Enter or Modify the Serial Structure

Explanation

This activity is used to build all the levels (except the topmost level) of a serial structure. A serial structure is normally built by creating the topmost level and then either importing the template structure or copying a serial structure. If the serial structure is not copied or imported, you can build the serial structure by creating all serials separately and then connecting them into a structure. In this case a combination of activities, such as, creating a serial and installing a part or serial can be used. However, if the parent serial (i.e., the serial displayed in the header of the Serial Structure Information window) is in the Planned For Operation status, you can create new serials and connect these serials or existing serials directly into the structure in the Consist Of tab. This is simpler than having to create the serials separately and then using different right mouse button options to connect the serials into the structure.

When a new serial is created, the next level of the serial structure is created automatically with empty structure positions. Empty structure positions, also called Not Installed structure positions, refer to the structure positions where expected serials or parts are missing from the serial structure. The number of empty structure positions being created in each serial structure will correspond to the quantity of the structure position in the template structure, if the structure position contains a serialized part. For example, if a new structure position with a quantity of 4 is added to the serialized part A, four empty or not installed structure positions will be created in the corresponding serial structure. Once a serial is installed in an empty structure position, the position becomes installed and the next level of the structure will be created automatically with empty structure positions. Following is a list of fields for which data appears automatically at the creation of an empty structure position:

• Sorting code
• Structure position
• Item installed
• Internal number
• Position
• Minimum configuration
• Prime part number and revision
• Quantity
• Unit of measure
• Number of children (default value is 0)

When you are copying a serial structure or importing a template structure, the system will first remove these empty structure positions and then perform the copy or import. However, if you have entered serial information into an empty structure position, the position becomes installed and you will no longer be allowed to perform a copy or import. If a copy or import is required to be done, you need to first disconnect this structure position, i.e., through a part or serial removal, and make sure there are no structural items connected to the new serial before you can use the Copy Serial Structure or Import Template Structure functions.

Whether a structure position is installed or not can be identified by the value in the Item Installed check box. If this check box is selected, a serial exists in the structure position and this position is considered an installed structure position. If the check box is not selected, a serial does not exist in the structure position and it is considered an empty structure position.   

If serial numbers have not been generated automatically, it must be entered on each serialized part in the serial structure.

You are allowed to install both prime parts or valid alternates when building a new serial structure, provided that the operational status of the structure was not changed from Planned For Operation. Once the operational status of the structure is changed from Planned For Operation, rules of interchangeability will be applied and you will no longer be allowed to install alternate parts that do not meet the validations for interchangeability of alternate parts. An exception to this rule is when you have a new serial structure that is either In Operation or Out Of Operation, but where no parts are installed after a structure change was performed.

This activity holds all the configuration validations of the serial structure that is performed against the serial structure template. All operations performed against a serial structure (Install, Replace, etc.) will always go through these common validations. The validations are performed as described below:

• When the contents of a level in the serial structure is validated against the serial structure template, it is validated against the serial structure template holding the configuration.
• The minimum configuration definition in the serial structure template can now have holes in it, but if the hole is filled with a serial, the minimum configuration of the serial is validated.
• If position alternates are defined for the structure position you are installing something into, the list of alternates (together with the template alternates) are considered the list of valid parts for the structure position. If an alternate is installed the structure position will remain the same, but the alternate will probably have a different configuration, and the structure of the alternate will be validated against that configuration. Alternates are also validated against the interchangeability code for each alternates.
• If template alternates are defined for the structure position you are installing something into, the list of alternates for the installed part (together with the position alternates) are considered the list of valid parts for the structure position. If an alternate is installed the structure position will remain the same, but the alternate will probably have a different configuration, and the structure of the alternate will be validated against that configuration. Alternates are also validated against the interchangeability code for each alternates.
• If dependencies are defined between the different structure positions in a template structure, the dependency is validated for the serial structure. When something is installed, replaced etc the dependency is validated and a warning is issued if something is in conflict with the dependency definition. Depending on the rule of each dependency, warnings or errors will be issued when the structure is set to Operational.
  • For structure positions with a quantity larger than 1 (one), you are allowed to install any alternate from the list of alternates (template and position alternates) considered valid parts for the structure position. I. e., Interchangeability rules will not apply for positions with a quantity larger than 1 (one).
  • When alternates that are either Qualified Interchangeable or One Way Interchangeable exist for structure positions with a quantity larger than 1 (one), validations will be performed for connected approval templates. If approval templates have not been enabled for these alternate definitions, a warning message is displayed. This validation serves as an additional level of quality assurance before the structure can be set Operational.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for building a serial structure:

• The topmost level of the serial structure must have been created.
• The topmost serial must be in the Planned For Operation status.
• The structure positions into which you are installing a part or serial must be empty structure positions.
• The serialized part you are installing into the structure must be a valid engineering part revision.

Prerequisites for modifying a serial structure:

• A serial structure must have been copied or the template structure imported.

General prerequisites:

• A sub-part can be a disconnected structure part or an inventory part to be included in the List of Values.
• A sub part can be an alternate (position alternate or template alternate) to be included in the List of Values.
• A sub-part must have the following: manufacturer, manufacturer's part number, default maintenance group and default workshop.
• Dependencies can be defined.

System Effects

• Sub-structure parts will be defined.
• When you enter a new serial into the serial structure, the next level of the serial structure (based on the template structure) is created automatically with empty structure positions.
• The process of manually building a serialized structure is improved.

Window

Serial Structure Information
Serial Structures

Related Window Descriptions

Serial Structure Information
Serial Structure Information/Consist Of
Serial Structure Information/Multilevel
Serial Structures

Procedure

Enter or modify the serial structure:

1. Open the Serial Structure Information window or the Serial Structures window.
2. Query (F3) for the necessary serial. If you are using the Serial Structure Information window, click either the Consist Of or Multilevel tab.
3. Select a part, and locate the Serial Number field. If the required serial is predefined it will be displayed in the List of Values. If not, create the serial by entering the correct serial number in this field.
4. Enter the maintenance group for the serial in the Maintenance Group field. Use the List of Values to select a valid value.
5. Enter a workshop in the Workshop Code field. Use the List of Values to select a valid value.
6. Enter manufacturer information for the serial in the Manufacturer No and Mfr's Part No fields. Use the List of Values in the relevant fields to select a valid value.
7. Save the information (F12).

Copy data from a template structure to the next level of a serial structure. This will handle only one level of a serial structure.

1. Open the Serial Structures window and query (F3) for the serial part to which you want to copy a template structure.
2. Right-click and click Copy Template Structure (One Level).