For example, if you produce a wide range of products which are mounted using a common set of bolts into a common enclosure, the bolts and enclosure could constitute a
module which you incorporate into the various MDSs which utilize these parts. This same
“subset” functionality can also be achieved using an MDS, but modules are quicker and easier to
create and maintain because they do not have customer or supplier information. A never-released module in edit mode can be converted to an MDS, but this capability is lost once the
module is internally released or if other versions exist. More information on modules is provided
later in this document (see 3.3.1).
Once Datasheet or Module is selected, the menu opens a submenu from which to choose the
type of MDS or module. From this submenu, the user may choose to create a component, a semi-component or a material. Once chosen, the type cannot be changed. The two most commonly
created MDS types are Material and Component. Let us start with Material.