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Configure Mode — Products & Routes

Define what you manufacture, what it is made of, how units are serialized, and which path they follow through the shop floor.

Last updated: March 7, 2026

Summary

What Configure Mode does.

Summary

Configure Mode is where you define your products and processes. You create part numbers (product definitions), attach bills of materials with component items and quantities, set up serial number algorithms, and design manufacturing routes with ordered steps assigned to workstations. Every operation works through both the three-panel UI and the Operator Assistant chat.

Part numbers

Define your products.

A part number is a product definition — it represents something you manufacture. Each part number has a name and an optional description.

In the Configure Mode UI, part numbers appear in the left panel. Click the + button to create one. You can inline-rename a part number by clicking the pencil icon, or delete it with the trash icon (with a confirmation prompt).

Selecting a part number loads its BOM, serial algorithm, and routes in the center and right panels. Deleting a part number cascades to its BOM entries, routes, and serial algorithm.

Via chat: "Create part number Smartphone X" or "Delete part number Widget Y" (the assistant asks for confirmation before deleting).

Items and bills of materials

Define what your product is made of.

Items are raw materials or components — the building blocks of your products. The BOM (Bill of Materials) connects items to a part number with a quantity for each.

When you select a part number, the center panel shows its BOM section. Click + to add a BOM entry: select an item from the dropdown and set the quantity. If the item you need does not exist yet, click New Item to create one inline without leaving the BOM editor.

Remove a BOM entry by hovering and clicking the trash icon. The BOM is flat (single-level) — each entry links one item to the part number with a quantity and position.

Via chat: "Add 2x Battery Pack to Smartphone X BOM" — the assistant creates the item if it does not exist, then adds the BOM entry.

Serial number algorithms

Configure how units are serialized.

Each part number can have a serial algorithm that defines how unit serial numbers are generated in Run Mode. You set a prefix (e.g., "SMX") and a digit count (e.g., 5). The result is serial numbers like SMX-00001, SMX-00002, and so on.

The serial section in the center panel shows the current configuration with a counter (how many serials have been generated). Click the pencil icon to edit. While editing, a live preview shows the format your serials will follow.

If no algorithm is configured, the section shows an empty state prompting you to set one up. The algorithm is optional — you can configure it at any time before generating units.

Via chat: "Set serial prefix SMX with 5 digits for Smartphone X".

Routes and steps

Design the manufacturing path.

A route defines the sequence of workstations a unit passes through during production. Each route belongs to a part number and contains ordered steps.

The right panel shows routes for the selected part number. Click + to create a new route with a name. Click a route to expand its step editor.

Inside the step editor, click Add step to append a step. Each step requires:

  • Name — a label for the operation (e.g., "SMT Assembly")
  • Workstation — selected from a dropdown of workstations created in Build Mode
  • Pass/fail gate — a toggle (shield icon) that marks the step as a quality checkpoint

Reorder steps with the up/down arrows. Remove individual steps with the trash icon. The step count is shown next to each route name. A part number can have multiple routes.

Via chat: "Create a route for Smartphone X with 5 steps through my Assembly line" — the assistant maps workstation names to IDs and builds the route.

Using the Operator Assistant

Configure products through natural language.

The Operator Assistant in the chat panel has access to all Configure Mode tools. When you are in Configure Mode, the assistant knows your current context — which part number and route you have selected — and scopes its actions accordingly.

Example commands:

  • "Create part number Smartphone X with description High-end flagship"
  • "List all part numbers"
  • "Add Battery Pack and Display Module as items"
  • "Add 1x Battery Pack and 1x Display Module to Smartphone X BOM"
  • "Set serial prefix SMX with 5 digits"
  • "Create a route called Standard with 3 steps: Assembly, Test, Pack"
  • "Add a pass/fail gate to the Test step"
  • "Delete part number Widget Y" (asks for confirmation)

The assistant asks for confirmation before any delete or update operation. Agent actions appear in the live ticker at the bottom of the screen alongside UI actions.

Real-time sync

Changes appear instantly across tabs.

Configure Mode subscribes to Supabase Realtime on all six tables: part numbers, items, BOM entries, routes, route steps, and serial algorithms. When the Operator Assistant (or another browser tab) creates or modifies data, your UI updates automatically — no refresh needed.

Key facts and FAQ

Quick reference.

Key facts

  • Configure Mode defines what you manufacture and how units flow through production.
  • Part numbers, items, BOM entries, serial algorithms, and routes are all managed here.
  • 15 tools power Configure Mode — the same tools serve the UI and the Operator Assistant.
  • Route steps reference workstations from Build Mode, connecting product definitions to the physical shop floor.
  • All changes sync in real time across browser tabs via Supabase Realtime.
  • The Operator Assistant can perform every Configure Mode operation via natural language.

Mini FAQ

Do I need to set up Build Mode first?

You need at least one workstation in Build Mode before you can assign route steps. Part numbers, items, BOM, and serial algorithms do not depend on Build Mode.

Can I create a complete product through the chat panel?

Yes. The Operator Assistant can create part numbers, add items, set BOM entries, configure serial algorithms, and design routes — all via natural language.

What is a pass/fail gate on a route step?

A pass/fail gate marks a step as a quality checkpoint. In Run Mode (M4), units at gated steps will undergo quality evaluation. Steps without a gate are pass-through.

Can a part number have multiple routes?

Yes. You can define several routes for the same part number — for example, a standard route and an express route that skips non-critical steps.