---
title: Article
slug: article
createdAt: 2025-06-10T11:35:58.930Z
---

# Articles, Technologies, and Process Templates 


Article is where you keep all the details about what you make and how you make it. This is managed through **Articles**, **Technologies**, and **Process Templates**

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/dHlqltKqjDi1miBR1mjKe_image.png)

# Articles

An **Article** is any product your company makes or manage. It’s the starting point for all your planning in planeus.

Each Article will have:

- *At least* one or more **Technologies** that describe the production steps.
- One or more **Process Templates** for processes that happen before or after production.

## How to edit Articles 

When you open the **Article Master Data**, you’ll see a list of all Articles your company has set up.

- Click on an Article to see its details.
- Click the **Edit icon** (the three-dot menu) to change its information.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/snE6nwT-sQbK3lhada0E2_image.png)

## How to Create a New Article 

Here’s how to add a new Article in planeus:

- Click the **New Article** button.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/NtvQTcMvoulpP4N7IqiIr_image.png)

- Fill in the article details:
  - **Article Number**
    - Enter manually, or leave it blank for automatic numbering.
  - **Article Name**
    - This is required.
  - **Article Group** (optional)
    - Helps you categorize articles. You can manage Article Groups in **Configuration**.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/zRqznsjJtiZC7338H3J43_image.png)

- Once saved, you can add or link:
  - Technologies
  - Process Templates

# How to Duplicate an Article 

If you need to create a similar article:

1. Click the **three-dot menu** next to the article.
2. Select **Duplicate**.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/6-NrHu5NVNwHvhfAZpnCW_image.png)

planeus will create a copy of the article, including:

- All linked Technologies
- All Process Templates

This saves time when setting up similar products.

# Technology

A Technology tells planeus how to make an article. It lists all the Work Steps needed for production.

## Why Use Multiple Technologies for One Article? 

- You might have **different methods** to produce the same product.
- For example:
  - Small orders might use a simpler process.
  - Large orders might need a faster, more automated method.

planeus lets you define different Technologies for each scenario.

:::hint{type="info"}
Only *one *Technology can be assigned per Order Item. 
planeus uses the one marked as “Standard,” unless you choose a different one.
:::

How to Create Technologies


You create Technologies right inside the Article Master Data.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/hC2SUR2g10AOk54XOCO-i_image.png)

For each Technology, you can define:

**Work Step Name**

- The name of the task in production.

**Setup Time**

- Time needed to get equipment ready, regardless of quantity.

**Duration**

- Time required per unit produced.

**Resource Group**

- Group of machines or people who can perform this step.

**Specific Resource** (optional)

- A particular machine, tool, or worker.

**Overlap**

- Lets one step start before the previous one finishes.

**Buffer Time**

- Minimum time gap between this step and the next.

## Add Comments and Attachments

For each Work Step, you can also:

- Write comments for extra details.
- Attach documents or images (like drawings or instructions).

These are visible in the **Workbench**, so your team can always access important info during production.

## How planeus Calculates Production Times 

planeus calculates the production time for each Work Step using this formula:

```tex
Production Time = (Order Quantity × Duration) + Setup Time
```

For example:

- If your order is for 100 pieces, and each piece takes 2 minutes, plus 30 minutes of setup → Total time = **(100 × 2) + 30 = 230 minutes **

On the planning Gantt charts, you’ll also see a few other types of times:

**Occupied Time**
 The total time the operation takes — shown as the full length of the bar in the schedule. 

**Actual Time**
 The real time reported back from the shop floor.

:::hint{type="warning"}
The **shortest possible occupied time **is **1 second.**
 If the calculated planned time is less than 1 second, it will be automatically rounded up to 1 second.
:::

## Extra Features in Technologies

Technologies also support advanced features such as:

- **Pools** — group of resources that can share tasks
- **Parallel Resources** — extra resources that work alongside the main process
- **Characteristics** — special rules or attributes for planning
- **Cycles** — repeated patterns for production tasks

# Process Templates

A **Process Template** defines steps that are happen **before or after production** — like planning, approvals, inspections, or shipping.

These steps appear in the **Timeline View** in planeus once an order exists for the article.

## Why Use Multiple Process Templates for One Article? 

You might have different pre- or post-production steps depending on:

- Customer requirements
- Product types
- Project specifics

:::hint{type="info"}
Just like Technology, **one Order Item** can only be assigned to **one Process Template**.
By default, planeus uses the one marked as “Standard,” unless you choose a different one.
:::

## How to Create Process Templates

Scroll down to the bottom and you can create Process Templates inside the Article Master Data.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/HPLBilgsKy9Ls_fSOLqbC_image.png)

For each step in a Process Template, you can define:

- **Process Name**
- **Duration**
- **Overlap**
  - Whether the step can run partly in parallel as the previous one.

:::hint{type="warning"}
Every Process Template needs *at least* *one Work Step *marked as a Production Process. This links the Process Template with the production steps in the Technology. [More in Plan with Gantt chart](docId:_OETRhvQxluNrZ9rSbrZZ). 
:::

## Add Comments and Attachments

For each Process, you can:

- Add comments for clarity.
- Attach files, such as documents, images, or instructions.

These are visible in the [Workbench Classic](docId:22-Htt1eVmVg7SALIuHws) under Processes.

## Attaching documents

You can attach documents directly to:

- Articles
- Work Steps
- Processes

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/KdaHTwicCcWSvR0hTo9nk_image.png)

**Supported file types include:**
bmp, jpeg, jpg, png, tif, tiff, odp, pps, ppt, pptx, ppsx, ods, xlr, xls, xlsx, xlsm, csv, doc, docx, odt, pdf, rtf, txt

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/At0IRWV2tH6rQIh02ydPp_image.png" size="74" width="597" height="443" position="flex-start" darkWidth="597" darkHeight="443" showCaption="false"}

These files are also available in the **Workbench** so your team has the info they need on the shop floor.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/M1QBpK9lJudQQL_d-GMK2/HPr6uWr0SKYus_DcBsr1V_image.png)