Under the Hood

Managing CAD Components through Items

Today we’ll continue the previous post on Items and discuss their relation with CAD files

Items are easily created from CAD files (Inventor, AutoCAD Mechanical, Electrical, etc.) by promoting file data into a new Item using the 'Assign Item' feature. Note that these can also be created in a manual manner, similar to creating contacts in an email system. Upon the creation of an Item, a unique identifier is assigned using on of the available standard numbering schemes as defined by the system administrator. These components contain a list of system defined properties, such as Item Number, Item Type, and Item Title and Description. These properties will help users easily decipher a particular component from others. These components will maintain an interactive record of their revision history, including changes made to properties, associated and attached files, along with bill of material changes.

Each Item may contain a list of other items that it depends upon, creating a bill of materials (BOM). Users may build a BOM by simply editing the Item and adding another Item as a child. Further, as items are generated from the design files and listed in the Item master, a complete and accurate bill of materials is automatically created based on the assembly structure of the design found within the vaulted design files. By directly extracting the bill of materials, the chance for errors is virtually removed that are commonly found with manual methods.

Why is this important? Companies that track this data using paper based processes or using tactics such as spreadsheet management may now keep a living electronic record of their products. At any given time and date, users will be able to review a revision based or time based view of a product, including the bill of materials, the usage, as well as all related property information and access all related files. This permits companies to quickly and easily access the data they need to support their customers, as well as obtain a better understanding of how change has impacted or will impact their designs. Lastly, search and reuse of existing data is easier with a vast database full of product property information.

-Brian Schanen

A Closer look at Items

While engineering and design departments typically talk in terms of drawings and CAD files, purchasing, manufacturing, and inventory talk in terms of Items. Vault’s definition of an Item is the master record for all entries found in an ERP system. Think of an Item as the unique identifier that tracks all related data to a physical part, assembly, or document. In order to more effectively bridge this informational gap between engineering and the rest of the manufacturing organization, design data placed within Autodesk Vault can be assigned to an Item within the Item Master in Autodesk Vault Manufacturing. The Item Master is represented as a grid of all Items found within Autodesk Vault Manufacturing.

The Items found in Autodesk Vault Manufacturing's Item Master hold the bulk of the information that is shared with the rest of the manufacturing organization. To begin, the Item is the gateway for enterprise to get to key engineering data. The Item keeps track of the key associated CAD data and the correct versions that are required to properly build and manufacturing a product. Further, all critical data that will assist in manufacturing and supporting a product, such as specifications, supplier and catalog information, and engineering calculations can be attached to the Item for future reference. With one key source for the enterprise to look for data, the chance for errors due to personal looking at the wrong data is greatly reduced.

Key information, such as item number, title, description, revision, and type are all stored within the Item. More information can easily be added to the Items. Users can add customizable information to an Item record to provide additional documentation such as plant location or design group. In addition, you can customize fields in the Item record to display important manufacturing or production information without the need for special administration.

Next post we’ll examine Item creation from CAD files in Vault Explorer. Stay tuned…

-Brian Schanen