Overview
This article covers two additional Specification Management capabilities: using Measurement Attributes to capture multiple components of measurement data and creating new versions of existing Primary Specifications.
Measurement Attributes
A Measurement Attribute allows you to capture multiple components of measurement data within a single attribute. For example, a Measurement Attribute can include a high and low range, target value, unit of measure, test method, and other information.
Before you create a Measurement Attribute
Specification Management includes six standardized component attributes in the Measurements group. These attributes provide the component data used to create compound Measurement Attributes.
Important: Do not edit the standardized component attributes in the Measurements group. If these attributes are not available in your system, contact your CSM.
You can identify the two types of Measurement Attributes by their configuration:
- Component attributes belong to the Measurements group and can have different data types.
- Compound Measurement Attributes use the Measurement data type and can belong to different groups.
You can configure Workflows and Business Rules on individual component attributes, but not on compound Measurement Attributes.
Create a Measurement Attribute
Step 1: Go to Configuration > Attributes, then select Add Attribute > Create New.
Step 2: Complete the applicable attribute information and select Measurement as the data type.
For Use, select Specification Management. The system adds _SpecMgmt to the Attribute ID and Column Name.
Select Save. The Measurement Components grid becomes available.
Step 3: In the Measurement Components grid, select the components you want to include in the specification and choose the appropriate Display As option for each.
For example, Target can display as a numeric value, while Other can provide a free-text field for additional information.
Save the Measurement Attribute when you're finished.
The completed Measurement Attribute can then be added to the appropriate Specification Management TraceStation.
Create a New Specification Version
As products and specification requirements change, you can create a new version of a Primary Specification while retaining previous versions for historical reference.
Create the new version
Step 1: Open the appropriate Primary Specification.
Step 2: Select New Version.
The new version is created as a copy of the version you currently have open.
Step 3: In the New Version window, enter an optional secondary name or identifying detail for the new version, if needed.
The system assigns the version number automatically. You cannot manually change the generated version number.
Click Create New Version.
The system determines the new number based on the highest version number previously created for that Primary Specification and increments it by one.
Note: If a previous version was deleted, its version number is not reused.
Shared Specifications and new versions
Shared Specifications do not have a separate versioning mechanism. A Shared Specification remains linked to the version of the Primary Specification from which it was created.
When you create a new version of a Primary Specification, you must create new Shared Specifications from that version if you need to collaborate with suppliers on the updated specification.
The new version may also need to go through your internal and supplier review processes again.
Note: Versioning applies to individual Primary Specifications. Selecting New Version does not create a new version of your Primary Specification Template.
Next Steps
Once your specification is ready, review its status and approval requirements before finalizing it.
See Final and Approve a Specification to continue the process.