S.No Query ReplyWHY IS PLM REQD? LINK THE DWGS TO PSL DIRECTLY!

1. Digitized drawings could not be linked to PSL(BOM) from design as there was no PSL (Design BOM) available in the Design database that could be sent to SAP database.

2. There were about approx 100-150 product-mix for which most of the drawings were in TIFF format/ 2D AutoCADD (about 70% at time of Go-live) format from which PSL could not derived from existing Design software database (smarTeam-now a redundant software) which had capability to generate PSL only from 3D drawings.

3. PSL (BOM) was required by Planning for Material planning and release Batch orders.

4. However Process planning had already built PSL (Manufacturing BOM) for all the product mix in its Legacy database, the same was migrated to SAP database during the cutover strategy, thereafter MRP and Sales(Batch) orders were processed for the current year and next year Production programmes.

5. Since then Planning dept. were maintaining PSL (Manufacturing BOM) in SAP for all the new coach, Assemblies and sub-assemblies, its alterations. Planning would verify drawings (Earlier Physical now digital) enter data in the input fields of SAP Material Master and BOM screens.

6. Provision for linking Digital drawing to Material No.(drg.no and UL no) is readily available in SAP however the same was not used for pending approval from Design dept.

7. Planning dept. were of the view (at the time of Go-live) that they had the convenience to remove/Insert BOM of Assembly, sub-assembly as when required (whenever Make or Buy decision is taken), majority to replace Assembly drg. No with UL/PL No, vice-versa, which was linked to Quota % for releasing Purchase request (Outsourcing)/Production orders (Manufacturing).

8. Material no. (In SAP) is either 13 digit Drawing no.(for Assembly/Sub-assembly) or 14 digit UL No. (For Raw materials/Bought out items) which were structured to become PSL (BOM) for any Coach type (GS, SCN, AC, DEMU, etc) having tree structure (multi /multiple level) and comes with Description & Quantity linked as Parent-child (relation).

9. Design dept is using its existing software for generating drawings in 2D or 3D and most of them (as told to us) are getting converted to 2D or 3D drawings although inability of generate PSL from 2D is a concern. But it is learnt from them and Vendor (Dausalt systemse) that existing software and can be upgraded to PLM (native of existing software) that has capability to extract metadata from 2D drawings, as well as from 3D drawings to build comprehensive PSL (Design BOM database) also to link digitized drawings directly to PSL may be a probable solution to source PSL (Design BOM) from Design dept. which can also be facilitated to seamlessly integrate with SAP material master and BOM.