Returns, Repair and Depot

Authorising a customer to send something back. In FSM 6 an RMA is a request with request units, and the RMA line is a request line, so return authorisation reuses the whole request machinery rather than having a separate document.

Deciding where a returned item should go and how long it should take. FSM 6 delivers a family of repair centre rules that select the place, the shipping route, the turnaround time and the eligible repair locations for each unit.

Receiving the item, working out what state it is in, and deciding what happens to it. Receipt establishes condition, which in FSM 6 is a code that governs whether the item can satisfy demand and how it is valued.

Creating the shop work for a returned unit and giving it to a technician. FSM 6 uses a dedicated Request Unit Task Creation rule so that depot work is generated per unit rather than per request.

Sequencing depot work against bench capacity and turnaround commitments. FSM 6 handles this on the repair board, which is the depot equivalent of the schedule board.

Recording what the repair consumed, valuing it, and sending the unit back. Repair debrief runs through the same repricing rules as field debrief, then the unit ships and the customer is billed or credited.

Repairing a serialised part that came out of a bigger machine, and managing the exchange pool that keeps the machine working while its component is away. This is where installed base, stock and repair meet.