What are product families, and why should we add them
Product families are the structural pillars of CTS, and when an organization describes their product families, they are making a STRATEGIC decision, and so adding them needs to be done with thought and care
Product families are logical groupings for a company of product that they make, and as such SHOULD be based on product types, not on application. Examples from various companies are shown below:
For a bracket manufacturer
- “L” brackets
- Flat brackets
- Plastic brackets
For a bearing company it could be
- Single row bearings
- Double row bearings
For an exhaust manufacturer it could be
- Straight pipes
- Bent pipes
- Canisters
How to add a product family
Step 1
- Bring up the main screen
- Click on user setting menu by clicking on the wrench
Step 2
- Point on the Parts/Projects/Gage Studies tab
Step 3
- Point on the Product Family types tab
Step 4
- Add a Product Family by clicking the + symbol
Step 5
- Click on the add new button
- Enter the required information which is identified with an asterik
- Click on the check mark to save changes – the saved information is now available in CTS