Parametrics

Parametrics is the ability to adjust or change based on parameters. The dictionary definition of a parametric equation implies that these parameters are based on coordinates.  Parametrics within TRAKware goes far beyond only using parameters to represent coordinates. Parts and products with TRAKware to can dynamically adjust:
  • Bills of Materials
  • Bills of Labor
  • routings
  • costs
  • selling prices
  • sizes
  • etc.

all based on parameters that you determine.

TRAKware's designer module is our advanced parametric configurator. TRAKware designer allows a user to build parts and products that have full parametric capabilities. Complex parts and products with unlimited variations can be represented by a single item in TRAKware.

parametric equations

par·a·met·ric e·qua·tions plural noun

mathematical equations giving coordinates: a set of mathematical equations in which coordinates of points are explicitly expressed in terms of independent parameters

The implication within a business system is that you can have single parts and products within TRAKware that might take thousands of individual part numbers in a traditional system.

Consider a parametric box that has a top, bottom, back, and two sides. The box can have the following characteristics:

  • width can be from 12 inches to 36 inches in ½ inch increments.
  • height can be from 12 inches to 36 inches in ½ inch increments.
  • depth can be from 12 inches to 36 inches in ½ inch increments.
  • the core material of back, bottom, sides, and top are made of a panel that can be made from either ¾" or 1" particle board
  • the interior surfaces can be melamine, general purpose laminate, or veneer
  • the exterior surfaces can be melamine, general purpose laminate, or veneer

Based on these six parameters this box can have the following number of variations for each parameter.

width
height
depth
core
interior
exterior

Variations

48 sizes

48 sizes

48 sizes

2 types

3 material types

3 material types

In a traditional system these variations could mean that more than 1.9 million different part numbers might have to be created to represent the different variations that this simple parametric box can have.

If these concepts are extended to a 'real world' product where choosing a particular parameter not only changes the Bill of Materials, but the Bill of Labor, and the Labor Routings - the configuration and management of the parts and product through a manufacturing process can be challenging task.

TRAKware is a comprehensive Manufacturing, Planning, and Control system for project-based manufacturers that uses parametrics (using TRAKware's designer module) from estimating through manufacturing. Using TRAKware can simplify the information management and overhead associated with complex project-based manufacturing processes. Allowing the business to focus on reducing costs and improving margins.

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