Processing of Characteristics
In connection with the EH&S-QM interface, it is important that you distinguish between class characteristics in the specification database on the one hand and inspection characteristics in the Quality Management (QM) application component on the other hand:
Characteristic from the classification system that is entered in the value assignment type for a specification and determines the different properties of a specification.
Values for these characteristics can either be numerical (for example, 1,3) or a text (for example, red). In the specification database these texts, or qualitative characteristics, are identified in a value assignment type (for example, Color) by phrases (see
Phrase Management).
Characteristic on the basis of which a quality inspection is performed. As for the class characteristics there are two types of characteristics:
Numerical characteristics (for example, 1,3)
The system takes the contents of this type directly from the specification database when it creates an inspection plan, without any conversion being necessary.
Nonnumerical characteristics (for example, red)
These texts are identified in Quality Management by codes as opposed to the phrases in the specification database.
From the contents of the class characteristics entered in a value assignment type, the EH&S-QM interface creates inspection characteristics in the inspection plans when it creates the inspection plans. Quality inspections can then be executed as usual in Quality Management using these inspection characteristics.
See also:
Which Data Is Transferred to the Inspection Plan?Converting Phrases to Codes
For qualitative values, the interface converts the phrases and phrase groups entered for the value assignment type into codes or code groups that can be used by Quality Management. These codes are stored in selected sets that are also created by the interface. This means the characteristic values of a value assignment type are grouped together in a selected set.
When it creates an inspection plan, the system checks to see whether a code was already created from a specific phrase in the past:
The codes that already exist in Quality Management are not used. The system creates its own new codes that are created once by the interface when inspection plans are created and always used in future for the same phrases (for information on setting up the respective number ranges, see Basic Settings).
Qualitative inspection characteristics in Quality Management can have a positive or negative attribute. The class characteristics cover only positive attributes. For this reason, the interface transfers a not-OK code as standard to all selected sets it creates as negative attributes (see environment parameters under Basic Settings).
Use of Master Inspection Characteristics
You have the option of using data from master inspection characteristics when you create inspection plans. Master inspection characteristics are inspection characteristics that are intended for frequent use in inspection plans or for evaluation across several inspection plans. They make inspection planning easier and more standardized.
You have the following advantages if you use master inspection characteristics when you create specification-relevant inspection plans:
For more information on master inspection characteristics, see the documentation for the Quality Management application component.