through the entity description_attribute. If a description is associated, the configuration_design is referenced as the described_item by a description_attribute where the description is stored in the attribute attribute_value. It is not recommended to instantiate this additional value.
Attributes
- The configuration attribute specifies the configuration_item, i.e., the product configuration that the associated design implements.
- The design attribute specifies the product_definition or product_definition_formation that is a candidate for use in manufacturing actual units of a configuration_item.
| ENTITY configuration_design | Attribute Population | Remarks |
| configuration | type: entity = configuration_item | reference to the configuration_item for which a design is specified |
| design | type: entity = configuration_design_item select | reference to the product_definition_formation that is a design for the associated configuration_item |
| name | DERIVEd attribute type: label = string | at most one name can be associated via the entity name_attribute |
| description | DERIVEd attribute type: text = string | at most one description can be associated via the entity description_attribute |
===Preprocessor Recommendations=== The design attribute allows specifying a product_definition or product_definition_formation as the design for the associated configuration_item. Both AP203 and AP214 do not foresee product_definitions to be specified as the design in a configuration_design. It is therefore recommended to only reference product_definition_formations from the configuration_design.
===Postprocessor Recommendations=== There are no specific postprocessor recommendations.
===Related Entities=== A configuration_design may be referenced by the following entities:
- configuration_effectivity to specify which component parts are planned to be used for building actual units of manufacturing of the associated configuration_item. (See Configuration Composition Management)
