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      Specs Configuration
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        Specs Configuration

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          Article summary

          Specs Configuration is the process of entering the data in Steelhead which digitally links Parts and Treatments to Specs and Certs via Spec Fields, Parameters, and Equipment.
          When you're first introduced to Steelhead, understanding how to use the Specs Dashboard may seem daunting. But with an investment of time in proper configuration, using the powerful capabilities of the Steelhead Specs and Certs modules will free up your time later on, and help you present polished digital Certifications for exceptional customer service.

          Related Documents

          Specifications (Specs) Overview
          Spec-driven Processing
          Specs Management
          Specs from Sensors
          Certifications
          Specs and Certs Troubleshooting

          Contents

          Creating New Specs
          Creating New Spec Fields
          Auto-Apply Sensors
          Minimum Effective Parameter Range
          Non-linear Sampling Rate
          Adding Params to Spec Field Assignments
          Assigning Specs
          Assigning a Spec to a Part Number
          Adding a Spec to a Process Node
          Spec Summary Dialog

          Creating New Specs

          1. On the Specs Dashboard (available from the Quality & Compliance Section of the Steelhead Homepage), click the +NEW SPEC button.
          2. Enter the Spec Name in the "Create Spec" dialog box. The other fields are optional, but the more information you make available here, the more functionality the Spec will have in your Domain.
            1. Any External Description will become available to be shown on Certs.
            2. If there is not yet a Default Process where the Spec will be applied, it can be connected later by linking its Spec Fields to Treatment Nodes. You can leave the Field open.
          3. Click SAVE.
          4. From the Specs Dashboard, on the right of the line showing your newly added Spec, you will see clickable icons to Edit, Archive, Copy, or Revise the Spec, or view a Spec Summary sheet of all available information. When you click into one Spec, you will also see a button to SUPERSEDE SPEC in the upper right.
            1. Editing allows you to change the name, labels, external description, Default Process, and more. It also allows for a new Revision to be created with the changes.
            2. Copying helps to create a new Spec that might share several attributes with one already stored and in use. A Copy can also be assigned a Revision Number along with updated requirements if appropriate. The name of a copied Spec will end with "- COPY" when created. A Spec and its Copy can be assigned to different Processes/Parts.
            3. Revising allows optional Supersession of an outdated Spec, if the box Supersedes Spec is checked along with a new Revision. If not, the Revision is saved with your active Specs with a new Revision Number, similar to a copied Spec.
            4. After revising with the Supersedes Spec checkbox selected, scroll down on the Spec Page to see the Part Numbers and Treatments that are linked. Clicking the magic wand under Actions, to "Resolve Supersession", will create a new copy of the Part Number or Treatment, and in the copy, the Spec which had been assigned to the original will be replaced by the Superseding Spec.
            5. The standalone button to SUPERSEDE SPEC brings up a dialog box which prompts you to select a replacement Spec from a drop-down list. The appropriate replacement is likely to be a Spec Revision you've already created, or a prescribed alternative.
          5. Click the Spec Number to enter the page showing its attributes.
            1. The Edit Spec button links back to the top-level attributes entered at Spec creation.
            2. An Internal Description can be entered to give information to operators and QC staff.
            3. The Referenced Specs are those which are included if you view a Parent Spec which uses other Specs as part of its requirements.
          6. Clicking +NEW SPEC FIELD allows you to add a Spec Field (which would need to have been created independently, as described below) to the Spec.
          7. Part Numbers, Treatments, and Spec Process Setup related to the open Spec are shown. Read further for details to build these links.

          Creating New Spec Fields

          See also: Specifications (Specs) Overview

          1. From the Specs Dashboard, enter the Spec Fields Dashboard: Screenshot 2025-03-14 at 2.03.32 PM.png

          2. Click on +NEW SPEC FIELD:
            Screenshot 2025-03-14 at 2.04.11 PM.png

          3. Name the Spec Field, and assign a Type. Depending on the Type, there will be additional characteristics to enter. For example, for a NUMBER Spec Field, you will be asked for a Minimum Effective Parameter Range (to prevent incompatibility while racking and processing different Parts together), a "yes" or "no" to whether you'd like the Spec Field to be available for controlling Schedules, and a selection list for a Referenced Spec (see Specs Management for more on this).

          Timers for Specs

          For a Timer Type Spec, you can elect to use automatic start and stop. By doing so, the Timer will start when the parts are moved into the Node associated with the Spec Field, and the time they are moved out will be recorded as the stop time. In the associated Workboard, the time will show as a countdown to the minimum acceptable time according to the set Parameter, and then count up to the maximum time allowed. This helps guide operators for such actions as dip time or drying time.

          Screenshot 2024-11-04 at 12.47.10 PM.png

          • If two time records are needed in the same Spec Field, you can create two Spec Field Parameters with Timers in the same Process Node. After parts are moved into the process node with Timers, the Timers can be stopped individually.
          • If the Spec Field is set as a MANUAL_TIMER, time will simply be entered by the operator according to some other reference such as a wall clock. To use a Manual Timer Spec Field, first find Manual Timer Settings in your Domain Settings, and toggle on the units (hours, minutes, seconds) which you'd like to be entered and recorded for reporting.
          1. Click SAVE, and your Spec Field will be added to the list on the Spec Fields Dashboard. Click on the Spec Field name from the list to open its Spec Field Page.
          2. In the Spec Field Page you can add a Description, view Spec Field Assignments (Specs to which the Spec Field is assigned), and Process Node assignments - prescribing the times and places that the associated data is to be collected.
            • Tie the Spec Field to a specific Process Node by entering the Processes Dashboard and opening the Process Tree for that Spec.
            • Click on the particular targeted Node within the Tree to highlight it.
            • Scroll down to Spec Fields, and click on +ADD SPEC FIELDS. Find and select the one you've created. Now when you open a Spec Field line from Spec Page, you will see the Process Nodes it's assigned to.
          3. Note that Spec Field Parameters are generated under each Spec Field Assignment. To create a new Spec Field Assignment, return to the Spec Page you'd like to link to a Spec Field, and click on +NEW SPEC FIELD. The dialog to "Assign Field to Spec" appears. From the drop-down list, select the Spec Field you've created separately, and fill in your selections for the Spec Field Assignment:
            • A Spec Field Assignment (sometimes called a "Spec Field Spec") links a Spec Field and a Spec together for the purpose of setting Parameters to work Parts under. When you add a Spec Field to a Spec, an ID is created for the Spec Field Assignment which also references the Spec Field ID. A Spec Field Assignment is unique to the Spec that it falls under together with the Params it's assigned.
            • You may import Params from another Spec, if available.
            • A Spec Field Assignment can be Generic or non-generic (specific), depending on your needs:
          Generic vs. Specific Spec Field Assignment Params
          • Generic Spec Field Params signify the nature of the Spec Field Assignment and any changes/updates cascade to all Treatments and Part Numbers which are given that Spec Field Assignment.
          • Specific Spec Field Params are copied individually to Spec Field Assignments, thus when updated on a Treatment or Part Number, the update is specific to that Treatment or Part Number.

          • The "Requires Geometry Type" checkbox controls the possibilities for selecting the Spec Field Assignment from Part Number pages. If the box is checked, then the associated Part Number must also have a Geometry Type selected in order to use that Spec Field Assignment. See Part Numbers for an explanation of Geometry Types, and see Specs Management for information on using geometries to track dimensional changes of Parts through processing.

          • The "Is External" checkbox, in part, controls what Specs will appear by default on Certifications:

            • Internal Specs can only be assigned Internal Spec Fields.
            • External Specs can be assigned both Internal and External Spec Fields.
            • Only External Spec Fields are defaulted to appear on Certs. Internal Spec Fields may be added.
          Spec File Uploads:

          Not to be confused with a Spec's global files.

          • This interface pops up when providing input for a Spec if Request Document is selected:
            Screenshot 2024-03-08 at 11.05.05 AM.png

          Auto-Apply Sensors

          see Auto-Apply Toggle in Specs from Sensors.

          Minimum Effective Parameter Range

          When you create a Spec Field with "Type" designated as a Number, Sensor/Number, or Timer, you are able to specify a Minimum Effective Parameter Range. This setting should be the total effective "tolerance" of the spec field measurement. After you set and edit Params (outlined below), you will be prevented from racking Parts together if the Spec Params are not set with ranges which overlap widely enough to accommodate the minimum effective range.

          Non-Linear Sampling Rate:

          You may set custom non-linear Sampling rates for Params, based on Batch sizes.
          In the Specs Dashboard, click on SAMPLING in the top row of links. You can create a Sample Set and enter the ranges of how many Parts will be tested from among any number of Batch size ranges:

          Screenshot 2025-03-12 at 5.12.33 PM.png

          The Sample set you create and save will be available to be chosen when you apply Params to Spec Fields.
          The assumption is that no matter how many Parts are treated in one batch, they will all be treated the same; so there is diminishing value in measuring the same property on individual Parts of the same Batch, unless required.

          Adding Params to Spec Field Assignments

          Spec Field Params set limits & requirements on a Spec Field that allow measurements to be taken. These are the Parameters on the values that you are collecting and certifying. A Param is unique to a Spec Field Assignment (That Spec Field applied to that Spec) and cannot be added to a Spec without a Spec Field, or to a Spec Field that isn't assigned to a Spec.

          • From the Specs Dashboard, click the Number of one Spec to open its page.
          • Add a Spec Field, which creates a Spec Field Assignment on that Spec. Click the ID of the linked Spec Field to open its page.
          • Within this Spec Field Assignment Page, there is a section called Default Spec Field Params, with the option to +CREATE DEFAULT SPEC FIELD PARAMS. This button adds a Param, and opens the dialog to Name it, provide a description, and set input and sampling requirements along with specific Param limits. SAVE your inputs.
          • Default Param values can also be established via the Part Number page of any Part.
            • Click on the Part Number Name hyperlink
            • Scroll down and open the attached Spec which requires default Params
            • Scroll down and click on the ID of the applicable Spec Field
            • Click on the applicable Default Spec Field Params, or click +CREATE DEFAULT SPEC FIELD PARAMS
          • Setting or changing Default Param values will auto-populate Params on each Node where the Spec Field is assigned.
          • The Default Param values can also be overwritten.

          Default Param Values:

          If you wish the Spec Field Parameter to have the same measurements in each Node each time you are taking the measurements, you can specify that Parameter on your Part Number Spec Field.
          The same Parameter will be prescribed at every Node that the Spec measurements are taken, as the default. If you'd like it to be different at each node, then you will need to specify the different Parameters for each Node.
          image.png

          • Sampling Sets are established separately. To do so, click SAMPLING near the top of the Specs Dashboard. Any Sampling Set which has already been saved is available to link to a Param.

          Assigning specs

          • Any number of Specs can be assigned to Treatments or to Part Numbers.
            • Treatments:
              • Every time the Treatment is run, the assigned Spec, Spec Field Assignments, and Parameters are pulled in.
            • Part numbers:
          • Specs can be deleted from Treatments or Part Numbers only if there is no previous data collection.
          • Specs can be archived if there is Spec data already collected.

          Assigning a Spec to a Part Number

          One Parameter per Spec Field Assignment (the default Param) is selected when a Spec is assigned to a Part Number or Process Node.

          Specs may be assigned to Part Numbers when they are created, or any time from the Part Number's page.

          1. From the Part Number page for an existing Part, click the +ADD SPEC button.
          2. Choose the Spec that you want to add to the Part Number.
          3. Choose the Spec Parameters for the Part Number.
          Changing Specs on a Part Number

          Once Specs are set on Part Numbers, updating the Spec does not change the Specs on the Part Number. This is for tracking historical Spec compliance. To update the Specs on a Part Number, create a new Part Number using the COPY PART button. By default this will copy the applications of Specs and Processes along with the Part Number, and then they can be edited more freely for use on upcoming jobs.

          Reminder, if you create a copy of a Part Number:

          • Select Show Advanced before saving to optionally enter a new Accounting ID/Name, and verify whether you are copying the GL Account.

          Adding a Spec to a Process Node

          • From the Processes page, choose the Process containing the Process Node that you want to assign the Spec to.
          1. From the Process tree, choose a Process Node that you would like to collect Spec Data from.
          2. Scroll to the Spec Fields area of the Process Node page and click the + Spec Fields button.
          3. Choose the Spec, and then the Spec Field, to collect at that Process Node.
          4. Repeat for each Spec Field to include.
          5. If two time records are needed in the same Spec Field, you can create two Spec Field Parameters with Timers having different names in the same Process Node. After Parts are moved into the Process Node having multiple Timers, the Timers can be stopped individually.

          From a Spec Page, an assigned Spec Field can be linked to a Default Process Node by clicking the slashed circle icon in the table.

          Screenshot 2025-03-17 at 9.58.50 AM.png

          • View Spec Fields attached to the default Process by clicking link icons near the Process Tree from the Process Page.
          • View Process Nodes attached to a Spec Field by clicking the link icon on the Spec page.
          • Add Spec Fields to a Process Node by selecting them directly or by using the Search by Spec box.

          Screenshot 2024-04-01 at 11.16.25 AM.png

          • On a Process Node with a Spec Field, click the Spec Field row to view more information.

          Screenshot 2024-04-01 at 11.17.22 AM.png

          Adding Specs to Part Numbers vs Work Orders:

          When adding or changing a Spec Field Param on a Part Number: if a new Process Node (different to what is already assigned) is added, the Spec Field Param will default to that Node for all future orders which include that Spec Field Assignment.

          • For example, below is the screen that comes up when you add a Spec to a Part Number.
          • When you select the Param you also can select the Process Node (as seen in the drop-down). The active Spec Field Assignment appears in red on the list.
          • If a different Node than what the Param is already assigned to is selected, Steelhead will link that Spec Field Param to that Process Node - there is no limit to the number of Process Nodes where the same Spec Field may be linked.

          image.png

          When a Param is added to a Recipe Node on a Work Order, if a non-default Process Node is selected, a warning will pop up.

          • If you override the warning for the new Node, the Param will only be added to the Recipe Node for the specific Work Order if you are editing.
            image.png

          Params per Process Node Occurence:

          Spec Field Params are distinct per Process Node occurrence, making differing Params on shared Nodes possible by using duplicate Nodes (with differing Spec Field Params) on a Process, then assigning Parts to the Node occurence matching their needs.

          Screenshot 2024-08-12 at 9.20.20 AM.png

          As explained in Process Nodes, repeated Process Nodes may also be assigned different Treatments with opt-in/opt-out functionality per Part Number. For example, several optional "Spray Paint" Nodes could be individually assigned Treatments called "Blue", "Red", "Green", and so on, within the same parent Process. The Treatments may be assigned different Specs for Spec-Driven Processing.

          Viewing Specs by Label:

          Users may associate Labels with a list of entities. This includes the ability to add Labels to Specs.

          • All available multi-use Labels can be seen, ordered, and edited from your Domain Settings. Click the Domain Tile on the Homepage, and search for, or scroll down to, the Go to Labels button in the Part Numbers, Processes, & Treatments section.
          • When you open a Label for editing with the pencil icon, Associated Entities appear in the editing dialog. You may add or remove entities such as "Spec" from the selected Label.
          • Note: Removing an entity from a label will not remove the label from any objects, instead it will simply not be available to add anymore

          Screenshot 2024-11-11 at 10.46.41 AM.png

          You can add or edit the Labels associated with Specs in the Specs Dashboard.

          Spec Summary Dialog

          Users are able to see a summary overview for an individual Spec, including all the most relevant information, in one screen.

          Information displayed in this dialog includes:

          • Spec Name, Revision #
          • Active or archived
          • External description
          • Internal or external Type
          • Custom inputs
          • Internal description
          • Associated Treatments
          • Associated Part Numbers
          • Process definition:
            • Opt-in/Opt-outs
            • Associated Spec Fields
              • Associated Spec Params
              • Associated Process definitions

          Screenshot 2024-09-19 at 9.05.31 AM.png

          Steps to use this feature:

          1. Click on the Spec Tile on the Homepage.
          2. Select a Spec from the list.
          3. Click on the three-dot icon in the upper right corner.
          4. Review the Spec Summary.

          Screenshot 2024-09-19 at 9.05.02 AM.png

          View and Select in Spec Summary:
          • Users may view the Spec Summary dialog for the specific Spec on the customize values dialog when creating a Cert.
          • If needed, you may also select all and deselect all Spec Fields from the same location.

          Screenshot 2024-10-07 at 12.20.01 PM.png

          Specified Time Types for Spec Params in Spec Summary:

          Users are able to edit the max, target, and min times for Spec Params of type Timer when editing the Params on the Spec Summary dialog:
          1. Find a Spec that has associated Params that are of type Timer.
          2. View Spec Summary dialog.
          3. Scroll and expand the Params.
          4. View/edit the associated min, target, and max times.

          Screenshot 2024-10-07 at 12.22.34 PM.png

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