Fiction Based on a True Story

Back to Wentzel

This is about Vehicle Product Data. Please read my general article on this issue if you want to
understand the problems: Automotive Product Data Management.

Described in this document is a set of services where you can get information about a specific vehicle
model. The data is fiction which means that is not describing a real vehicle. But it is based on real
data. This data is re-coded, descriptions are changed, I have limited the geographical areas, and I
have changed principles and handling. Anyway, a bit simplified, but it shows a realistic vehicle.

The purpose of this document and the described functionality is to illustrate that a vehicle company
needs product data for a lot of different functions. Product data needs to service all these different needs.

There are a few basic principles for the data.

1. A vehicle is described by a list of features like W85A Front 18" 4-spoke al wheel.
   Where W85A is the feature code.
2. A feature always belongs to family. I this case W8 Wheel front
3. For a specific vehicle there is exactly one feature in each family.
4. Base vehicles. An important part of the data model is the base vehicle. A base vehicle is
   completely specified and buildable. It is a unique combination of the feature values in families
   called main families. In my vehicle concept the main families are:
   

   FH	m	Model
   HI	m	Propulsion
   BH	m	Version
   H8	m	Drive Side
   II	m	Gearbox
   2I	m	Area

5. In some families there may be alternative values available for a specific base vehicle. These are
   called optional features and can be used to change the specific vehicle configuration e.g., to a
   different wheel.
6. Change points. Vehicle can change over time. In my model I use week as the time unit. Changes
   can be e.g., introduction of a new base vehicle, adding or removing a feature, changing the
   standard configuration of a base vehicle.
7. Restrictions. Not all combinations of features are allowed. A standard configuration is always
   allowed but optional feature combinations may not be allowed e.g., a vehicle with heated rear
   seats must also have front heated seats. Internally restrictions are represented as allowed
   combinations of features,