Find a compliant alternative
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If the chosen material is not compliant or has not been assessed for a specific regulation, you can use "Find equivalent materials" feature to find a compliant alternative. Options for the replacement are based on various equivalency levels and properties and the users can refine their search by country-specific standards or regulations ensuring materials meet required criteria.
To discover compliant alternative materials, utilize the "Find Equivalent Materials" button in the Compliant Assessor module. A window will open with options to explore better alternatives in two key ways:
Cross Reference Table: Identify equivalent materials using Horizon's Cross Reference tables, which provide a curated list of equivalencies recommended by Standard Development Organizations and other reputable sources.
Equivalence Finder: Search for equivalent materials by adjusting key criteria settings across various properties for a personalized match.
Using the Compliance Assessor tool, you can find an alternative compliant material through Cross Reference. This feature is available in both the table view and vertical view, where you can select the icon next to the material for which a compliant alternative is needed and then in the pop-up window choose Cross-Reference Table.
In the Cross Reference window, several indicators can be used to help find a suitable replacement:
Equivalency Category: You can select the replacement material based on various equivalency levels such as Identical, Official, Composition 100%, Implicit, or SmartCross. You can also choose to search across All Categories to find a material with the closest match to the original (see Cross Referencing for more details).
Country/Standard Drop-Down List: This list allows you to narrow down the search for replacement material by selecting standards from specific countries, helping you find regionally relevant alternatives.
Compliant by Regulation: You can further refine the search by selecting the material's compliant status according to the regulations chosen in the Compliance Assessor. By selecting one or more regulations, the list will automatically filter materials that comply with all selected regulations, using the "AND" operator to ensure the materials meet multiple regulatory standards.
If none of the regulations are selected the generated material list will consist of eligible materials that contain these regulations but their status won’t necessarily be complaint.
Selecting the chosen material as a replacement is done by clicking the “Replace material” button on the right side of the generated material list.
Once a replaced material is selected in the Compliance Assessor, it will be included in the list but without any compliance statuses initially assigned. This means the material will need to be assessed against the selected regulations, just like any other material. The Compliance Assessor will then evaluate the material based on the relevant compliance criteria, and you can view the results after the assessment is complete.
Once the assessment confirms the compliant statuses of the alternative material found through Cross Reference, the material is considered a viable replacement for the non-compliant one.
During the materials selection process within the Cross reference pop-up window, users may be presented with a large list of alternatives. To refine the selection, additional analysis can be performed by evaluating key property values. Users can select properties to analyze by clicking the icon located in the header of the table on the left side (see screenshot). This feature allows for better decision-making by comparing the synthetic values of specific properties. Additionally, users can add multiple materials to the Compliance Assessor or Material List Builder and finalize their decision later, ensuring flexibility in the material selection process.
Before adding or replacing a material in cross-referencing, users can compare potential alternatives based on chemical composition, mechanical properties, and physical properties of the target material. This comparison helps in selecting the most suitable alternative with greater accuracy.
The comparison in the Cross Reference can be added to the Report Builder or downloaded as a PDF file, allowing for easier review and analysis of the results.
Accessing the Equivalents Finder Tool: Click the "Find Equivalent Materials" icon next to the material whose compliant alternative you wish to find. A window will appear providing the options for the alternative paths including the Equivalents Finder. Clicking the Equivalents Finder button, allows access to the customization options for the search that will help generate a tailored list of equivalent materials.
Select Equivalency Criteria: Choose an alternative material based on properties (Mechanical Properties, Physical Properties, as well as, Chemical Composition). The search can be refined by selecting multiple properties, depending on the level of equivalency you need for the replacement material. This ensures the alternative has similar properties to the original material.
Country/Standard Drop-Down: Use this dropdown list to filter equivalent materials by specific country standards, making it easier to find a suitable replacement that complies with your local regulations.
Generate Alternative Materials List: The material list generated from the selected property parameters includes materials according to the regulations selected in Compliance Assessor. To further refine the search, Complaint by regulation should be used, as shown in the following text.
If none of the regulations are selected the generated material list will consist of eligible materials that contain these regulations but their status won’t necessarily be complaint.
Compliant by Regulation: Generated material list can be further refined by selecting the material's compliant status according to the regulations chosen in the Compliance Assessor. By selecting one or more regulations, the list will automatically filter materials that comply with all selected regulations, using the "AND" operator to ensure the materials meet multiple regulatory standards.
Selecting the chosen material as a replacement is done by clicking the “Replace material” button on the right side of the generated material list.
Materials generated from Equivalents finder, can be used as a replacing material or compared with the original, as well as added to the existing Compliance Assessor list or Material List Builder.
