Configurator
ShopWorX ERP

     

Benefits

Save Time

Dramatically reduce order lead times by moving your engineering efforts into defining features and options instead of engineering each order.

Reduce Errors

The Configurator guides you through the creation of a unique order. This step-by-step approach means that no key questions remain unanswered and that the product can be built as sold.

More Accurate Pricing

Pricing is done automatically, with the option of showing components priced individually or rolled-up into a total price per unit.

 

Overview

The Configurator module gives you the tool to streamline your order entry and manufacturing processes. By working with pre-defined features and options, your sales department can develop a properly priced and engineered product during order entry.

The process begins with the definition of models, features, and options. This is done with an easy-to-use group definition program where groups are defined and linked in a manner similar to bills of material. The group definition consists of:

  • Whether the group is optional or required.
  • If the parts within the group are to be selected during entry or automatically included.
  • Minimum and maximum selections.
  • Special instructions.
  • Units of measure.
  • Price and cost.
  • On which documents the detail should be printed.

In addition to the above data, the system can be easily tailored to include prompts for such information as weight, color, or dimensions. This information can be used in customizing the entry process to more closely meet your organization’s needs.

Groups can contain other groups. This hierarchical structure gives you the tool to define custom bills of material of any complexity with the greatest accuracy. By defining features and options instead of all possible configurations, the amount of maintenance and storage required is drastically reduced. With the Configurator, all you need to do is define the groups and link them to the model. Each configuration will be saved within the order, eliminating the need to create a unique end item part number and bill of material for each combination.

From order entry the system can follow several different paths. For companies where final assembly labor is not captured against individual orders, it can create a picking list based on the features and options selected. As an alternative, it can automatically or on demand create a unique final assembly shop order linked back to the customer order.


Features

Unlimited Number of Levels
By allowing for an unlimited number of levels, the Configurator allows you to define products where selections are dependent on previous selections. A decision tree can be developed allowing rules to be put in place without special coding.

Flexible Print Formatting
You can control whether or not items print on the customer order acknowledgments, picking lists, packing slips, and invoices. In addition, you have the option of including an item in the configuration’s total price or listing it as a separately priced option.

Optional and Required Groups
Groups can be defined as required or optional. Required groups are for product features where every configuration must include the group or a choice from the group. Using an automobile as an example, engines would be a required group. The user would be forced to choose from a list of available, engines for a given model. Sound systems could be classified as an optional group, with no choice required. To ensure that the option was offered, you may choose to make sound systems a required group with “no sound system” a valid choice.

Special Instructions
Option groups and the choices within groups can carry additional text. This text can be displayed to the user, printed on internal documents, or printed on customer documents.


Minimums and Maximums
A range of values can be determined for each selection. This can be based on the individual item selected or the total number of items selected within a group.

Product Configurator Integration

  • Customer Orders
  • Engineering
  • Process Sheet
  • Shop Orders
  • Inventory

     


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