Introduction to Product Definitions in Aletiq
Aletiq enables tracking of article definition changes through the definition index.
Work orders (passports) can then be associated with a specific definition index to ensure full traceability.
An article’s definition file includes the following elements:
The CAD file, its associated BOM (if applicable), and technical drawings
The eBOM (engineering Bill of Materials), listing all components
The definition documents (e.g., technical specifications)
Any change to one or more of these elements results in a new revision of the definition, which may be minor or major.
Create a Product Definition
Link a CAD File to the Definition
💡 If the article was created from a part, the part is automatically added to the article's definition.
From the Definition page of the article, in the Part BOM tab, click on Link part.
From this page, you can also attach drawings related to the CAD part to the product definition.
Create the eBOM
💡 The eBOM can be generated automatically from the part BOM to save time.
From the Definition page of the article, in the Product BOM (eBOM) tab, click Edit to modify the eBOM.
From this window, you can:
Complete the eBOM using the part BOM
Create new articles and add them to the eBOM
Add existing articles already stored in Aletiq
Import a BOM from a .csv file
👉🏽 To learn more about the eBOM, see the dedicated article.
Link Definition Documents to the Definition
Definition documents are documents whose updates must be correlated with the product definition revision.
If a definition document changes, the definition must also be revised.
From the Definition page of the article, in the Definition documents tab, click Add documents.
You can also display the definition documents of eBOM components using the Display button.
Approve a Product Definition
⚠️ To approve a product definition, all elements making up the definition index must be validated:
The part (CAD)
The definition documents
The definition indices of the eBOM components
You can validate the definition by clicking the Approve button at the top right of the page.
The validation window allows you to review all the elements included in the definition index.
Update a Product Definition
To update a definition element, you must be in a Draft definition.
If the latest definition is approved, you must first create a new definition revision by clicking on New definition in the list of definition indices.
Once created, you can update all definition components:
The linked CAD file
The eBOM
The definition documents
Special Case: Configurable Articles
A configurable article and its variants share a single definition.
When a new definition revision is created for either the parent or any variant, it applies to all variants.
However, each variant’s definition can still be customized:
You can associate a different part variant to each product variant
(All part variants must belong to the same configurable part)You can customize the eBOM for each variant