Release 4.0.0 - November 9, 2021 [OEM]

The Alternative Part Sourcing Release

What’s New

Overview

• The Alternative Part Sourcing release is here!  You can read more about how we communicated this major release to customers here: Read Our Blog Post

• The platform now supports lists of alternative MPNs to be used in place of the primary part for individual line items of a BoM

• This list of alternative parts can be made reusable on other BoMs by assigning a title to the list called a “Custom Part Number” (CPN)

• Once an alternative part list has been assigned a CPN it becomes a “Custom Alternative Part List” and can be centrally managed within “My Organization”

BoM

• Added support for alternative part lists, including ones with a CPN, when uploading a BoM via spreadsheet to the platform.

  • When uploading a BoM that contains a CPN that already exists for the organization, the platform will “Additively” add any new MPNs to the Custom Alternative Part List. It will not replace the list.

 

• A Custom Alternative Part List can be used on any of an organization’s PCBs by referring to its CPN (“Custom Part Number”)

 

• A CPN can be created simply by clicking its value and entering a name for it

 

• The parts comprising an alternative part list can be found in the table under “Parts Allowed”

 

• The “Parts Allowed“ table includes a toggle for sorting parts by “Price” (in ascending order; least expensive to most expensive) or “Fixed” (OEM defined order). We are calling this the “Strategic Sourcing Tool” in our messaging to customers.

• “Price” will result in the purchasing of the lowest cost part in the alternative part list that is capable of satisfying the target quantity

 

• “Fixed” will result in the purchasing of the highest-ranked part in the alternative part list (1 - highest, 2 - second highest, etc.) that is capable of satisfying the target quantity

 

• A green checkmark icon shows the predicted part to be used and how much it is predicted to cost at the time of order submission. At this time we only support the order being placed if all demand can be satisfied by a single MPN. We do not allow the customer to specify that we use X of part ABC and Y of part DEF. However, at planning and purchasing time we do not preclude our supply chain team from doing this.

• Individual components (MPNs) and existing CPNs can be searched and added to the alternative part list with the “Add a Component” search box

• Search results for MPNs are displayed under the “Marketplace Components” table

 

 

 

• When an alternative part list has been created and assigned a CPN (making it a “Custom Alternative Part List”), adding or removing parts to the list will be reflected in all PCB BoMs that use the CPN

• CPNs can also be searched and selected to replace the current alternative part list associated with a BoM row

 

• Search results for CPNs are displayed under the “Custom Components” table

 

• Each part (MPN) comprising the CPN is included in the search results

 

• CPNs returned in the search results may be selected to replace the current alternative part list

 

 

• Existing CPNs can be renamed by clicking on their value and entering a new name

 

 

• The “Add a Component” search may also return both CPN and MPN results if applicable

 

• MPN, value, and package information has moved within the BoM screen

 

• In the event that a valid MPN or CPN cannot be found using the “Add a Component” search, a part may be added manually (note: orders containing one or more manual parts must be placed by MacroFab)

 

 

Order Summary

• The order summary page now shows all parts included in any alternative part lists defined in the BoM

 

• Added a tooltip on the order summary screen indicating which exact capsule revision an order was placed against

 

Custom Alternative Part Lists - Management Page

• Added a new screen for Custom Alternative Part List management at the organization level. Custom Alternative Part Lists allow you to manage alternative allowed part lists globally across your team. Any changes will automatically be applied to PCBs that reference the Custom Part Number (CPN) you have set for the list. 

 

• All of an organization’s Custom Alternative Part Lists are displayed on this centralized page

 

• Lists can be searched by CPN, MFIPN, Description, or MPN(s)

 

• Individual lists may be drilled into for further information or editing

 

• CPN, Description, and Precedence Preference (Priority) are available for editing

 

 

 

• Individual parts may be deleted from a list

 

• The “Add a Component” search makes a return on this screen (from the BoM) for adding new MPNs to a list

 

 

• Adding a part manually is also present here and functions identically to that found in the BoM

 

 

 

• Finally, brand new Custom Alternative Part Lists can be created