Product lifecycles

Dawid Kaczmarek Updated by Dawid Kaczmarek

Product lifecycles

To offer a tool that gives better control of a product various phases during its lifecycle, this feature introduces a flexible framework to manage the lifecycle phases for released products.

It is possible to define phases within a products lifecycle and how the phase affects the default order settings for creation of orders and availability of on-hand inventory. It is also possible to select an icon (from a provided list) that will be visible in multiple forms and lookups (below in form of colored square symbols).

Figure 4: Product lifecycle phases

Recommendation

With the D365FO application release 7.3 functionality for product lifecycle state is introduced from MBS. The functionality introduced form MBS is different from the functionality described in this document.

To prevent confusion for the users, we recommend considering using only one of the solutions for lifecycle management.

Setup of phases

Phases can be created and maintained in [Inventory management/Setup/Quality management/Product lifecycle phases]

Figure 5: Product lifecycle phases

Phase: Id for the phase

Phase name: Description of the phase

Coverage group: The coverage group to be assigned a product, when a product is updated to this phase

Purchase: The blocking status for purchase to be assigned a product, when a product is updated to this phase

Inventory: The blocking status for inventory to be assigned a product, when a product is updated to this phase

Sales: The blocking status for sales to be assigned a product, when a product is updated to this phase

Image: The image (icon) chosen to present this phase. The image is selected among the available predesigned images, using the menu item button [Change phase image]

In use: Indicates whether or not this phase is in use. Phases in use cannot be changed/edited

There are many possible combinations, but for most customers it would be obvious to have at least four different phases; Blocked (totally blocked), Under evaluation (Can be purchased and stored, but not sold), Phasing out (Only selling, but not buying) and Active (Nothing blocked). Using the default order settings, which controls use in production, would be dependent on the customers' requirements.

On the Figure below, it can be seen, how the Phase of a product is visible on the BOM-line form by showing the lines in the color of the phase defined under the product life cycle group master data. The status is also visible in the BOM designer and under Co- and By-products.

Figure 6: Product lifecycle phases on BOM lines

Usage of phases

The phase can be connected to a released product under the general fast tab of the item master data.

Embedded Image Embedded Image

Figure 7: Product lifecycle phase on a product

When setting a phase for a product, the product will inherit the information for the phase. Default order settings will be updated with blocking information and coverage group will be updated with coverage information. If a lifecycle code is updated to a phase with a 'blank' value in Coverage group, no update occurs to the value on the product, however if the new phase holds a different value (not 'blank') the coverage group is updated to this value on the released product.

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