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Classification: Engineering Change Management

Description

In Release 3.0, it is possible to make changes to classification data using engineering change management. With engineering change management, you can change classification data as of a specific date. You can also display the change status on a specific date at any time.

Since each change status must be recorded for retrieval at any time, you can no longer physically delete a classification record from the database once it has been processed using engineering change management. We therefore advise you to document changes in your classification system with engineering change management only after the set-up phase of your classification system is over, when the structure of your system is established.

• The class type determines whether engineering change management is active for classification. In the Implementation Guide Classes, you can define for each class type whether classification data can be changed using engineering change management. Characteristics and classes can be changed using a change number without having to make further settings.

• On any one date, you can only ever make changes to an object using one change number.

• If you have classified an object, for example, a particular material, using engineering change management, you must always specify a change number when you make further changes to the classification of this object. In this way, you can ensure that changes to the object are documented completely.

• Objects such as dependencies, characteristics, and BOM items, which can be processed using engineering change management, can only be classified in the object maintenance function. It is no longer possible to classify these objects using the classification system functions.

You can call engineering change management from the classification menu via the function: Environment -> Engin. change mgmt. Before you can make a change using engineering change management, you must create a change master record. The change master record contains a valid-from date. If the change master record is to be used for classification, you must select the object type Classification . The change master record is identified using a unique change number, which you then enter in the corresponding field in the classification function.

Via the function: Environment -> Change overview on the value assignment screen, you can see how the classification data has changed.

Changes to the interface

A field in which you can enter the change number of the change master record appears on the initial screen for classification. The date is copied automatically from the change master record.

Further notes

You can only use the functions of engineering change management for classification if you activated engineering change management for the class type in the IMG for Classification . You can either define this setting directly when you create a class type, or you can maintain it later via the step Maintain class type. As soon as you make a change using engineering change management, this setting cannot be cancelled.