Configuring workflow rules

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Workflow rules determine the thresholds that allow the Workflow Engine of IBM® Maximo Inventory Optimization to flag those item changes that fall outside of tolerable thresholds.

These item changes require approval by specific responsible or specialized personnel. These individuals are those members of personnel who are best able to gauge the short, medium, and long-term effects of these changes.

Audits also require the client to show due diligence around their decision-making processes. Workflow rules allow IBM Maximo Inventory Optimization to automate the process of noticing significant changes and ensuring that the relevant personnel are consulted for the proper approvals to be made.

Rules are made up of several components:

  • Trigger
  • Conditions
  • None to many export profiles

An item must match the trigger and a condition combination for the rule, and also must be approved for none to many of the provided export profiles set for that rule.

Example of rules

  • Changes that result in inventory savings in excess of $10,000.
  • Items that previously had a business impact value of A or B that now have a business impact value of C, D, or E.
  • Changes to the stock level

Workflow rule priorities

Workflow rules are listed in order of priority.

A workflow is created for an item according to the first rule that it matches. The workflow is not checked against any other rules until it is signed off by that rule's respective Approver. It will then create a workflow for the next rule that it matches.

When all created workflows for an item are approved, the item is exported for all of its export profiles. If any of the workflows that are created for that item are rejected by the Approver, then the item is not exported.

An item state exists so the user knows whether an item falls out of workflow due to non-permitted data changes.

Note: Not all items are removed from workflow during a refresh.

Downloading rules

You can download all the rules in CSV or Excel format, by clicking on Download all (Export icon) button. The downloaded file will be saved in your download folder. This file contains everything about rules.