The new tab "Catalogue Item" in "Parts Manufacturer incl. corresponding data". You can import any records to your portfolio in this tab using the "Import Catalogue Item" feature. The imported catalogue items are allocated to existing MDM data sets using identical order numbers.

Once these have been allocated, the catalogue items can be compared with existing MDM data. Please note that all relevant data fields in the MDM record will be overwritten by the catalogue data.

Catalogue items are structured via the "Type/Series" list field. If the MDM standard fields are not sufficient for your purposes, you can define your own data fields for the catalogue items.

MDM users can access stored catalogue items via the "New Part" request.

Please note:

These data are not MDM parts with an MDM ID and cannot be shared, for example. This feature is available to premium manufacturers; catalogue items are free of charge.

This feature helps to improve data quality when requesting new parts. For more information about catalogue items, please consult the online help. In the second half of 2016, we will handle catalogue items in training sessions.

During daily operation of the MDM and data management, we have increasingly realised that users can use the features of MDM more efficiently. We would like to offer you support in this area and thus highlight another three points or relationships.

Relationship between order numbers, MDM data, parts list and editing order numbers

The order number in MDM data is of central importance in MDM. On the one hand, it serves to clearly identify the relevant part and therefore must be unique for each MDM manufacturer.

On the other hand, the order number is also used to establish a relationship between imported parts lists and MDM data. These links can be represented for example by performing a "Parts Used" analysis.

If an order number is subsequently changed, the link to the parts list can be lost. In addition, further changes can lead to CAD parts lists being suddenly displayed with different order numbers.

If specific order numbers (parts data) are changed into dummy order numbers, these sets of data can no longer be used for parts lists checks. Thus, the specific parts of the machine manufactures must be requested again. Changes to order numbers should only be made if the order is obviously wrong.

Universal approval and types of data sets

There are two different types of data sets in MDM: Parts and modules. Data set types as a system-supported data type do not exist.

If however in MDM a data set is created with a corresponding placeholder in "Order Number" field, (e.g. xyz*), it can be shared by the provider. However, these data cannot be used in the parts list checks.

If you have any families of parts that should not to be included in the MDM as a detail data set, these can be covered by "Universal Approval". In such cases, please contact the respective provider so that the universal approval can be set for all relevant approval lists.

You can display your universal approval via the "MFL and Special Approval" analysis.

"Add Part" request - who needs these parts?

A wide range of machine construction companies are now managing numerous projects with the MDM. It is thus understandable that not all the parts needed in these projects can be found in MDM. That is why the respective companies request more than 30 parts daily so that they are included in the MDM.

These data sets are assigned "temporary" status and are shown in orange. VESCON regularly reviews these newly requested data sets to ensure a minimum quality standard. At the same time, the respective contact person of the provider also has the data for their approval.

If you want to know who has requested data about your portfolio, you can check this via the MDM. Simply go to a list of records and show the column "Generated by".

Once the request has been approved, you will receive a "General Task" as information that a new data set for your portfolio has been approved. This tasks is connected with the request to complete the data set.

Do you keep a list to document with which other providers your products are listed parallel to the MDM? If so, the new "Part Manufacturer Lists" are just the thing you need. VESCON has set up a separate area for every premium manufacturer where other structures can be created. All users defined as "Record Manager" can create desired parts lists in this area and assign their MDM data to these lists.

Each record manager can only view their own area. As these lists are not globally visible, permissions for other users must be assigned via the "Quick Administration" feature to enable them to access the lists (e.g. read only).

Further options for Publishing/Distributing these data are:

Token

A key (token) can be generated in the "Token" tab for each data set list with which the MDM user receives limited read only permission for these data lists.

Shopping Basket

Start the Shopping Basket via "View Basket" (Hold the Ctrl key to open a separate editing window). Enable "Edit" n the shopping basket and drag the desired data per drag-and-drop from the list into the basket. The data in the basket can then be saved as an XML file.

Excel Export

The export to Excel feature can be found in the "Table Settings" ribbon in the "Assigned Records" tab.

The "*Parts Lists Parts Manufacturers*" can be found in the tree view by selecting the "MDM root via the "Change Provider" feature.

Use of the "Parts Manufacturer Lists" is free to all parts manufacturers who have premium status.

Please note:

These lists are not approval lists within the meaning of MDM, and the allocated parts are not shared records. These links are not listed in the "Navigation" but are instead found in the "MFL and Special Approval".

As of this year, the Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH (formerly ZF Lenksysteme) has been using the MDM to create and manage material approval lists as well as to support their processes with new machinery and equipment. What makes it so special: Bosch Automotive uses the same MDM database as Daimler.

Both companies access the current part data sets simultaneously. Part manufacturers can check in the MDM for the use of their parts by Bosch Automotive and Daimler centrally.

The Bosch Schwabisch Gmund location will use the MDM initially. After focusing on the structure of the material approval lists in the past months, the first projects will now be managed via the MDM. Later, the MDM will then also be used by other locations.

Tip: To change the provider in MDM use the "Change provider" feature in the "File" menu. From the menu, select the structure root "MDM" from (Record Manager users have this privilege). This allows you to switch quickly between providers to the tree view.

Multiple use of existing data sets by Bosch Automotive has no commercial impact.

We have added a host of new features to the MDM in the past few months that parts manufacturers can greatly benefit from. For this reason, we will split the MDM training content from the second half of 2016 into two courses:

Course 1: Basic Features

• General use
• MDM data and order numbers
• Relation between MDM data and parts list
• Who requested/added data?
• Workflow features
• Reports

Training dates:

• Wednesday, 14 September
• Wednesday, 12 October
• Wednesday, 16 November
• Wednesday, 14 December

Place and time: VESCON in Frankenthal, from 1:00 p.m.

Course 2:

• Advanced Features
• Modules > Catalogue data
• Parts manufacturers lists
• Importing data with Excel

Training dates:

• Wednesday, 21 September
• Wednesday, 19 October
• Wednesday, 23 November
• Wednesday, 21 December

Place and time: VESCON in Frankenthal, from 1:00 p.m. These courses are free for parts manufacturers who have premium status. To register, please send an email to mdm@vescon.com.

Finally, at the end of our information paper, we would like to briefly give you a peek behind the scenes: currently, about 8,000 users are registered in the MDM. In 2015 alone, more than 12,000 requests were made for new parts, of which about 8,500 were included in the MDM. These parts have received at least one project approval (special approval) through the request process. In addition, more than 8,500 parts lists were uploaded for the corresponding machines or systems in the MDM last year.

These figures on the intensity of use show that the MDM is increasingly becoming an important tool for project execution among companies and users. This is motivation for us to continue improving the MDM.