IFS/Component Specification, a Microsoft Excel add-in, enables you to generate data for objects and design parts and transport it outside of IFS/Asset Design. Two different outputs are possible:
These sheets are used for handling object and design part data. The chief purpose for equipment data sheets is the import and export of technical equipment data between IFS/Asset Design and suppliers or manufacturers. Suppliers suggest a design part for a particular object, fill in the necessary technical data, which is then exported back to IFS/Asset Design along with the object data. If it does not exist, a design part can be created within an equipment data sheet, connected to its object, and saved to IFS/Asset Design. Equipment data sheets are also used for:
Check records are a protocol to verify the installation and compliance of each object. Check records verification data is saved back to the object in IFS/Asset Design.
IFS/Component Specification is used to create component specifications for both equipment (object or design part data in a data sheet or list) and MC check records. A component specification corresponds to a Microsoft Excel workbook. A component specification holds one or more specification sheets, which correspond to Microsoft Excel worksheets.
A component specification is created to hold an object's requirements data and the design part's technical data fields. These fields are similar to those in IFS/Asset Design. Each specification sheet describes an object or design part and is sent to a supplier who has equipment that can satisfy the object's requirements. The supplier suggests a piece of equipment by filling in the technical data in the design part section.
The specification sheet is then returned and the new data is reviewed before importing to IFS/Asset Design. The object data, if changed, is sent back to the original object and the supplier's data is written to the design part. The component template handles the mapping and data routing. A comparison dialog box enables control of how much or how little of the data is brought back into IFS/Asset Design. If the design part does not yet exist in IFS/Asset Design, it can be created during the data import and connected to its equipment object.
Nozzle and Terminal data is also managed via equipment data sheets.
A check record, a checklist protocol for installation and testing, is created for each design object. The actual sheet from the check record specification is entered into special design object fields (created in part with system variables). The record sheet is generated and contains the checklist protocol. The protocol is performed and signatures and approvals are made. This signature data is then imported back to the design object. A comparison dialog lets you review data before importing it to the design object.
IFS/Component Specification is a zero-install product, that is, it is installed with IFS/Asset Design. However, you need to make sure that Microsoft Excel (version 9, included with Office 2000) is installed on the client prior to using IFS/Component Specification.
Highlight or select one or more objects for which you will create a specification sheet and select Create Component Specification. An Excel New dialog box opens and you select a template.
Operating IFS/Component Specification together with Microsoft Excel is partially dependent upon your internet browser's security setting configuration. Refer to Release Notes for an explanation.
To change the language of the IFS menu in Excel, select IFS > Properties to open the Properties dialog box. Click the Language tab and enter the IFS Applications language code for your language. Click OK.
Template files are created within Microsoft Excel and it is necessary that both Microsoft Excel and IFS/Component Specification are installed on the client before a template file is created. A template is configured on a per-standard and a per-class basis.
The template's setup sheet controls the mapping between the component specification in Microsoft Excel and the object/design part within IFS/Asset Design. Templates are created as either:
Each component specification requires a preconfigured template and each sheet in the component specification is based on this template set up sheet. Predefine which type of attributes are shown and in which cell the actual attribute value is written. It is possible to predefine a template's graphical layout for header, footer, company logo, and so on.
IFS/Component Specification template file has values from the following technical attributes and columns (main object data and main design part data.)
Note: IFS/Asset Design attribute fields have limits as to how much information they can hold. Alphanumerical attribute fields are limited to 20 characters while numerical attribute fields are limited to 40 characters. Importing data from IFS/Component Specification back to IFS/Asset Design may result in an error message if these attribute limits are exceeded.
A typical equipment data sheet contains data for one object and one design part. The object data is requirements data and consists mostly of data describing the requirements that must be met by a specific piece of equipment. A pump, for example, has requirements data for input/output, temperature, ability to withstand pressure, and so on. The design part connected to this object contains technical data for a supplier's piece of equipment that can satisfy these requirements demands. A pump design part would have data describing the materials, measurements, pressure capabilities, and so on.
A typical equipment data sheet is an abbreviated version of the object or design part information from IFS/Asset Design. That is, only the vital information for the dimensioning and purchase of the object or design part will be included. When a specification sheet is sent out, the object data will have predefined fields and those fields will contain values. This is the information the supplier needs. The design part section of the sheet will have predefined data fields without values. These data fields list the expected technical data and the supplier fills in equipment data values based on these fields.
A component specification may contain one or several object or design parts belonging to the specific class. Microsoft Excel limits the number of sheets per component specification to 250 objects or design parts. Considering performance and data manageability issues, 10-20 objects per component specification might be a more reasonable limit.
An MC component specification contains check records (inspection or testing protocols) for a logical series of equipment (e.g., all pumps in a process redesign). Each piece of equipment is registered in IFS/Asset Design and is assigned a control record sheet ID. Each control record is a list of technical requirements that the equipment must be tested for. The results are entered in check record fields. Most of these fields do not correspond to data fields in IFS/Asset Design. However, the Object ID and signature fields are imported to the object within IFS/Asset Design.
The component specification has been updated by the supplier or manufacturer with technical data for the selected equipment objects. This information is then saved back to IFS/Asset Design in several different ways.
The different strategies for saving data back to IFS/Asset Design have to be taken under consideration by the engineer. Each company will have procedures as to how the received information for basic requirements for the object, design part technical data etc. will be saved back to IFS/Asset Design.
From within Microsoft Excel, there are three different commands for importing the component specification data on a per-sheet basis:
Several sheets in a component specification may be selected and they will be deployed one after the other.
IFS > Deploy > All Data for Selected Sheet(s) enables the import of both the requirements object data and the technical data for the design part. Once the deploy function is selected, the Deploy Sheet dialog box opens, enabling the selection of the data to import for the object and the design part. The Deploy Sheet dialog box has comparison columns that help the engineer to compare the information stored in the specification sheet against the actual data stored in IFS/Asset Design. Selecting all data will update both the original equipment objects basic requirements and the design part data.
If a design part number is entered in the specification and that design part number does not exist within IFS/Asset Design, it will be created and connected to the equipment object. All technical information for the design part can be automatically saved to the design part after approval.
The equipment's object data is the requirements data for the actual object based on a previously calculated process design, practical knowledge from previous installations, and/or an engineer's technical skills. IFS > Deploy > Only Object Data in Selected Sheet(s) imports only the equipment object to IFS/Asset Design. This means that the object's original information will be overwritten with data from an internal source or data provided by the supplier/manufacturer that better fits with the suggested design parts. Because a MC check record contains only object data, this command is always used to deploy, review, and import the signature data.
Changing the original object requirements data may be necessary, for example, when the data sheet specification has been sent for review and the returned object information in the sheet has to be saved back to IFS/Asset Design. It could also be necessary and even more practical to save supplier or manufacturer technical information back to the object because no design part has been created or will be created for the actual object.
After selecting IFS > Deploy Only Object Data in Selected Sheet(s), the Deploy Sheet dialog box opens and helps the engineer to compare the information stored in the specification sheet with the actual data stored in IFS/Asset Design. It is then easy for the engineer to select the information to be saved into the system.
For one-of-a-kind equipment objects (tanks or columns), it may be more practical to store all data within the object and not use a design part.
A supplier fills in technical data pertaining to the design part. This data describes a piece of equipment that satisfies the object's requirements. This data will then be imported into an existing design part in IFS/Asset Design. The design part is connected to the object within IFS/Asset Design. This command is not valid for MC check records.
IFS > Deploy Only Design Part Data in Selected Sheet(s) imports only the supplier's data into an existing design part in IFS/Asset Design (to create a design part and connect it to the object, first use the IFS > Deploy Selected Sheet(s) command). The Deploy Sheet dialog box enables review of both the equipment information and the IFS/Asset Design data. Information that will be saved back to the system, can be selected carefully.
IFS/Component Specification is a powerful tool for handling an extensive amount of information and serves as a vital go-between for the design group, suppliers, and manufacturers. In certain situations, it may be more convenient to update information directly in IFS/Asset Design rather than import the equipment data. This could be the case for minor changes, such as connecting an existing design part to an object or updating the equipment object and/or design part with minor changes for technical data.