Previously I discussed there were 2 common data management myths.\u00a0 The first was Windows Explorer is a data management system.<\/p>\n
Before I start my second rant let’s come to an agreement that Part Number = File Name.\u00a0 Pure and simple.\u00a0 No more “Bracket” file names.\u00a0 Descriptions for file names is absolutely absurd.\u00a0 How many Brackets does your company make?<\/p>\n
The second, and I know some of you out there are going to kick and scream and even possibly wait for me after my presentation at SolidWorks World to beat me down, is that Smart Part Numbers are indeed smart.\u00a0 Are you kidding me??????<\/p>\n
2 Scenarios<\/p>\n
Scenario 1:\u00a0 One of my green horn students starts at a company:\u00a0 This is followed by the severely under-defined orientation about the company, maybe even an even further degraded CAD standards orientation.\u00a0 This is if they are lucky.\u00a0 Now they are ready to begin modifying documents for you or even begin a new design for you.\u00a0 But wait, first they must read a 4000 page document on how to create part numbers.\u00a0 If this part is aluminum it starts with an “A” unless the forecast is partly cloudy, then it is “Alum”, so on and so forth.\u00a0 So not only does my scared little green horn have to overcome the company culture but now learn basically a new language for part numbers.<\/p>\n
Scenario 2:\u00a0 One of my green horn students starts at a company:\u00a0 This is followed by the severely under-defined orientation about the company, maybe even an even further degraded CAD standards orientation.\u00a0 This is if they are lucky.\u00a0 Now they are ready to begin modifying documents for you or even begin a new design for you.\u00a0 You instruct them to hit a certain button (usually the Save or Ctrl+S) and viola a part number is magically created for them and a window pops up that tells them exactly what information about the file is required; i.e. Description, Material, Hardness Spec, Material Treatment like paint or anodize (otherwise known as finish), project, etc…<\/p>\n
In the first scenario most companies will give a new employee about 60 days to comply with company policies.\u00a0 But they will need to anticipate part number screw ups for the next 40 years.<\/p>\n
In the second scenario if the employee manages through the 60\u00a0 – 90 day evaluation period there should be no problem with part number issues.<\/p>\n
Let us discuss the idea of the “Smart Part Number”.\u00a0 As I said in my previous rant, every single designer and now I will add, the rest of the organization, has the best way to name files, organize files and for some reason they believe everyone else understands what is happening in their polka dotted world they call a brain.\u00a0 Smart Numbers were probably developed by marketing geniuses.\u00a0 they call it the “Model Mask”.\u00a0\u00a0 Here is the problem I see.\u00a0 Model Masks will inevitably be require to evolve if a company is truly out to make money.\u00a0 Companies looking to make money will continually strive to define the next innovative product, and if we work on the concept that innovation is the implementation on a new product that enters the market adding new market value then we need to agree that more than likely that parameter has not been defined so we run into 2 situations, innovation is halt because it does not fit the model mask or it is slowed until a new model mask is generated, tested and implemented.<\/p>\n
I am throwing out some serious terminology here like Implementation (which assumes that companies are continually refreshing employees on the standards and are continually assessing their performance with measurable matrices), innovation (defined above, but many companies are willing to run the old if it ain’t broke do not fix).<\/p>\n
Falling back to the first installment where I discussed increasing productivity to make more money, look at the 2 scenarios discussed earlier and you tell me which one can offer instant productivity out of a green horn, learning\/memorizing a 4000 page How to Create a Part Number\u00a0 book or just hit save, the system will tell you what other info is required.<\/p>\n
Now how does this tie into PDM systems you ask?\u00a0 Well thank you for asking, I have implemented and maintained about 10 PDM systems for companies and part of my implementation is setting up the system with part number schemes that when you do a Save or Ctrl+S the data management system takes control an doles out the next available serial number.\u00a0 Notice I said serial number.\u00a0 000000001 -9999999999 are very useful part numbers.\u00a0 With data management one does not have to worry about descriptive part numbers, there are other more powerful ways of finding the file you need without some complicated matrix to sort through.<\/p>\n
The power of data management systems are that they inject steroids into your custom properties.\u00a0 Most of these systems resemble the Dewy Decimal System at your local library.\u00a0 As I said before in Scenario 2, during the save a part number is established then a pop up box indicates additional information that your company requires when creating a part number.\u00a0 Custom Properties are the meta data that is included in the file.\u00a0 It is the same exact concept behind Windows Media Player or I-tunes, when you load a CD or download a song the extra data that shows up in the player is the meta data, Song Name, Artist, Genre, etc…\u00a0 Notice that this is search-able in those tools.\u00a0 PDM should be viewed sort of like these tools.\u00a0 The difference is now you will have the ability to log revisions, describe the changes, and have a viewable history without the need for a designer to rename, pack and go and all the other workarounds we modelers have come up with.<\/p>\n
Now instead of a model mask matrix you can use search tools similar to Google searching Advanced Search Features.\u00a0 The model mask may be a good tool to develop required fields needed before a save can be completed.\u00a0 Make sure the fields are descriptions of the information that will be inputted into them.\u00a0 Then you can create drop down lists, or fields that are linked to outside databases to ensure the information is entered correctly.<\/p>\n
Anyhow, the purpose of this rant was to dethrone the concept of Smart Part Numbers.\u00a0 Much easier to instruct a person to hit the save button than to try to teach them a numbering scheme that will inevitably change or become way to confusing and cumbersome to use.<\/p>\n
There will be more to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"