Substring Operations for Numeric Columns/Fields

Have a built-in function (eg %SUBSTN) for substring operations on numeric columns/fields. The current %subst built-in function only operates on alpha fields. This would be very helpful to eliminate extra coding steps to convert a numeric number into alpha, get a portion with %subst, then convert the result to numeric.
It would also provide an easy route in converting the old MOVE operations on numeric fields to ILE format, especially those instances where coding a data structure would be more obscure or more work.

Having the ability to use a substring function on a numeric field/column is every bit as valuable as having it for alpha strings.
It would also speed up adoption of free format RPG and make conversions more straight-forward.

Instead of having to code extra work variables like this:
dcl-s work2 char(2);
dcl-s work4 char(4);
dcl-s work6 char(6);
dcl-s tick## packed(11:0);
dcl-s order# packed(4:0);
dcl-s item# packed(2:0);

// Ticket# is 12 alpha
tick# = %subst(ticket#:2:11);
tick#n = %dec(tick#:11:0);

// break out order# and item#
work4 = %subst(tick#:1:4);
order# = %dec(work4:4:0);
work6 = %subst(tick#:1:6);
order6 = %dec(work6:6:0);
work2 = %subst(work6:5:2);
item# = %dec(work2:2:0);

We should be able to code:
// break out order# and item#
// tick#n position 1 for 4 positions, zero decimals.
order# = %substn(tick#n:1:4:0);
// tick#n position 1 for 6 positions, zero decimals.
order6 = %substn(tick#n:1:6:0);
// tick#n pos 5 for 2 positions, zero decimals.
item# = %substn(tick#n:5:2:0);