1 Glossary and Abbreviations
VC
Vendor Catalogue.
TEKno
A TEKno is a number assigned to a unique combination of a manufacturer, manufacturer’s part number and any necessary additional values.
SPCno
A SPCno is a number assigned instead of TEKno when the requirements for creating a TEKno are not met.
RDL
Reference Data Library.
GIE
Global Information Exchange. This is the central catalogue containing TEK-numbering, manufacturer name mapping and all standard data and documents captured during population of any Vendor Hub, regardless of RDL used.
Standard RDL
This the central RDL developed by Sharecat, serving as a proposed RDL for clients.
2 Introduction
The Vendor Catalogue is a repository for storing, entering and maintaining material information for Customer. The Vendor Catalogue is linked to, and includes access to, the Content of the Global Information Hub (GIE) and can as such take advantage of all standard items included in this Content. Content for standard items in the Vendor Catalogue will be made available as Content in GIE and be shared with other Customers.
2.1 Overview
The Vendor Catalogue is role based to control the various access levels to the system and catalogue content. It does not require any software to use, only a web browser. The Vendor Catalogue can be set-up using the existing requirements of data and documents from the GIE (Standard RDL) or a client specific RDL. It contains approval features where the appointed verifier can approve items according to the client’s requirements.
2.2 RDL (Reference Data Library)
RDL is the core of the system; it is a set of pre-defined structures with properties and document requirements per material class. Each property contains various validation rules to ensure data conform to the expected values. The Vendor Catalogue can be set up with a standard Sharecat RDL from GIE or a Customer specific RDL.
3 Functional Description
This section describes the functionality of the Vendor Catalogue.
3.1 User Support
Online help pages are provided as part of the solution describing system functionality and how to perform certain tasks.
3.2 Search and view
Product search
The Product search enables the user to search for products in the catalogue. It provides a free text search which returns results where one of the search keywords are found in any of the TEKno data.
User can also specify filters for a selection of specific data fields, e.g.:
– TEKno
– Manufacturer Name
– Model
– Part number
– Class
– Verification Status
Advanced product search
If the product class is known, the Class Selector offers a useful drill down search on products that are registered in the catalogue. It also allows user to filter products based on individual technical characteristics.
View TEKno – Overview
The Overview displays a selection of core data fields for the selected TEKno, e.g.:
– TEKno
– Manufacturer
– Part number
– Model
– Verification Status
– Product description
– Image
View TEKno – Properties
Under Properties user will find technical characteristics for the product according to the class as defined in the RDL.
View TEKno – Documents
Under Documents user will find the documents associated with the TEKno and can be downloaded.
View TEKno – Parts
Under Parts user will find functionality to view or add one or multiple lists of parts that are included in the assembled equipment. The Part list can also include a document reference (that can be opened) which is there as a reference to the document that is relevant to the part list.
Parts can be established through paste functionality directly from e.g. an Excel spreadsheet or imported from another TEKno part list.
View TEKno – Revisions
User may view older revisions of the data and document set that was stored on the TEKno.
3.3 TEKno Management
Create TEKno
Allows the user to create a TEKno with class, properties, documentation and product image.
Copy TEKno
A function that allows the user to create a new TEKno by copying an existing TEKno and may include properties and documents.
Edit TEKno
Allows the user to edit properties, data, documents and product image for a TEKno
Activate TEKno
An existing TEKno can be activated and linked to the company the user represents if found in Sharecat global catalogue and the corresponding data and documents will be available for use.
Deactivate TEKno
A TEKno can be deactivated from the catalogue if it was incorrectly activated or is no longer applicable to the catalogue.
Import TEKno
User may import a data set for the TEKno from another catalogue if applicable.
Compare TEKno
A TEKno revision can be compared to another revision or another TEKno, differences are highlighted.
Restricted TEKnos
A TEKno of type Special (SPCno) can be set to a restricted level in the catalogue. Only users from the organisations associated to that TEKno will then be able to view the content of that TEKno.
3.4 My TEKno
Under My TEKno the user can build up a personal selection of TEKnos organised in folders created by the user. The TEKno folder can be shared with other users of the Vendor Catalogue. Example usage of TEKno folders: TEKnos used in specific projects, TEKnos related to a Frame Agreement, favourite TEKnos.
Manage TEKno folders
User can manage folders and link or unlink TEKnos under folders.
Share TEKno folders
User can share folders with other users of the catalogue.
3.5 Documents
My documents enable you to search, submit and view documents that are currently stored in the Vendor Catalogue. You can also link and unlink documents from a TEKno.
Search for Documents
Search by data fields, e.g.:
– Manufacturer
– Document title
– Category
– Submitted date
– Document number
Link a TEKno to a document
Function for linking one or many part numbers to a document
Unlink a TEKno from a document
Function for disconnecting one or many partnumbers from a document
Submit a new document
User can submit a new document to the catalogue and define certain data for the document, e.g. manufacturer, title, document number, revision number, revision date.
Restricted documents
A Document can be set to a restricted level in the catalogue. Only users from the organisations associated to that document will then be able to open or download it.
3.6 Verification
Functions for handling verification of each TEKno.
Send for Verification
After a TEKno is added or edited the user can send it for verification to have it approved for use in the catalogue.
Verification List
A list where the verifier can see and open all TEKnos sent for verification.
Approval
The verifier can comment, approve or reject a TEKno.
3.7 RDL Viewer
The RDL viewer shows the current RDL used for input in the catalogue.
Finding a class
Allows the user to drill down from a top level of class groups via various levels to the exact class, according to the structure of the RDL.
Viewing a class
A view showing the class details e.g.:
– Class Definition
– Properties with samples
– Required document categories
– Sample product image
3.8 Catalogue API
The catalogue comes with an API that exposes the methods needed to retrieve the content of the RDL of a catalogue, its TEKnos and associated data and documents. This can allow Customer to implement use of the catalogue data in its own systems.
