S.

No

Query
WHY IS PLM REQD?
LINK THE DWGS TO
PSL DIRECTLY!

Reply
1. Digitized drawings could not be linked to
PSL(BOM) from design as there was no PSL
(Design BOM) available in the Design
database that could be sent to SAP
database.
2. There were about approx 100-150 productmix for which most of the drawings were in
TIFF format/ 2D AutoCADD (about 70% at
time of Go-live) format from which PSL could
not derived from existing Design software
database (smarTeam-now a redundant
software) which had capability to generate
PSL only from 3D drawings.
3. PSL (BOM) was required by Planning for
Material planning and release Batch orders.
4. However Process planning had already built
PSL (Manufacturing BOM) for all the product
mix in its Legacy database, the same was
migrated to SAP database during the cutover
strategy, thereafter MRP and Sales(Batch)
orders were processed for the current year
and next year Production programmes.
5. Since then Planning dept. were maintaining
PSL (Manufacturing BOM) in SAP for all the
new coach, Assemblies and sub-assemblies,
its alterations. Planning would verify
drawings (Earlier Physical now digital) enter
data in the input fields of SAP Material
Master and BOM screens.
6. Provision for linking Digital drawing to
Material No.(drg.no and UL no) is readily
available in SAP however the same was not
used for pending approval from Design dept.
7. Planning dept. were of the view (at the time
of Go-live) that they had the convenience to
remove/Insert BOM of Assembly, subassembly as when required (whenever Make
or Buy decision is taken), majority to replace
Assembly drg. No with UL/PL No, vice-versa,
which was linked to Quota % for releasing
Purchase request (Outsourcing)/Production
orders (Manufacturing).
8. Material no. (In SAP) is either 13 digit
Drawing no.(for Assembly/Sub-assembly) or
14 digit UL No. (For Raw materials/Bought
out items) which were structured to become
PSL (BOM) for any Coach type (GS, SCN, AC,
DEMU, etc) having tree structure (multi
/multiple level) and comes with Description
& Quantity linked as Parent-child (relation).
9. Design dept is using its existing software for
generating drawings in 2D or 3D and most of
them (as told to us) are getting converted to
2D or 3D drawings although inability of
generate PSL from 2D is a concern. But it is

learnt from them and Vendor (Dausalt

systemse) that existing software and can be
upgraded to PLM (native of existing
software) that has capability to extract
metadata from 2D drawings, as well as from
3D drawings to build comprehensive PSL
(Design BOM database) also to link digitized
drawings directly to PSL may be a probable
solution to source PSL (Design BOM) from
Design dept. which can also be facilitated to
seamlessly integrate with SAP material
master and BOM.