Multiple Units of Measure—Key Exercises

Basic Data Setup

Purpose: The purpose of this exercise is to create and verify an Input UoM Group to be used by an inventory part for entering the quantity, in a multiple unit of measure.

Windows:
Input UoM Group
Input UoM Groups
Input UoM Analysis
Input UoM Variables

Enter an Input UoM Group 

In this exercise you will create an Input UoM Group that enables the use of alternative input units other than the specified unit for the inventory part. 

In this exercise the inventory part has meter (m) as the inventory unit of measure, but the user wants to use millimeter (mm), foot (ft), yard (yd), or a user designed 'My UoM' as possible alternate units, when entering quantities in the manufacturing, purchasing and sales processes. 

1. Open the Input UoM Group window.
2. Create a new group by selecting New (F5).
3. Enter XX_LENGTH_M as Input UoM Group ID and select m as the Inventory UoM. 
4. Save the group.
5. Create Input UoMs in the upper table in the view.
6. Enter the following information:
   

7. Save the record.

Detailed Comments

When saving the Input UoM records, the system makes some validations as per below: 

• Unit Code: If the Input UoM exists in Application Services/Unit of Measure, the description is displayed and the unit code is selected, else, if the Input UoM does not exist, you have to enter a description, and the unit code is cleared. 
  
• Type: If there is a relation in the Application Services/Unit Relationships/Conversion between the Input UoM and the Inventory UoM, the type is set to 'System Defined' and the conversion factor is displayed, else, the type is set to 'User Defined' and you have to enter a conversion factor.
  
• Conversion Factor: This can be modified as preferred. For instance, if you prefer to use the factor 0.305 for conversion to foot from meter, instead of the 0.3048 as defined in the Unit Relationship, just enter 0.305 in the Conversion Factor field, and the type will automatically be set to 'User Defined' when saving. If you change the type from 'User Defined' to 'System Defined' for a Unit Code selected Input UoM, the system will automatically display the conversion factor as defined by the Unit Relationship when the record is saved.
  
• Formula ID: It is possible to use a formula when calculating the inventory unit by entering a formula ID in this field. For instance, enter XX_QTY_LENGTH_M which will calculate the length using two variables, Quantity x Length, as per exercise Formulas and Variables. 

  Input UoM	Description	Conv. Fact.	Formula	Round. Dec.
  My Formula	My formula	1	XX_QTY_LENGTH_M	3

• Rounding Decimals: The number of decimals displayed as the calculated inventory quantity, the default value of which is six. This value should be entered by the user, to decide maximal number of decimals to be displayed in result field. For instance, when the Inventory unit is meter, the result rounded off to three decimals (millimeter accuracy) is sufficient, instead of six decimals. 
  
• <Process> Usage Allowed: Three check boxes, selected by default, indicating in which processes the Input UoM is available; in the Manufacturing, Purchasing and/or the Sales process. It should be cleared if the Input UoM should not be available in a specific process. For instance, the 'My UoM' is intended to be used only in the sales process, and therefore the usage allowed allowed check box in that process has to be selected.
  

Testing and Validating the Input UoM Group 

In this exercise you will use the created Input UoM Group to test and validate entering alternative parts from the Enter Input UoM Parameters dialog box. 

1. In the Input UoM Group window, right-click and then click Test Input UoM Group. 
2. The Input UoM Parameters dialog box opens. 
3. Select an Input UoM from the combo box, e.g. ft
4. Enter an appropriate value in the Value field, e.g. 25
5. Click the Calculate button and the result is calculated and displayed:
   - Calculated Quantity: The result of the calculation, displaying the quantity in the specified Input UoM, e.g. 25. 
   - Conversion Factor: The conversion factor between the Input UoM and the Output UoM, e.g. 0.3048.
   - Output Quantity: The result of the calculation, displaying the quantity in the Output UoM, calculated as;
    Output Quantity = Calculated Quantity x Conversion Factor, rounded according to the rounding specified decimals, e.g. 7.62. 
   - Output UoM: The unit of measure for the Output Quantity, e.g. m
6. Repeat step 3 to 5 for all of the Input UoM values to verify that the calculation is correctly done.
7. Click OK.

Main Exercise

Purpose: The purpose of this exercise is to connect an Input UoM Group to an Inventory Part, to enable the use of alternative Input UoM:s for this part.

Windows:
Inventory Part
Inventory Parts
Part
Parts

Connect an Input UoM Group 

In this exercise you will connect the above created Input UoM Group to an Inventory Part, to enable the use alternative input units for this part. 

1. Open the Inventory Part window.
2. Create or select an Inventory Part with meter (m) as the Inventory UoM.
3. In the Input UoM Group field enter the created group XX_LENGTH_M
   Note: When selecting from the List of Values (F8) you will only see Input UoM Groups that have the same Inventory UoM as specified for the Inventory Part.
4. Save the changes, and the Multi Unit of Measures functionality will be enabled for the part.

General exercise for Enter Inventory Part