Issue/Symptom/Question

What are the benefits and issues of Alphanumeric Costcodes?

Applies To

PENTA for Windows

Project Management (PM)

System-wide

Resolution/Fix/Answer

PROS:

•  Consistency to match drawings from Architects and Engineers coding (most use letters)
  • This would likely improve accuracy of data capture
• If alphanumeric in existing system, data conversion to alpha in PENTA is easier
• Most significant digits/characters can be on the left hand side of the code, and because the sort is "left to right" costcodes of differing lengths can be used and not corrupt the sort. For example, there may be a need to break down labor activities by phase of a project (ex. floor of a building) however there is no need to allocate material costs by floor. The following cost code breakdown allows for more detail tasks for labor that are not required for material costs:
  • Segment 1 - Major code
  • Segment 2 - Minor code
  • Segment 3 - Floor
  • Segment 4 - Area

When tracking labor costs on the job, values are entered into all segments of the cost code field. However when tracking material costs, values are entered into the first two segments and no values are entered in the Floor and Area segment.  The sort is "left to right", so costcodes are sorted in the expected order (minor codes within major codes).  Labor costs often require more detail tracking than materials do, therefore the costcodes are often longer and use all segments.

CONS:

• Sort is "left to right", so if the costcode segment order is in a different sequence as above, a change in segment sequence might be needed.  For example, if the sequence is as follows:
  • Segment 1 - Floor
  • Segment 2 - Area
  • Segment 3 - Major code
  • Segment 4 - Minor code

The same situation as above would be problematic in the this sequence.  The Material costcodes would need to be zero filled to have the major and minor codes line up in the correct segment.

10th floor, area 4A, ductwork code 720, install code 01 would = 104A72001

Material would need to be keyed in as 000072001 for ductwork install.  If keyed as 72001 only, PENTA would see the entry as floor 72, area 00, major code 1.  This would greatly reduce accuracy of grouping by segment.

Numeric costcode domain is the recommendation given the sequence above.  Finding a way to change the alpha in the Area to a numeric value would allow PENTA to align the 72001 Material costcode with the correct segments, because Numeric costcode domains fill "right to left" and leading zeros wouldn't be needed.  The alternative would be to switch the sequence of the segments to how it is configured in the PROS section.

• Leading zeros are needed to assign appropriate segments, as illustrated in example above
• Difficulty in switching Domain Value back to Numeric