Read time: ~6 minutes
Applies to: Shop Floor Interface
What you’ll learn
Learn how CRIBWISE item relations — alternatives, spare parts, matching items, and assemblies — connect items so operators get the right replacements, kits, and components at pick time.
Item relations at a glance
| Relation type | Purpose | Defined on | Effect at pick time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative | Offer a replacement when the main item is out of stock | Item detail → Relations | SFI suggests the alternative (and inherited substitutes) automatically |
| Spare part | Bundle parts that are always used together | Item detail → Relations | Spare parts appear in the pick list with preset quantities |
| Matching item | Link items with compatible ISO parameters | Auto-calculated from catalog data | Matching items are shown during picking for optional co-pick |
| Assembly | Compose a single unit from multiple items | Item detail → Relations | SFI lets the operator build a new assembly from available components |
Where to find related items in the SFI
On the Shop Floor Interface, related items are accessible in two places. On the quantity selection screen, tap the Related items button at the bottom of the screen.
On the item selection screen, expand the item detail and tap the Related items tab. This view lists all related items with their available quantities and lets you add them to the pick list.
Alternative items
Each item can have one alternative item. When the main item is out of stock and the alternative is available, the Shop Floor Interface offers the alternative as a replacement during picking.
Tip: If the alternative item also has its own alternative defined, CRIBWISE follows the chain and offers the next linked item as substitutes. This lets you create a substitute chain without extra configuration.
The Alternative Items tab in the Related Items dialog shows the alternative item and its available quantity. In the example below, item 5924287 has one alternative: item 5758962.
In the Admin Portal, the Relations tab also shows:
- Inherited alternatives — items further down the substitute chain.
- Reverse references — other items that list this item as their alternative.
Spare parts
One or many spare parts can be defined for each item. For each spare part you specify a position and a required quantity.
When an operator picks the main item, the spare parts appear alongside it. The required quantity is used as the default pick quantity for each spare part, so operators don’t need to look up how many to take.
The Spare Parts tab lists every spare part with its position, required quantity, and available quantity. In this example, item 5924287 has five spare parts — from a countersunk head screw at position 1 to a cup spring at position 5.
Position defines the sorting of the list to show the most relevant items at the top. Since the view doesn’t have a search function, this can be useful when an item has a larger number of spare parts.
Note: Spare parts can be picked together with the main item or separately. The relation only sets the default — it does not force a combined pick.
The Relations tab also shows all items that list the current item as a spare part (reverse references).
Matching items
Matching items are calculated automatically from ISO parameters stored in the item’s catalog data. If two items share compatible ISO attributes, CRIBWISE links them as matching items.
During picking, the Matching Items tab displays items with compatible ISO parameters. The operator can select any matching item to add it to the pick list or pick it separately.
Important: ISO parameters are only available for items imported from external catalogs that include this data. Manually created items do not have matching-item calculations.
Assembly items
An assembly is a single item composed of multiple component items. Each component has a position and a required quantity within the assembly. The same item can appear in an assembly more than once (at different positions).
On the Shop Floor Interface, if all required components are available in the device at the required quantities, the operator can pick them together to create a new assembly composition. Durable components are not marked as picked — they are marked as used within the assembly. The assembly can then be returned as a single piece.
Tip: If the current item is not itself an assembly, the Relations tab shows which assemblies include it as a component.
Common confusion
| People often think… | But actually… |
|---|---|
| An alternative item is a two-way link | The link is one-way. If Item A lists Item B as its alternative, Item B does not automatically list Item A. Set the reverse manually if needed. |
| Spare parts are automatically picked with the main item | Spare parts are offered with default quantities, but the operator decides whether to pick them together or separately. |
| You can manually add matching items | Matching items are auto-calculated from ISO catalog data. You cannot add or override them manually. |
| Assembly components are consumed when picked | Durable components are marked as used within the assembly, not consumed. They return with the assembly as a single piece. |
Take action
Ready to configure item relations? Go to How to set up item substitutions and phase-in alternatives for the step-by-step guide on alternatives and substitutes.
Need to build assemblies on the shop floor? See How to create and stock a new assembly in SFI.
Related articles
- How to set up item substitutions and phase-in alternatives — configure alternative items and substitute chains
- How to create and stock a new assembly in SFI — compose new assemblies from available components on the Shop Floor Interface
- How to pick an item — the standard picking workflow, including how alternatives and spare parts appear
- How to assign items to stock locations — assign items to devices and stock locations before they can be picked
- Understanding item statuses — learn what each item status means and when it changes
- Best practices for configuring item fields — set up item fields, including fields used by relations