Finishes and Part Numbering 2

[securitech]

I have a part that can be ordered in a variety of colors (powder coated). The drawing is set up as a tabbed drawing with different versions:

100713-01 = Widget, 2.850 Lng., Powder Coat (Weatherable Silver).

100713-02 = Widget, 2.850 Lng., Powder Coat (Black Wrinkle).

100713-03 = Widget, 2.550 Lng., Powder Coat (Weatherable Silver).

100713-04 = Widget, 2.550 Lng., Powder Coat (Black Wrinkle).

Purchasing wants to buy the parts raw (no powder coating)using a note on the purchase order, so that they can use a different vendor to do the powder coating. However; in the future it would be done all under one roof.

I don't like this idea as I feel that this will cause an ERP and inventory nightmare. I also don't want to endorse this practice, since in some instances this can comprise the integrity of the design (for example when fits have been calculated based on coating thickness).

The other option that was explored was to add a "raw" version to the scheme. However; I feel that this violates the engineering drawing principle of documenting the end product and not how you got there. The part will always be coated. I don't care what vendor applies the coating, as long as the end result is that we get the proper widget with the proper coating.

Anyone have any experience in how to handle a situation like this? Your help would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Adam

 

[KENAT]

When outstourcing work it's not unusual for part of the work to be done at one place and other parts at another, especially things like finishing or heat treatment.

Typically it's more efficient to have the main 'subcontractor' handle the rest but especially on new products/prototypes it's not unusual for part of the work to be done, returned and then sent out again for the other part.

If it's an interim step then I'm not sure that I see too much of a problem with how purchasing are doing it so long as the parts are identified (both physically and in MRP/ERP or whatever database system) as "WITHOUT POWDER COAT" or similar and the purchase order clearly states what's going on.

I think some ERP systems can assign codes that indicate incomplete or partial or something, I can't recal.

I don't see the 'dimensions apply after finish' being too much of an issue if done this way. The drawing still calls up the finish so it's up to the machine shop to make sure it's enough undersize to accomodate the finishing.

If it turns into a longer term situation it may be better from documentation/configuration control point of view to have a drawing for the bare part and then another drawing that calls up that bare part and applies the appropriate color. In this case you may have to allow for the paint or other finishing thickness on the machined drawing, which might be a pain. If you do want to order a part complete with treatment then you send out the painting drawing order to it and also supply the bare drawing so they can machine it, like sending out an assembly.


KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[securitech]

Thanks Kenat!
That makes sense. It turns out that it will be a long term situation. So I will have one drawing that shows the various versions in the raw state before receiving the painting. Then I will have another drawing with a one line BOM calling on the bare part.

Purchasing agreed that they will be responsible for adjusting the inventory levels when parts are sent out for plating. They also were willing to live with the extra step of attaching the extra drawing to the purchase order. They like having the freedom to stock the raw parts and paint as needed.

 

[KENAT]

Sounds like a plan. Just make it very clear which part number(s) are which, simplistically something like

100714-01 = Widget, 2.850 Lng., Unfinished.

100714-02 = Widget, 2.550 Lng., Unfinished.

With 100714-01 on the BOM for:

100713-01 = Widget, 2.850 Lng., Powder Coat (Weatherable Silver).

100713-02 = Widget, 2.850 Lng., Powder Coat (Black Wrinkle).

And

100714-02 on the BOM for

100713-03 = Widget, 2.550 Lng., Powder Coat (Weatherable Silver).

100713-04 = Widget, 2.550 Lng., Powder Coat (Black Wrinkle).

Sounds like you're familiar with dash numbers and how to work the boms but feel free to ask again.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[fcsuper]

Versionization (dash or tabulation) of drawings can get confusing enough by themselves. I wouldn't recommend of mixing processes in with those. I would recommend having a separate part number apply to the base component, and then have the power coat drawing be a make-from drawing with its versions. And then, have the ERP handling the routing, either through a subcontractor or in-house handling. Just my two cents.

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group