CIMdata review on SAP's PLM cPDm program (PDF) - Large ...

each class is described through a number of technical
characteristics. These characteristics are inherited
down to the product's sub-classes.
View Level is the next level in PVS. This enables the
product, as defined in the Product Description level, to
be viewed in a number of different ways. For example,
this is where the specific design, production, and maintenance
views can be defined.
Structure Level is the third and final level. This level
represents the central area of the product structure and
is composed of the product variant structure for configurable
products and the assembly for nonconfigurable
products. Fundamental to the Structure level is what is
called the node. A node is used to represent a component
or function of the product structure. The actual
component variants of the product are assigned to these
nodes. ECN records can be applied to component variants
to track the changes in the variants that are created
and consequently control which variants are valid,
based on standard ECN effectivity controls.
It is possible to link Structure level nodes to the headers
of material BOMs. When a structure is exploded, the
component nodes call out the material BOM items. It is
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SAP’s mySAP PLM
possible to attach documents to nodes and other objects
that describe the node and how it can be used. In addition,
PVS enables documents to be applied to the actual component
variants related to the nodes. It is also possible
to apply variant consistency checks for completeness
and checks for ambiguity (i.e., when more than one
solution is generated).
Dependency relationships are applied between the
nodes and the variants (see Figure 12), and are evaluated
when processing a user query against a given set of
parameters for validity in the selection result. Nodes
can be compared on a multi-level basis. In addition, the
full integration of document management has been
incorporated into the iPPE along with a comprehensive
Web interface.
<strong>CIMdata</strong> is interested in the approach being taken by
SAP with its iPPE functionality, as it appears to offer a
flexible and more robust architecture for a complete and
comprehensive solution to the management of product
structures along with process information. What is also
of significance is that the iPPE functionality has been
built using principles and standards as defined by the
STEP initiative. This will enable product structures to
Figure 11-iPPE Application Objects
<strong>CIMdata</strong> Program Assessment