The Assemblies feature enables you to create multi-level assembly stock items. It is an additional and optional module within Stock Control.

Each assembly can contain any number of components; these components can themselves be assemblies.

The structure is a 'logical' one, not a 'physical' one; the system is holding a picture of the structure not the actual records.

This means that if the structure of an assembly is changed, other assembly records that contain it will also be updated.

Similarly, if an aspect of a component stock item is changed, every assembly record that contains it can be updated.

Component stock items are purchased or manufactured stock items. They are treated in the same way as other stock items except that they are not normally sold in their current state, they will be combined to create assemblies.

Stock records, that are to be used as components, must be flagged as Assembly or Component types.

Price Records and Text entries can also be used as components.

Parts Code - When entering Stock items and Price items, you can enter all (or the starting characters) of the Code for the item you wish to add to the Assembly (or Bill of Materials). If you have not entered a complete Code, a list window will be displayed for you to select the one you want.

Update Sell Price - This option is found on the Assembly Components window, opened from the Assembly function on a Stock record. If selected, the Total Sell price for all the Components entered, shown to the right of the check box, will overwrite the Sell Price field, on the main stock record, for this Stock item.

Update Cost Price - This option is found on the Assembly Components window, opened from the Assembly function on a Stock record. If selected, the Total Cost price for all the Components entered, shown to the right of the check box, will overwrite the Cost Price field, on the main stock record, for this Stock item.

Reorder - This is used on the Parts window and the Check Availability window, to move up to each successive level in the BoM hierarchy. Each time you click this, you will be moved up one level.

Explode - This button is used on the Parts window and the Check Availability window, to move down to each successive level of the BoM hierarchy. On the Parts window, the left and right Explode buttons perform slightly differently:

The stock record must be flagged Assembly from the Type menu on the main Stock Record window.

Click on the Assembly function to open the Parts window.

The window title will include the code of the stock record from which it has been opened, in the format Parts for [Stock Code].

Click Insert to add component items to the assembly record.

Select the type of component from the Stock drop-down menu. This list contains Stock, Price and Text.

For a Stock type component:

The lookup list will only contain stock records that have been flagged as a Component or an Assembly.

New component records can be created using the Insert option on the lookup list. Stock records created in this way will be flagged as component records.

Assembly stock records cannot be created from the lookup but must be created from the main stock record window before they can be added as components.

If a component is also an assembly, please see the additional notes below.

a drop-down list will be displayed to enable you to select the required sub analysis value.

This list contains the option FIRST FREE. If this is selected, then when the assembly is built, the stock will be taken from the first sub analysis that has free stock available.

For a Price type component:

New price records can be created using the Insert option on the lookup list.

Price records contain details of priced goods or services. A price record might be used to add the cost of a process required when building the assembly or just the cost of the labour used.

If you are using the Works Order processing module, you will have the option to flag the component as a Labour element. This enables you to indicate that the item is to be classed as labour rather than a process.

For a Text type component:

Text components can be used to add priced goods or services. You may enter up to 80 characters of free format text.

If you are using the Works Order processing module, you will have the option to flag the component as a Labour element. This enables you to indicate that the item is to be classed as labour rather than a process.

For all types:

Quantity

Sell Price

Cost Price

Update Sell Price

Update Cost Price

Back flush items on completion of works order

<TAB>

Use the tab key to move to a blank row to enter or select additional components.

OK

Press OK to save the assembly record.

This can be referred to a sub-assembly. This functionality enables you to create multi-level assembly stock items.

The component will appear in the list with an * (asterisk or star character) alongside the stock code.

With the sub-assembly component highlighted (as shown above), press the Explode function to expand the assembly and view it's components.

Note: the window title will change to include the code of the sub-assembly stock record from which it has been opened, in the format Parts for [Stock Code].

You are now able to edit the assembly record for the sub-assembly (in this example DWUCBUNIT).

Press Restore to move back to viewing the parts for the main assembly record (in this example OFFICECHAIR01).

Click on Edit to amend any part of the sub-assembly record.

Use the <TAB> key to move through the fields and the components.

<TAB> to a blank row to enter or select additional components.

Press OK to save the sub-assembly record.

Update Sell Price/ Update Cost Price

Selecting these options. before pressing OK, will update the prices on the stock record for the sub-assembly but will NOT update the prices on the stock record for the primary assembly.

To do this you can use the Restore option to move back to the primary record.

Press Edit, select the Update Sell Price/ Update Cost Price options on the primary record and press OK.

This action will update the prices on the primary record.

If the assembly hierarchy has more than 2 levels, this process would have to take place at each level.

A Revalue Assemblies function has been provided to update assembly prices. If you are making price changes to components in a complex hierarchy of assemblies and sub-assemblies, the Revalue Assemblies function is a more secure method of ensuring the prices are updated correctly.

Explode is used to move down the assembly hierarchy.

Restore is used to move up the assembly hierarchy.

A report listing all the components required to build this assembly can be printed by pressing the Print function.

A print output selection window will open to enable you to select the output for the report: Screen, Printer or File.

The window contains the following options to enable you to enhance the report:

From the Parts list window, you can print out the Bill of Materials (the items that make up the Assembly). Selecting this function displays an Output window where you can enhance the basic report with additional information.

If you select the option to show Full Explosion, they will be shown with a number, which indicates their level in the BoM hierarchy.

Click on Edit to amend any part of the assembly record. Use the <TAB> key to move through the fields and the components.

<TAB> to a blank row to enter or select additional components.

Use the delete function to remove components from the assembly. Stock and Price records will not be deleted, just removed from the assembly record. Text entries will be deleted.