Labour usages are used to produce accurate timings and costs for the fabrication of main members. For each main member, you can specify a list of steel sections from which the member can be made, the processes that need to be carried out during its fabrication, and the fittings required. If you prefer to take a less detailed approach, you can alternatively specify timings and costs for Fittings in more general terms.
For example, you might have a labour usage called Column. It can be made from steel section W 10X100 A992 or W 10X112 A992. Its manufacture requires several processes, Cutting, Assembly, Handling and Inspection and it requires Fittings 2 x PB2 and 2 x PC1. You can specify all of this information in various tabs on the Labour Usage form.
There is a two-way flow of information between Labour Usage records and the Item Library. When you define a Labour Usage, on the Labour Usage - Details form, you list the items (steel sections or non-steel items) that can be used to fabricate the part. The Item Library (Item - Labour Usage form) is automatically updated with this information. Equally, when specifying an item, on the Item - Labour Usage form, you can list the main members that can be made from the item; the Labour Usage - Details form is automatically updated.