Hierarchies
Introduction
Hierarchies define the sequence that Asset/Equipment attributes rules are processed in, and which attributes are to be compared at each hierarchy level.
The Attributes that are available in the Hierarchies and corresponding Cycle Type / Model Work Order Selection Rules are:
- Company, validating against the F0010 Company master definitions
- Responsible Business Unit, validating against the F0006 Business Unit master definitions
- Location, validating against the F0006 Business Unit master definitions
- Family, validating against 8 character UDC 17/PA
- Model, validating against 8 character UDC 17/PM
- Asset CAT Codes 01 - 10, validating against 3 character UDCs 12/C1, 12/C2, ... 12/C9 & 12/C0
- Asset CAT Codes 11 - 20, validating against 3 character UDCs 12/F1, 12/F2, ... 12/F9 & 12/F0
- Asset CAT Codes 21 - 23, validating against 10 character UDCs 12/21, 12/22 & 12/23
- Equipment CAT Codes 01-10, validating against 3 character UDCs 17/B1, 17/B2, ... 17/B9 & 17/B0
- Primary Asset No, validating against the F1201 Asset Master
- Equipment Extension CAT Codes 01-10, validating against 10 character UDCs Q35|A1, Q35|A2, ..., Q35|A9, Q35|A0
- Equipment Extension Address Book No, validating against F0101 Address Book
- Equipment Extension Business Unit, validating against F0006 Business Unit Master
- Branch, validating against F0006 Business Unit Master
- Customer, validating against F0101 Address Book
- Site, validating against F0101 Address Book
- Equipment Status, validating against UDC 12|ES
Making life simpler
Any or all of these Asset/Equipment attributes can be used, but in reality, most are not applicable. You can create Grid Format overrides to hide any Asset/Equipment attributes that are not applicable. Similar Grid Formats can be configured in the Cycle Type Selection Rules and Model WO Selection Rules maintenance applications.
Each hierarchy level is defined against a Company to facilitate Row-Security if applicable. Company 00000 can be utilised if the hierarchy is to be applicable across multiple Companies. The Hierarchy consists of a numeric Sequence number, and hierarchy records are processed in ascending sequence. The hierarchy level defines which of the Asset/Equipment attributes is to be assessed at that level, defined by setting the Yes/No parameter to Y for the appropriate attributes.
Recommended approach
It is recommended that a separate Hierarchy is defined for selection of Cycle Types and Model Work Orders, as their purpose is quite different. Define as few Hierarchies as possible, with each Company only having one applicable Cycle Type hierarchy, and one applicable Model Work Order hierarchy.
Adding and Maintaining Hierarchy Definitions
Existing Hierarchy Definitions can be reviewed by launching the PQ351210 – Q35 Maintain Hierarchy application. This application has a Processing Option for Company, which is an optional filter to limit the displayed hierarchies down to only those defined for this Company. If this Company Processing Option is left blank, then the User will be able to view all Hierarchy records for Companies that they are authorised to access according to their Company Row Security permission settings. Company 00000 cannot be set as the default company.
The Q35 Maintain Hierarchy application launches in the Maintain Q35 Hierarchy inquiry form, which has:
- Select button to access the Maintain a Q35 Hierarchy form, to maintain the selected Hierarchy from the grid
- Add button to access the Maintain a Q35 Hierarchy, to add a new Hierarchy
- Form Exit Model WO Rules to access the Q35 Maintain Model WO Rules application
- Form Exit Selection Rules to access the Q35 Maintain Cycle Selection application
- Attachments which can be used to add notes, specifications or other related information
The Maintain a PM Selection Hierarchy maintenance form has:
- OK Button to confirm add/change of PM Selection Hierarchy
- Delete Button to delete the selected PM Selection Hierarchy grid row
To add a new Hierarchy definition, click the Add button on the Maintain a Q35 Hierarchy inquiry form. In the header, enter the Company (for Row Security purposes) and the new Hierarchy name.
Company 00000
The header "Company" can be set as 00000 if the hierarchy is applicable to multiple companies
Then in the Maintain a PM Selection Hierarchy form's grid, enter a Sequence number for each new grid record that is unique within the Hierarchy that is being added, such as 10, 20, 30..., and enter the character Y against the Asset/Equipment attributes that are applicable for that Hierarchy Sequence level. If any grid records are not required, you can highlight the grid record and then click the Delete button. Click the OK button to validate and save the new Hierarchy.
Recommended approach
You only need to enter the Y flags for Asset/Equipment attributes that are to be tested. The N flags will be automatically set against the remaining attributes when your new Hierarchy is saved. It is also advisable to initially set up the hierarchy with gaps in the Sequence numbering, so that additional sequence numbers can be slotted in at a later date, when new requirements are implemented
Hierarchy philosophy
The Cycle Type selection and Model Work Order selection processes both process by ascending Sequence Number.
The Cycle Type selection will check for rules that match the asset attributes at all of these Sequence Number levels to determine the set of applicable rules. Some of these rules may supersede rules applied at lower Sequence Numbers. It is therefore desirable to define the Cycle Type hierarchy from the most general rules (e.g. Family code for a baseline) through to the most specific rules (e.g. specific Asset No for overrides).
The Model Work Order selection will check for rules that match the Service Type code and asset attributes at each level until a match is found, and then the analysis ends with the identified Model Work Order number. It is therefore desirable to define the Model Work Order hierarchy from the most specific rules (e.g. Asset No for overrides) through to the most general rule. The highest sequence number in this hierarchy should have no attributes flagged for selection, allowing catch-all Model Work Order rules to be defined for each Service Type code.
To maintain an existing Hierarchy definition, highlight the record in the Maintain a Q35 Hierarchy inquiry form's grid, and then click the Select button. In the Maintain a Q35 Hierarchy form's grid, you can edit any existing Asset/Equipment attribute Yes/No flags. If any additional Hierarchy Sequences are required, then they can be added to the blank grid record at the bottom of the grid. Once saved, these records will appear in the correct ascending sequence if the Hierarchy is maintained again. If any grid records are not required, you can highlight the grid record and then click the Delete button. Click the OK button to validate and save the new Hierarchy.
Tip
When creating versions for a specific company, it is recommended that the same Version naming is used to create matched versions of both the PQ351204 Q35 Maintain Model WO Selections and PQ351205 Q35 Maintain Cycle Selection applications