ABC Classification
General
ABC analysis can be used to assist in inventory management of items. In the analysis, items to be stored are classified into different groups based on factors such as demand or lead time. This classification helps, for example, to forecast the availability (lead time) of a planned final product/assembly.
In the Vertex Flow system, three groups (ABC classifications) are available for items by default:
A - Tight control/Accurate records
Critical items; high purchase price, long lead time.
B - Less tight control/Good records
Important items; medium lead time, reasonable purchase price.
C - Simple control/Minimal records
Less important items; high consumption, low purchase price, fast delivery.
If necessary, you can modify the ABC classifications using the Create Selection Lists function.
With the ABC Classification function in Vertex Flow, you can define an ABC classification for a bill of material (BOM) item based on the information in the item’s component list. The function analyzes the ABC classifications of the parts and suggests an ABC classification for the BOM item accordingly. This means that if the component list contains even one critical A-class item, the parent item will be assigned an A-class ABC classification.
Function
Select the structural item (assembly).
Select Item > Item Structure > ABC Classification.
Flow will open a view showing the suggested new ABC classifications (highlighted) based on the new component list ABC analysis.
Use the Show entire structure option to display the entire product structure (including items where no change is needed in the ABC classification).
By selecting the Save button, you approve the changes in the ABC classifications, and they will be saved to the respective item.
After saving, you can export the changed items to the desired collection using the Add to collection function.
You can continue working by selecting the OK button.
Properties and Settings
You need administrator permissions for the settings below.
Definition of Item Groups and Purchase Parts (pdm.item.abctool.itemgroups)
An item group is a property that classifies items. It allows you to define items that can be considered purchase items (stored items). For these items, the ABC classification will not suggest a different new ABC classification (the menu is disabled, and the ABC classification is locked). The information of purchase items is used when analyzing the ABC classification of finished products (assemblies/semi-finished goods).
With the keyword pdm.item.abctool.itemgroups, you define the item groups that can be classified as purchase items:
Default: MTRL, COMPONENT (Material, Component)
An assembly item can also be classified as a purchase item (e.g., component), and it will behave in the same way as any individual part in the ABC classification function.
ABC Classification Lock (pdm.item.abctool.locked.attribute)
The lock for an item’s ABC classification is a property (checkbox with a value of true) that indicates whether the ABC classification of the item is locked. The ABC classification feature will not suggest a classification for an item whose ABC classification is locked. This property is defined with the keyword pdm.item.abctool.locked.attribute:
Default: ABC_CLASS_LOCKED
Type: Checkbox, Database value: true
ABC Classifications and Their Criticality (pdm.item.abctool.classes)
The classes used in ABC analysis and their meaning may differ from the default settings. There can be a different number of ABC classes, and their criticality may be reversed. With the keyword pdm.item.abctool.classes, you can define the active (relevant) ABC classes and their criticality order:
Default: A, B, C (criticality: A > B > C)
Value: C, B, A (criticality: C > B > A)
Trolley (pdm.item.abctool.trolley.enabled)
When you want to perform ABC classification for multiple assembly items at once, enable the function associated with the trolley using the keyword pdm.item.abctool.trolley.enabled:
Default (false): The function is not available.
true: The function Trolley > Tools > ABC Classification is activated for use.