Implementing Manufacturing and Materials Management: From Empty Plant to Costed Work Order · Module 5 · Units of Measure and Calendars
UOM classes and base units
Lesson 47 of 188 · 3 min
A class is a family of units measuring the same thing — quantity, weight, volume, length, time. The base unit is the one unit in a class that everything else converts to. Chosen once per class, and permanent. Three kinds of conversion, and picking the wrong kind is the commonest design error here. Standard conversions sit within a class, defined once, and they apply to every item — a kilogram is a thousand grams for everything. Interclass conversions go between classes, and are item-specific: kilograms to litres depends on what the material is, because a litre of solvent and a litre of resin do not weigh the same, so there is no general answer. Intraclass conversions are item-specific overrides within a class — a "box" of one item is not the same count as a "box" of another, which is obvious once said and catches people constantly. Choose base units…
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