VESCON GmbH offers training which comprises four hours of comprehensive practical knowledge on the Material Data Manager at our Frankenthal location. The sessions start at 1.00 p.m.

We offer two training courses for manufacturers:

Course 1

• Structure of MDM: Data pool and structure node view
• Approval lists, project approvals and universal approvals
• Records and data fields
• The importance of order numbers
• Who can create MDM records?
• Requests and tasks
• Reports in MDM
• The MDM as a source of information

Dates in Q4:

• 17.10.2018
• 14.11.2018
• 05.12.2018

Course 2

• Data management with the Excel import function
• Features for mass data processing
• Special manufacturer area for personal devices lists and copy suggestions for universal approvals
• MDM catalog articles

Dates in Q4:

• 24.10.2018
• 21.11.2018
• 12.12.2018

Participation is free for device manufacturers who have premium status. If you would like to register for one of the course, simply drop us a line at mdm(at)vescon.com.

Due to the high demand, we have been focusing our training concept even more strongly on the special requirements of suppliers and machine builders since the beginning of the year.

In addition to integrating practical exercises and a focus on "parts lists/universal approvals", the training now comprises 2 units of 6 hours each. Currently, we offer 2-3 training courses per month. The positive feedback from the participants shows that the new concept has proven itself.

Due to the high demand, we have been focusing our training concept even more strongly on the special requirements of suppliers and machine builders since the beginning of the year.

In addition to integrating practical exercises and a focus on "parts lists/universal approvals", the training now comprises 2 units of 6 hours each. Currently, we offer 2-3 training courses per month. The positive feedback from the participants shows that the new concept has proven itself.

We will be more than happy to advise you in detail and design a two-day training course especially tailored to your needs based on the following content:

• Functionality, user groups and permissions
• Usability and user interface
• Search, filter, group – where can I find approved articles
• Workflow features – what to do if articles or approvals are missing
• Editing parts lists in the MDM
• Inquiries and support – Your contact
• Using the MDM interface – EPLAN P8 CAD system

Scope

• two-day training course with 2 units of 6 hours each
• up to 10 participants
• Training materials in paper and PDF format
• Feedback discussions following the training course
• Certificates for each participant
• Training dates according to your request

Aim of training

Participants learn to master all the basic functions of the Material Data Manager. The focus is on the optimal procedures from the machine supplier’s point of view. At the end of the training course, the participants will be able to prepare an error-free parts list in the Material Data Manager.

Your benefits from in-house training

• Savings potential compared to open events
• Personal advice from our experts on your premises
• Holistic approach and practical relevance – the content learned can be applied simply and effectively in everyday work
• The exercises can be completed using your data/parts lists

Cost

We offer our in-house training courses at the following flat rates depending on the location (Basis: Frankenthal):

 Would you like more information? We will be happy to advise you a no obligation and free of charge offer. You can reach us on +49 (0)6233 6000-999 or via email at mdm(at)vescon.com

Benefit from our insider know-how!

There are many stumbling blocks on the way to documentation before it is accepted by an operator. We will show you how to avoid them and how to optimise your processes – from EPLAN P8 to MDM.

Benefit from our extensive know-how in all requirements of the delivery process. We are not only experts on the MDM but also have many years of experience with EPLAN and know the standards and regulations (e.g. specifications of Daimler or Bosch AS 

Our services

• Analysis of your processes
• EPLAN P8 system analysis
• Preparation of a catalogue of measures taking into account the OEM-specific requirements (specifications)

Your advantages

• Savings potential by avoiding ineffective working methods
• Savings potential by optimising your EPLAN environment
• Personal consultation from our qualified experts
• Holistic approach and practical relevance 

Would you like more information? We will be happy to advise you a no obligation and free of charge. You can reach us on +49 (0)6233 6000-999 or via email at mdm(at)vescon.com

P.S. We also offer you extensive know-how about EPLAN – from basic training to expert workshops. Get in touch with us!

With the update to MDM version 2.2, we have started to adapt the MDM in such a way that particularly compute-intensive processes can be outsourced to other servers. For MDM users, this means that they can continue working normally after starting a corresponding feature. A status message appears at the bottom right edge of the MDM when starting and closing the application. 

The processes are entered and processed in a “job list”. Every user can check the status of their jobs in this list. Depending on the type of job, users can jump from the job list to the result. The view can be found under “View – Jobs”.

By delegating out computationally intensive processes, we can relieve the load on the main server, which in turn benefits performance. In the first step, the following processes were separated:

• Importing parts lists (Excel, Eplan and RUPLAN)
• Checking parts list again
• Status report for parts lists

At the end of August, a further update to MDM version 2.3 was carried out to switch further processes and all evaluations to this new system.

• Import catalogue items
• Cyclic “Document/URL Check”
• Reports

Importing parts lists

When importing a parts list, an entry is created in the job list. The user receives a notification at the bottom right-hand corner when the import begins and ends.

Please note: After the import no more notification mails will be sent. Since version 2.4, a request to the operator to check the parts lists is made directly on the parts list (mark the relevant parts list and select the function “Request check of parts list”). Don’t forget to select “Edit on”)

Check parts lists again

The feature “Check parts list again” is also carried out via the job process.

Please note: After the parts list check has been completed, the “Parts list summary” is not automatically updated. To do this, leave the “Parts lists” tab and open it again. Another new feature is that several parts lists can be selected and checked at once.

Please note: Large-scale checks have a low priority in the job list and can take longer.

Reports

When a report is started, an entry is created in the job list. The result of the report is automatically displayed in the report window when the job is finished. If the user changes the edit window while the report is being generated, the result can only be accessed via the job list. The result is available to the user via the job list for 10 days.

The MDM plug-in must be reinstalled for 32-bit versions.

As of MDM version 2.2, the paths of the EPLAN MDM plug-in are separated into 32 and 64 bits. The path of the 64-bit version corresponds to the path previously defined for all versions (..\MDM\Plugins\Eplan2\..). This means that there is no change for 64-bit versions.

For the 32-bit EPLAN versions (2.3 and 2.4 32 bit) the script must be registered with a changed path (..\MDM\Plugins\Eplan2_x86\...). in Eplan P8 (Utilities / Run script / ...).

If you have any questions or problems, please contact the MDM hotline.

Writing the technical description back to EPLAN without status and approval information     

As of MDM version 2.3, when writing the “Technical Description” back to the EPLAN parts, the MDM ID, the status and the approval information are no longer attached (e.g. [MDM ID:  4765 - V2.0] Approval missing / disabled). Current information can only be found in the MDM parts list.

As of MDM version 2.3, the MDM manufacturer names are entered in the “Manufacturer (import)” field for the spellings of manufacturers configured in EPLAN. This ensures that the error “Manufacturer not found” can be corrected by the user if the spelling in EPLAN differs.

• This results in the following advantages for the user:
• if parts are not available, the correct manufacturer name is displayed
• when requesting “new part” from the parts list, the correct manufacturer is already shown in the request form
• thanks to consistent manufacturer names, the hit rate is higher for universal approvals

EPLAN and universal approval

Universal approval cannot be linked in EPLAN because they are not parts data records but merely release definitions. If the manufacturer's EPLAN notation previously did not match the MDM notation, the manufacturer could not be recognised in the parts list check and thus existing universal approval for these parts could not be assigned. “The manufacturer’s own notations” were not taken into account in this case because there was no link to a data record (see online help “Defining own spellings”).

When sending the parts list to the MDM, the system now always searches for “manufacturer’s own notations" and replaces the EPLAN notation with the MDM manufacturer name defined there. In future, manufacturer-specific universal approval will thus be recognised, even if the EPLAN manufacturer notation in the parts database does not match the MDM notation.

The new GDPR also affects VESCON’s daily work with the MDM. For example, we increasingly check whether personal data is available in data sheets. As it must be assumed that permission to pass on this data has not been granted, all personal data must be made unrecognisable. Otherwise these documents cannot be accepted.

Explanatory data sheets must be uploaded for new parts in the MDM. Documents or drawings are often marked with a protection or confidentiality notice (e.g. secrecy or patent rights). As such documents are available to all MDM users, they cannot remain in the MDM. If possible, please use only documents and data sheets without a protection notice. VESCON checks in the request “New part” whether data sheets with a protection notice are used and removes them if necessary.

The following applies for production drawings with protection notice (production parts):

No data sheets need to be uploaded to the MDM if they have a protection notice.

Please structure the technical description as follows:

• Repeat the part notation
• Supplement technical data distinguishing part data sets with the same designation
• Reference to protected documents according to ISO DIN 16016 or DIN 34
• Drawing numbers/file names used to find the documents in the machine documentation.

In general, small PDF files that only describe the part should preferably be uploaded. Please do not upload full catalogues. The data sheet should contain the order number used or an order number key. If you insert a hyperlink, please make sure that the link leads directly to the specific part.

Whereas in the past, the second digit of the MDM version number was only incremented for larger updates, this number is now incremented for each feature change. For example, the first update to outsource the processes was given the MDM version number 2.2 and the last update to complete these services was given the version numbers 2.3 and 2.4.