Multi-Level Tracking
The Multi-Level Tracking function determines whether tracked structures are mandated during the production of
tracked material (lot/batch tracked and/or serial tracked items). When the Multi-Level Tracking attribute
is:
- Enabled: strict enforcement is enabled to ensure that tracked structures are built before or
during the receipt process. Serial numbers or lot/batch numbers for the part being produced must be reserved
before receipt. There is strict enforcement of the quantities that can be received with a given lot/batch -- they
may not exceed the quantity associated with the reservation for that given lot/batch. The receipt of a serial
tracked part always has a one-to-one match with a serial number.
- Disabled: the restrictions described above are no longer enforced. Tracked structures
are not required; therefore, there is no need to reserve serial or lot/batch numbers before receipt for the part
being produced. In fact, for an order-based lot-tracked part, the system will automatically generate the
lot/batch numbers during the receipt process (provided you have not manually created any lot/batch reservations
for the order). Disabling the attribute also reduces the strict enforcement of received quantities, allowing for
over-receiving when the yield exceeds expectations, without requiring adjustments to order or lot
quantities.
For information about multi-level tracking of shop orders, see About Shop Order Tracked Structure.
Effects of altering the multi-level tracking setting
For maximum flexibility, you are allowed to change the Multi-Level Tracking attribute setting for a given
part under the following conditions:
- Disable: You can disable this attribute at any time except when a multilevel repair shop
order exists in Reserved or Started status. If this attribute is disabled, it will trigger the
removal of any existing reserved structures for the open shop orders of the specific part provided that the
shop order is a non multi level repair shop order. This will have no effect on the existing as-built structures
of any material received previous to the change. Note: If you want the completed as-built structures
removed, you will have to reverse the shop order receipts that placed them into inventory.
- Enable: You can enable this attribute only when there are no open shop orders exist for the
given part that has been processed and received into inventory.
For all cases in which a change is allowed, the user will receive a message providing a short explanation of the
ramifications of the change and then will be given the choice of whether to proceed with the change.
Caution: When a setting like this, which impacts functionality, is used in IFS Cloud, there must be
safeguards and restrictions put into place to prevent users from creating data corruption or other unwanted
problems within the system. We have implemented those safeguards and restrictions in this case but have done
so in such a way that is not extremely rigid or restrictive. This setting is not meant to be changed back and forth
from on (enabled) to off (disabled) frequently.
Example: Avoid this type of scenario
The functionality is designed to handle the normal business scenarios we could envision. Therefore the advice is
to avoid the following scenario and variations thereof.
- Process a shop order for a lot tracked part with the Multi-Level Tracking setting off (disabled)
through to a Closed status. Update the Multi-Level Tracking setting to on (enabled). Re-open the
order. Un-receive a partial quantity, then re-receive that same quantity. The following error will prevent you
from closing the order either at the time of the receipt or when you attempt to close the order (depending upon
whether you have the shop orders' close code set to Auto Close or Manual Close):
"Reservation for lot
may not be deleted
because a reserved structure exists".
- If the close code is set to Auto Close, the simplest way to process the order would be to change the
close code to Manual Close and process the receipt. From this point both cases can be handled as follows:
- Open the Shop Order As-Built Structure page.
- Search for the order.
- In the tree structure pane, click Expand Descendants. Then, select each component line and click
Remove Tracked Component until all component lines have been removed. Now the order may be closed
manually.
This scenario was included because it is the only one, we are aware of which may cause a user confusion. The
best way to avoid this situation would be to reverse all the receipts and re-receive everything on the order.