Configuration Level Structure
The configuration level of the product structure identifies points of configuration management and addresses how to meet their functional requirements. The organization and information of the configuration level are defined by the following objects:
• Configuration Item (CI)—Represents a functional element of the product and corresponds to a configuration management point in the product structure.
• Design Solution (DS)—Represents a technical response to a configuration item. A design solution describes an implementation that addresses the functional requirements of an associated configuration item.
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This configuration level structure overview describes the out-of-the-box product structure configuration. Windchill Aerospace and Defense also supports a product structure configuration that uses an object called the Link Object (LO). For more information about the product structure configuration using the link object, see Configuration Level Structure with the Link Object. |
You can create object types for the upper and lower levels of a product structure in any number and with any configuration of parent-child relationships. However, object types created at the configuration level must be defined as either configuration items or design solutions.
As illustrated below, a configuration item is the child of an upper-level object, representing the functional element to be defined and configured.
The design solution describes how the functional requirement is addressed. Its children are the parts and assemblies within the lower-level product structure that are necessary to fulfill the design solution.
A configuration item can have multiple design solutions (each representing a different serial number range for the product). Additionally, you can use a design solution to address more than one configuration item.
The configuration level of the product structure includes many details and features that are used for configuration and change management. For a more detailed description of these features, see
Configuration Level Details.
