PLM140 Variant Configuration Book

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PLM140

Variant Configuration 1 - Modeling

mySAP Product Lifecycle Management

Date Training Center Instructors Education Website

Participant Handbook

Course Version: 2003 Q3 Course Duration: 3 Day(s) Material Number: 50066289

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THESE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED BY SAP ON AN "AS IS" BASIS, AND SAP EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR APPLIED,

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This handbook is intended to complement the instructor-led presentation of this course, and serve as a source of reference. It is not suitable for self-study.

Typographic Conventions

American English is the standard used in this handbook. The following typographic conventions are also used.

Type Style Description

Example text Words or characters that appear on the screen. These include field names, screen titles,

pushbuttons as well as menu names, paths, and options.

Also used for cross-references to other documentation both internal (in this

documentation) and external (in other locations, such as SAPNet).

Example text Emphasized words or phrases in body text, titles of graphics, and tables

EXAMPLE TEXT Names of elements in the system. These include report names, program names, transaction codes, table names, and individual key words of a programming language, when surrounded by body text, for example SELECT and INCLUDE.

Example text Screen output. This includes file and directory names and their paths, messages, names of variables and parameters, and passages of the source text of a program.

Example text Exact user entry. These are words and characters that you enter in the system exactly as they appear in the documentation.

<Example text> Variable user entry. Pointed brackets indicate that you replace these words and characters with appropriate entries.

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Icons in Body Text

The following icons are used in this handbook.

Icon Meaning

For more information, tips, or background

Note or further explanation of previous point

Exception or caution

Procedures

Indicates that the item is displayed in the instructor’s presentation.

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Course Overview ... vii

Course Goals ...vii

Course Objectives ...vii

Unit 1: Variant Configuration... 1

Overview of Variant Configuration ...2

Terms and Objects in Variant Configuration ...6

Unit 2: Classification Tools for Variant Configuration... 23

Characteristics Maintenance ... 24

Class Maintenance ... 39

Unit 3: Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists... 57

Creating a Material Master Record ... 58

Maintaining a Super BOM ... 71

Maintaining Task Lists ... 85

Unit 4: Configuration Profiles ... 103

Configuration Scenarios ...104

Unit 5: Object Dependencies... 123

Types and Functions of Object Dependencies...124

Creating Object Dependencies ...129

Tools for Working With Dependencies ...138

Unit 6: Object Dependencies in BOMs and Task Lists ... 147

Maintenance and Functions of Selection Conditions...148

Procedures for BOMs and Task Lists ...169

Unit 7: Dependencies for Value Assignment ... 185

Preconditions and Selection Conditions ...186

Procedures for Value Assignment ...204

Unit 8: Constraints ... 231

Creating Constraints...232

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Appendix 1: ... 267 Appendix 2: Recommended Follow-Up Courses and

Activities ... 283 Appendix 3: Data in the Exercises ... 285 Index ... 291

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This course explains simple modeling tasks of variant configuration. It also explains the functions and features of variant configuration to evaluate and plan the use of variant configuration.

Target Audience

This course is intended for the following audiences:

• Variant modelers for SAP R/3 Enterprise Configurator and SAP IPC -Sales Configuration Engine

• Project team

• Data processing organizers

Course Prerequisites

Required Knowledge

• Overview course on product/life-cycle data management and document management (LO090/PLM100)

• Knowledge of characteristics and class maintenance, as covered by the course LO985/PLM130

• Knowledge of master data for discrete manufacturing, at least to the extent covered by the course LO090/PLM100

Recommended Knowledge

• LO205/LO206 (PLM110/PLM111/PLM112), Basic Data Part 1 and Part 2, and Customizing

Course Goals

This course will prepare you to:

• Model multi-variant products by building on your knowledge of variant configuration and examining its functions and handling in detail

Course Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

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• Understand the functions and features of variant configuration to evaluate and plan its use

SAP Software Component Information

The information in this course pertains to the following SAP Software Components and releases:

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Unit 1

Variant Configuration

Unit Overview

This unit describes the functions of individual variant configuration objects. It also explains how to identify the configurable object types and the basic applications of a complete configuration model.

Unit Objectives

After completing this unit, you will be able to:

• Identify the functions of individual variant configuration objects • Identify the configurable object types currently supported in SAP

R/3 Enterprise

• Name the basic applications of a complete configuration model

Unit Contents

Lesson: Overview of Variant Configuration...2 Lesson: Terms and Objects in Variant Configuration...6 Exercise 1: Working With a Fully Modeled Configuration Task ... 13

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Lesson: Overview of Variant Configuration

Lesson Overview

This lesson introduces variant configuration and how to identify the different functions of individual variant configuration objects.

Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Identify the functions of individual variant configuration objects

Business Example

ABC Motors is an automobile manufacturing company. It manufactures various models of cars. The company wants to optimize its inventories and the storage costs and maintain every possible end-product variant. The senior management of the company decides to use SAP R/3 Enterprise for this purpose. As the Product Manager of the company, you need to identify the functions and uses of variant configuration.

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Whether the required variant can be produced. Only variants that are technically possible can be ordered.

What price you can quote for the product.

Whether the customer’s specifications can be covered from stock. And so on.

Knowledge Base for Materials

Figure 2: Variant Configuration Knowledge Base for Materials

The following objects make up the knowledge base of a configured material:

The material master is where the configurable attribute is defined along with some additional planning and control data.

Characteristics and values must be created and collected in variant classes (class type 300) in classification functions.

The configuration profile contains control data for the configuration process and result.

A super BOM must be created which contains all standard components and all possible variable components and assemblies that are required to configure a variant product.

A super task list must be created that includes all operations,

suboperations, sequences, and Production Resources and Tools (PRTs) that are required to manufacture all possible variants.

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Pricing condition records must be created for pricing the configurable material.

There are five different types of object dependencies that can be used during the configuration process. Dependencies provide the rules or logic for the configuration process.

Certain industry sectors, such as aerospace and defense, automotive, make-to-order, assemble-to-order, and hi-tech, use configurable materials.

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Lesson Summary

You should now be able to:

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Lesson: Terms and Objects in Variant Configuration

Lesson Overview

This lesson describes configurable object types, class, characteristics, BOM, super BOM, and routing.

Lesson Objectives

• Identify the configurable object types currently supported in SAP R/3 Enterprise

• Name the basic applications of a complete configuration model

Business Example

ABC Motors is an automobile manufacturing company. It manufactures various models of cars. The company decided to use SAP R/3 Enterprise to optimize its storage inventories and maintain possible end-product variant. As the Product Manager of the company, you need to identify the configurable object types in the storage inventories and the basic applications of a complete configuration model.

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Products with a number of features and options have a large range of possible variants. Without restrictions, the example shown can produce 311040 variants.

In practice, there are restrictions in the form of rules that reduce the number of possible options. These rules must be defined and applied during the configuration process.

Complex products are reflected in complex configuration tasks for sales and production. However, a company that sells or produces products with variants needs to perform these tasks quickly and accurately. As the development cycles and life cycles of products become short, this becomes difficult.

How many sets of data must be created and maintained if SAP R/3 Enterprise variant configuration is not used? In the example above, up to 23, 328 material masters, BOMs, task lists, costing records, and pricing records must be created and maintained if SAP R/3 Enterprise variant configuration is not used.

“Configurable product“ is the general term for a product that has a large number of variants. The features used to create complex products are stored in SAP R/3 Enterprise as characteristics and values.

Figure 4: Configurable Product, Class, Class Type

A configurable material needs a material master record to: • Store important planning and control data

• Link the product to other objects in the variant configuration data model by assigning it to a variant class

In variant configuration, a variant class groups together the characteristics that describe a configurable material.

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You can only use variant classes or class nodes to group together characteristics for this purpose. The class type of a class determines whether or not the class is a variant class or a class node. In the standard system, only classes of class type 300 are variant classes. Classes of class type 200 are class items or class nodes. While Customizing for classification, you can define class types – including class types for variant classes.

Figure 5: Configurable Product, Class, Characteristics

You can define the features of a product in SAP R/3 Enterprise by defining characteristics. You can also define values for each characteristic and use these values to describe the customer’s requirements.

You can assign the characteristics of your configurable product to the variant class.

The configurable material is assigned to the variant class. When you assign the configurable material to the class, you enable configuration by using the characteristics of the class.

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Figure 6: Super BOM of PC

You can use the BOM to define which parts can be used in a configurable material. You can also create a super BOM for the configurable material, which contains parts that might be used in specific variants or variable parts and parts required in variants or non-variable parts.

This BOM can contain items that are configurable materials (multilevel configuration).

Figure 7: Bill of Material for PC

You can use preconditions to check the consistency of the assigned values. This ensures that only valid combinations of values appear and are selected in configuration.

You can also use selection conditions to determine that a specific BOM item and operation is selected if a certain value is assigned to it. This determines which casing, CPU, and extras must be selected.

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Routing of a Configurable Material

Figure 8: Routing for PC

The routing of a configurable material: • Has one standard sequence

• Might have one or more parallel and alternative sequences • Comprises operations, which can have suboperations

• Might have Production Resources/Tools (PRTs) assigned to operations or suboperations

You can use object dependencies to determine which sequences, besides the standard sequence, operations, suboperations, and PRTs are required for each variant, and whether or not they are used in this form.

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Interdependencies Between Objects in the

Configuration Model

Figure 9: Interdependencies Between Objects in the Model (12)

Other Configurable Objects

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Exercise 1: Working With a Fully Modeled

Configuration Task

Exercise Objectives

After completing this exercise, you will be able to:

• Create a sales order and work in the configuration environment with a modeled configurable material

Business Example

AA Computers is a PC manufacturing company. It manufactures various models of PCs. The company has decided to use SAP R/3 Enterprise to optimize its storage inventories so that it could maintain every possible end-product variant. As the Product Manager of the company, you have modeled the configuration tasks for the PCs. Now, you need to test the result.

Task:

Create a sales order for configurable material T-VPC99. Familiarize yourself with the views and functionality of the configuration user interface.

1. Create a sales order with the following data: Order Type: OR

Sales Organization: 1000 Distribution Channel: 10 Division: 00

Sold-to Party: 1000

Purchase order (PO) Number (Your choice) Material: T-VPC99

Order quantity: 1

You see the Characteristic Value Assignment screen.

2. Assign values to characteristics from the allowed values of each characteristic. Use the F4 help.

3. What are the allowed values offered for the hard disk if the fast CPU is selected?

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4. What are the allowed values offered for the hard disk if the standard CPU is selected?

5. Can you change the CD ROM value? 6. Display the assigned values as a print list. 7. Display the object dependencies.

8. Run pricing, if a button is available for this purpose. Display the pricing conditions.

9. Return to the entry screen of the sales order. How many items are there?

What is the net value?

What are the value-dependent surcharges? What is the gross value?

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Solution 1: Working With a Fully Modeled

Configuration Task

Task:

Create a sales order for configurable material T-VPC99. Familiarize yourself with the views and functionality of the configuration user interface.

1. Create a sales order with the following data: Order Type: OR

Sales Organization: 1000 Distribution Channel: 10 Division: 00

Sold-to Party: 1000

Purchase order (PO) Number (Your choice) Material: T-VPC99

Order quantity: 1

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You see the Characteristic Value Assignment screen.

a) Create a sales order for configurable material T-VPC99: Transaction VA01

Add this to your favorites (cursor on Favorites, right-hand mouse button, then “Insert Transaction“)

SAP Menu→Logistics→Sales and Distribution→Sales→ Order→Create

Sales order with the following parameters: Order Type: OR

Sales Organization: 1000 Distribution Channel: 10 Division: 00 (Enter) Sold-to Party: 1000

Ship-to party if prompted: 1000

Purchase order (PO) number (Your choice) Material:T-VPC99

Order quantity: 1 (Enter)

2. Assign values to characteristics from the allowed values of each characteristic. Use the F4 help.

a) Assign values to the characteristics. Use the F4 help = double-click.

3. What are the allowed values offered for the hard disk if the fast CPU is selected?

a) All four hard disks

4. What are the allowed values offered for the hard disk if the standard CPU is selected?

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6. Display the assigned values as a print list. a) Assigned values as print list. (List button) 7. Display the object dependencies.

a) Display the object dependencies (green double-arrow button). For example: Software, F4 help for values of hard disk F4 help 8. Run pricing, if a button is available for this purpose. Display the

pricing conditions.

a) Display the pricing conditions.

(Pushbutton in net value block. Run pricing first if required = Button.)

9. Return to the entry screen of the sales order. How many items are there?

What is the net value?

What are the value-dependent surcharges? What is the gross value?

Exit the sales order without saving.

a) Return to the entry screen of the sales order (green arrow button). How many items are there?

One

What is the net value? (Button: 5 Euro each)

Varies, depending on the values selected or assigned by object dependencies.

(Example: Basic price 700 Euro + 10 Euro for each GB of hard disk + 80 Euro for minitower

+ 120 Euro for tower

What are the value-dependent surcharges?

What is the gross value?

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Lesson Summary

• Identify the configurable object types currently supported in SAP R/3 Enterprise

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Unit Summary

• Identify the functions of individual variant configuration objects • Identify the configurable object types currently supported in SAP

R/3 Enterprise

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Test Your Knowledge

1. Which of the following are true for variant configuration? Choose the correct answer(s).

□ A The material master contains control data for the configuration process and result.

□ B Characteristics and values must be created and collected in variant classes (class type 300) in classification functions. □ C In the configuration profile, the configurable attribute is defined along with some additional planning and control data.

□ D Pricing condition records must be created for pricing the configurable material.

2. The features that are used to create complex products are stored in

SAP R/3 Enterprise as and .

Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.

3. Which statements are true for routing of a configurable material? Choose the correct answer(s).

□ A Routing of a configurable material has many standard sequences.

□ B Routing of a configurable material can have only one alternative sequence.

□ C Routing of a configurable material comprises operations that can have suboperations.

□ D Routing of a configurable material can have Production Resources/Tools (PRTs) assigned to operations or suboperations.

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Answers

1. Which of the following are true for variant configuration?

Answer: B, D

In the material master, the configurable attribute is defined along with some additional planning and control data. Also, the configuration profile contains control data for the configuration process and result.

2. The features that are used to create complex products are stored in SAP R/3 Enterprise as characteristics and values.

Answer: characteristics, values

3. Which statements are true for routing of a configurable material? Answer: C, D

Routing of a configurable material has one standard sequence. Also, routing of a configurable material can have one or more parallel and alternative sequences.

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Unit 2

Classification Tools for Variant

Configuration

Unit Overview

This unit explains the various classification tools available for variant configuration. It also explains how to maintain characteristics and classes in variant configuration.

Unit Objectives

After completing this unit, you will be able to: • Maintain characteristics

• Identify the special features of characteristics maintenance for variant configuration

• Create characteristics with reference to master data fields • Create variant classes and class nodes

• Assign objects to classes and find objects in classes

• Identify the special features of class maintenance for variant configuration

Unit Contents

Lesson: Characteristics Maintenance ... 24 Exercise 2: Characteristics Maintenance ... 33 Lesson: Class Maintenance ... 39 Exercise 3: Class Maintenance ... 47

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Lesson: Characteristics Maintenance

Lesson Overview

This lesson explains how to create and maintain characteristics. It also identifies the special features of characteristics maintenance.

Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to: • Maintain characteristics

• Create characteristics with reference to master data fields

Business Example

ABC Motors is an automobile manufacturing company. It manufactures various models of cars. To maintain every possible end-product variant, the company has decided to implement SAP R/3 Enterprise variant configuration solution. The basic foundation for this solution rests in SAP R/3 Enterprise classification. As the Product Manager of the company, you need to define characteristics, their values, and assign these characteristics to classes.

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Introduction to Characteristics

Figure 11: Variant Configuration Knowledge Base for Materials

Characteristics and values and at least one variant class (class type 300) must be created in SAP R/3 Enterprise classification.

Figure 12: Screens: Characteristics

Naming conventions

Letters, figures, underscores, and hyphens Characteristic names must start with a letter.

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Characteristic names with a hyphen require the use of a keyword when used in dependencies. If you use a characteristic whose name contains a hyphen, you must use the expression SKEY to address the characteristic in dependencies. You enter the characteristic name in single quote marks: SKEY “EXTERNAL-COLOR“.

You can rename characteristics, provided that they are not addressed in dependencies. Technically, they are stored under an internal number.

Figure 13: Characteristic Status

You can define additional statuses in Customizing for classification, if required.

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Entry and Format of Characteristics

Figure 14: Entry/Format

Exponent 0: No exponent 1: Standard 1, ... E-xx

2: Predefined exponent 0, ... E- (enter exponent) 3: Scientific ---,-- E-xx

Formats DATE, TIME, and CURR cannot be used in variant configuration. You use the Entry Required indicator to define whether it is mandatory to assign a value to a characteristic.

If a characteristic is not yet used in a class, you can change the data type and the format data of a characteristic.

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Figure 15: Allowed Values – Value Assignment Type for Characteristics

Intervals can be restricted, unrestricted, closed, half open, or open. For example:

100 - 200 , >100 , <= 100 , >100 - <200.

The allowed values and allowed intervals that you define are binding for value assignment, unless you define that additional values are also allowed. However, you can restrict intervals.

You can overwrite characteristic values for a specific class. Indicators: Single-value, Multiple values, and Restrictable

The Single-value indicator means that only one value can be assigned to an object. If you assign a class or other hierarchy node to a class, you can assign more than one value. This serves to restrict the allowed values. The Multiple values indicator means that you can assign more than one value during value assignment.

The Restrictable indicator is for a special kind of single-value characteristic, which can only be used in constraints.

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Other Options for Characteristics Maintenance

Figure 16: Other Options for Characteristics Maintenance

In addition to constants and intervals, you can also enter characteristic values in the form of a hierarchy, in order to structure the entry of characteristic values.

You can create a long text for a characteristic by choosing “Documentation“. On the “Values“ tab you can create a long text for values of CHAR

characteristics.

If you have defined a default value for a characteristic, you see this characteristic value immediately in value assignment functions. You can decide whether to accept the default value or select a different value. Characteristics list: you can use this function to produce a list of objects that have a specific characteristic value. For example, you might want to delete a value, but you are not allowed, because the value has already been assigned to objects.

From the classification menu, choose Environment→Reporting→ Characteristics List.

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Reference Characteristics

Figure 17: Reference Characteristic

Reference characteristics are characteristics that refer to table fields. You need reference characteristics in configuration if you want to refer to the values of table fields in object dependencies.

Essential data, such as format and length, is copied from the table field in SAP R/3 Enterprise repository to the characteristic.

Reference characteristics can fulfill two functions: • Read-only access to table fields in conditions • Changes to field contents with object dependencies

You create reference characteristics in the Additional data in characteristics maintenance. Enter the table field to which you want the characteristic to refer. If you want to refer to a table field in several tables, you can enter several tables. However, the format of the field must be the same in all tables.

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Figure 18: Reference Characteristics – Write Access

In table SDCOM, field VKOND, you maintain variant conditions for determining surcharges and discounts during value assignment, by entering reference characteristics that refer to these fields in dependencies, or a link in characteristics maintenance.

In purchasing, field VKOND in table MMCOM is used for maintaining variant conditions.

In table PLPO, not all fields can be changed. Structure PLPO_CFMOD defines which fields can be changed.

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You can use reference characteristics to refer to these sales order tables. However, dependencies have read-only access to fields in these tables. You cannot use dependencies to change field values.

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Exercise 2: Characteristics Maintenance

Exercise Objectives

• Create characteristics for variant configuration and assign them to a variant class

Business Example

AA Computers is a PC manufacturing company. It manufactures various models of PCs. The company is implementing SAP R/3 Enterprise to optimize its storage inventories to maintain every possible end-product variant. A basic requirement when implementing variant configuration is the creation of the required characteristics and their values. As the Product Manager of the company, you have to create the required characteristics and their values.

Task:

Create characteristics with the data provided. 1. Characteristic:T_CAS_##

Description: PC Casing Chars Group: T-## Status: Released

Format: Character Format (2 characters) Characteristic Values: TW Tower

2. Characteristic: T_CPU_## Description: CPU of PC Chars Group: T-## Status: Released

Format: Character Format (2 characters) Entry required

Characteristic Values: 01 Standard

02 Medium 03 Fast

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3. Characteristic: T_EXT_## Description: Extras for PC Chars Group: T-##

Status: Released

Format: Character Format (2 characters) Multiple Values

Display all allowed values on the value assignment interface Characteristic Values: 01 Mouse

02 Modem 03 Keyboard

Hint: Double-check that you have allowed multiple values. This feature will be used in a subsequent exercise.

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Solution 2: Characteristics Maintenance

Task:

Create characteristics with the data provided. 1. Characteristic:T_CAS_##

Description: PC Casing Chars Group: T-## Status: Released

Format: Character Format (2 characters) Characteristic Values: TW Tower

a) Create characteristics:

CT04 =User Menu→Classification→Master Data→Characteristics or SAP Menu→Cross-Application Components→Classification System→Master Data→Characteristics

Characteristic: T_CAS_##→Create Description: PC Casing

Chars Group: T-## Status: Released

Format: Character Format Number of Chars: (2)

→Values tab

Characteristic values: TW Tower MT Minitower DT Desktop→Save 2. Characteristic: T_CPU_## Description: CPU of PC Chars Group: T-## Status: Released

Format: Character Format (2 characters) Entry required

Characteristic Values:

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01 Standard 02 Medium 03 Fast

a) Characteristic: T_CPU_##→Create Description: CPU of PC

Chars Group:T-## Status:Released

Format: Character Format Number of Chars:(2)

(Indicator: Entry required)→Values tab Characteristic values: 01 Standard 02 Medium 03 Fast →Save 3. Characteristic: T_EXT_## Description: Extras for PC Chars Group: T-##

Status: Released

Format: Character Format (2 characters) Multiple Values

Display all allowed values on the value assignment interface Characteristic Values: 01 Mouse

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03 Keyboard

Hint: Double-check that you have allowed multiple values. This feature will be used in a subsequent exercise.

a) Characteristic: T_EXT_##

→Create

Description: Extras for PC Chars Group: T-##

Status: Released

Format: Character Format Number of Chars: (2)

(Indicator: Multiple Values)

→Additional data tab

Indicator: Display Allowed Values→Values tab Characteristic values: 01 Mouse

02 Modem 03 Keyboard

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Lesson Summary

You should now be able to: • Maintain characteristics

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Lesson: Class Maintenance

Lesson Overview

This lesson explains how to create and maintain classes. It also identifies the special features of class maintenance.

Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to: • Create variant classes and class nodes

Business Example

ABC Motors is an automobile manufacturing company. It manufactures various models of cars. The company has decided to implement SAP R/3 Enterprise variant configuration solution to maintain end-product variants. SAP R/3 Enterprise classification is the primary step to implement variant configuration solution. As the Product Manager of the company, you need to create variant classes, assign objects to classes, and identify the special features of class maintenance.

Introduction to Classes

• Variant class

Classes of type 300 or similar class types collect and manage the characteristics for specifying a precise component in the BOM. • Class node

Classes of type 200 or similar class types collect and manage the characteristics for specifying a precise component in the BOM. A class type is defined as a class type for variants or for class nodes in the control parameters of Customizing.

In the standard system, you can define an existing class type for class nodes by setting an indicator.

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Figure 20: Screens: Classes

Basic Data: You can set the status of a class. In the standard system, the class statuses for all class types are:

0 = In preparation; only class maintenance allowed 1 = Released; no restrictions

2 = Locked; no classification allowed Characteristics:

You can assign characteristics to your class. The sequence of the characteristics in the class is also the sequence of characteristics that is displayed during configuration. The characteristics describe the objects that you classify in your class.

Additional Data:

You can maintain data for using the class as a BOM item for a configurable material (class node).

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Figure 21: Class Type

The class type has central control functions in class maintenance. You cannot change the class type once you have created a class. You can define additional class types with different features in Customizing, if required.

Class statuses, classification statuses, organizational areas, text types, functions, and filters are all defined per class type.

Figure 22: Classification Functions

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2. Maintain class, assigning characteristics to class

3. Classify objects, that is, create objects, then from either master data or classification system, assign objects to class and assign values

4. Find objects

Classification of Objects

Figure 23: How to Classify Objects

The following functions are supported for classifying an object in a class: • You can assign an object to one or more classes. To do this, you can use either the Object to Classes assignment function, or classify the object from a master record maintenance function.

• You can assign a configurable material to a variant class in the variant configuration menu when maintaining a configuration profile.

• You can assign several objects to a class at once by using the Objects to Class assignment function.

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Figure 24: Class Node: Class Maintenance

Required component If this flag is set:

It does not affect low-level configuration.

It only affects high-level configuration if a BOM or configuration structure is exploded. In other words, not in sales, or in the sales view of the planned/production order scenario without BOM explosion, or in the order BOM scenario. You see an inconsistency message if the system has not found any component in its attempt to replace the class node. The configuration can only be saved with a status other than “Released“. Multiple selection

If this flag is not set:

It does not affect low-level configuration.

It only affects high-level configuration if a BOM or configuration structure is exploded, and the scenario used is either “sales order“ with manual changes allowed, or “order BOM“. You see an inconsistency message if the system has found more than one component in its attempt to replace the class node. The configuration can only be saved with a status other than “Released“.

The inconsistency on the result screen can be resolved either in sales order maintenance that is sales order scenario with manual changes, or in technical post-processing (order BOM scenario), by starting the search for an object by classification.

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The “Multiple selection“ flag should not be used. No inconsistency message would be generated, and the configuration could be saved with status “Released“. You can really only replace a class node with one material component.

Figure 25: Class-Specific Changes to Characteristics

You define the characteristics to be assigned to a class in characteristics maintenance functions. However, there are cases where this central definition of characteristics is not enough. In these cases, you can overwrite the characteristics of a class for the specific class. These changes only apply to the characteristic in this class.

You can overwrite the indicators shown in the graphic. You can also change the allowed values of a characteristic for a specific class. You can assign class-specific object dependencies or link class-specific documents to a characteristic.

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Figure 26: Two Ways to Set Up a Class Hierarchy

The classification functions in mySAP PLM Lifecycle Data Management let you set up a hierarchy of classes made up of several superior and subordinate classes.

Using the Objects to Class assignment function, you can assign one or more subordinate classes to a superior class.

Using the Class to Classes assignment function, you can assign one class to one or more superior classes.

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You can link a document from the document management functions of mySAP PLM Lifecycle Data Management to a class, characteristic, or characteristic value.

Procedure to link a document to a class:

On the initial screen of class maintenance, choose Document or Goto→

Document. Enter the key of the document you want to link to the class.

You can use this document to store information on the class and the objects assigned to it. By linking a drawing or graphic to the document, you can make this information available to the class.

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Exercise 3: Class Maintenance

Exercise Objectives

After completing this exercise, you will be able to: • Create variant classes and display class nodes

Business Example

AA Computers is a PC manufacturing company. It manufactures various models of PCs. The company is implementing SAP R/3 Enterprise to optimize its storage inventories and maintain every possible end-product variant. You are the Product Manager of the company. To implement the configuration task of modeling the PC, you need to maintain the relevant variant classes and class nodes.

Task 1:

Create variant class for the value assignment interface of your PC. 1. Create variant class T_VPC_## for the value assignment interface

of your PC.

Class type: 300(= Variants) Description: Class for T-VPC## Status: Released

Group: T-##

Valid: From: and To: (Use default values here) Assign the characteristics you created to this class. T_CAS_##

T_CPU_## T_EXT_##

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Task 2:

For a subsequent exercise, you need a class node for selecting the color component required. This class node, T_VPC_COLOR, describing colors, has already been defined. Please note that this class node is used by all course participants.

Caution: Do not make any changes to this class node.

1. Display the Additional data screen. 1. Can this class be used in BOMs?

2. What is the unit of measure for the resulting components? 3. Which item category is used for the resulting component in the bill of material?

2. Display the Characteristics tab page.

1. Which characteristics are assigned to the class node? 2. Which values can these characteristics have?

3. Exit the class. From the classification menu, find all materials that are assigned to this class node.

1. Display all the assigned materials with their assigned values. 2. Are values assigned to all characteristics of the class node for all materials?

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Solution 3: Class Maintenance

Task 1:

Create variant class for the value assignment interface of your PC. 1. Create variant class T_VPC_## for the value assignment interface

of your PC.

Class type: 300(= Variants) Description: Class for T-VPC## Status: Released

Group: T-##

Valid: From: and To: (Use default values here) Assign the characteristics you created to this class. T_CAS_##

T_CPU_##

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T_EXT_##

a) Create class: CL02 =

User Menu→Classification→Master Data→Classes or SAP Menu→Cross-Application Components→Classification System→Master Data→Classes

Class: T_VPC_## Class type:300

→Create

Maintain description, status, and group only.

Do not change anything else. For example, the class is valid from today’s date until December 31 9999.

→Characteristics

Add the three characteristics.

Hint: You can use the F4 help and search using characteristics group T-##. Keep the search result by choosing the drawing-pin button.

Before copying a characteristic, the cursor must be on the relevant field in class maintenance.

Task 2:

For a subsequent exercise, you need a class node for selecting the color component required. This class node, T_VPC_COLOR, describing colors, has already been defined. Please note that this class node is used by all course participants.

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3. Which item category is used for the resulting component in the bill of material?

a) Display class node:

CL02 = User Menu→Classification→Master Data→Classes

Class:T_VPC_COLOR (Class Group T-00) Class type: 200

→Display

Caution: Display the Additional data tab page.

1. Can this class be used in BOMs? Yes

2. What is the unit of measure for the resulting components? Liter

3. Which item category is used for the resulting component? L (stock item)

2. Display the Characteristics tab page.

1. Which characteristics are assigned to the class node? 2. Which values can these characteristics have?

a) 1. Which characteristics are assigned to the class node? T_COL_00 and T_GLO_00

2. Which values can these characteristics have? Cursor on characteristic→Pushbutton “Display values”

(01 - red, 02 - blue, 03 - yellow) , (0 - without gloss, 1 - with gloss) 3. Exit the class. From the classification menu, find all materials that

are assigned to this class node.

1. Display all the assigned materials with their assigned values. 2. Are values assigned to all characteristics of the class node for all materials?

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3. Are there assigned materials for all value combinations? a) Find objects in class node:

CL30N = User Menu→Classification→Find→Find Objects in Classes

Class:T_VPC_COLOR Class type:200→Enter 1. →Find in initial class

⇒ all the assigned materials with their assigned values

2. Are values assigned to all characteristics of the class node for all materials? Yes

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Lesson Summary

• Create variant classes and class nodes

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Unit Summary

You should now be able to: • Maintain characteristics

• Create characteristics with reference to master data fields • Create variant classes and class nodes

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Test Your Knowledge

1. Identify the correct statements for characteristics. Choose the correct answer(s).

□ A Characteristic names must start with a hyphen. □ B Characteristic names can consist of letters, figures,

underscores, and hyphens.

□ C You can rename characteristics, provided that they are not addressed in dependencies.

□ D Characteristic names with underscores require the use of a keyword when used in dependencies.

2. You can change the data type and the format data of a characteristic if a characteristic has not been used in a class.

Determine whether this statement is true or false. □ True

□ False

3. You can use dependencies to change field values. Determine whether this statement is true or false.

□ True □ False

4. You cannot change the class type after you have created a class. Determine whether this statement is true or false.

□ True □ False

5. Which assignment function will you use to assign an object to one or more classes?

Choose the correct answer(s). □ A Class to Object □ B Object to Classes □ C Objects to Objects □ D Class to Objects

6. Using the assignment function, you

can assign one or more subordinate classes to a superior class. Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.

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Answers

1. Identify the correct statements for characteristics.

Answer: B, C

Characteristic names must start with a letter. In addition,

characteristic names with hyphen require the use of a keyword when used in dependencies.

2. You can change the data type and the format data of a characteristic if a characteristic has not been used in a class.

Answer: True

If a characteristic has not yet been used in a class, you can still change the data type and the format data of a characteristic.

3. You can use dependencies to change field values.

Answer: False

You cannot use dependencies to change field values.

4. You cannot change the class type after you have created a class. Answer: True

After you have created a class, you cannot change the class type.

5. Which assignment function will you use to assign an object to one or more classes?

Answer: B

You can assign an object to one or more classes using either the “Object to Classes“ assignment function or by classifying the object

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Unit 3

Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists

Unit Overview

This unit explains material master, bill of materials, and task lists. It also explains how to create a material master record, maintain a super BOM, and maintain task lists.

Unit Objectives

After completing this unit, you will be able to:

• Create a material master record, including control parameters for sales and Material Requirements Planning (MRP)

• Maintain a super BOM without dependencies with class items and configurable assemblies

• Maintain task lists and routings without dependencies with additional sequences, suboperations, and Production Resources/Tools (PRTs)

Unit Contents

Lesson: Creating a Material Master Record... 58 Exercise 4: Material Master Maintenance ... 63 Lesson: Maintaining a Super BOM ... 71 Exercise 5: BOM Maintenance (Without Dependencies) ... 75 Lesson: Maintaining Task Lists ... 85 Exercise 6: Routing Maintenance (Without Dependencies) ... 89

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Lesson: Creating a Material Master Record

Lesson Overview

This lesson explains how to create a material master record, including control parameters for sales and Material Requirements Planning (MRP).

Lesson Objectives

Business Example

ABC Motors is an automobile manufacturing company. It manufactures various models of cars. The company is implementing variant

configuration solution to maintain end-product variants. To implement this process, you, as the Product Manager of the company, need to create the material master record.

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The material master record collects information and control quantities for the configurable product.

The bill of material and routing or task list carry the object dependencies.

Figure 29: Variant Configuration Knowledge Base for Materials (2)

Configurable Material

• Material number under which all variants of a product are stored in SAP R/3 Enterprise

• Point of reference for all related objects, such as bill of material, routing, and so on

• Sets important control parameters, in particular for MRP, pricing, and sales

The configurable material (standard product, in earlier releases) is the material number under which all variants of a product are stored in SAP R/3 Enterprise.

The material master record is the reference point for further objects that are relevant to the variant product. Bills of material, routings, and so on are all created for this material.

The material master record contains important control parameters, which especially affect Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and sales.

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Views for Material Master Maintenance

Figure 30: Views for Material Master Maintenance

Material master records are also referred to as materials and part masters. Each department has its own view on a material master record. For BOM maintenance, it does not matter which views exist, provided that at least one view exists at the plant level.

In Customizing for bills of material, you can define which material types can be used to create BOMs and which material types are not allowed in BOMs.

The material status must allow BOM maintenance.

The user-specific material master allows you to tailor the data displayed to meet your specific requirements.

You can define default settings for the views, the industry sector, and the organizational levels.

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Settings for Configurable Materials

Figure 31: Settings for Configurable Materials

In the standard system, material type KMAT is defined for configurable materials. You can define a material as configurable even if the material has a non-configurable material type, by setting the indicator on the basic data screen of the material master.

You must define the following configuration-specific settings in the material master of a configurable material.

In the sales data, you enter the item category group. The item category group controls the assignment of item categories in sales orders. The item category of an item influences the transfer of requirements and pricing for the item.

In the MRP data, you enter an MRP group or a strategy group. The strategy group determines the planning strategy for the configurable material, for example, make-to-order production. The MRP type determines whether and how the material is planned, for example, using planned orders. The lot size determines the lot-size procedure that the system uses to calculate the quantity of the material to be produced. A configurable material needs exact lot sizes.

The Individual/Collective indicator controls whether separate segments for requirements for the configurable material are created in the MRP requirements explosion.

To enable availability checks for the material and its components, enter a checking rule. The default checking rule for a configurable material is 02.

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To enable Order Change Management (OCM), define the profile in the work scheduling view.

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Exercise 4: Material Master Maintenance

Exercise Objectives

• Maintain material masters for configurable materials

Business Example

AA Computers is a PC manufacturing company. It manufactures various models of PCs. The company has decided to use SAP R/3 Enterprise to optimize its storage inventories and maintain every possible end-product variant. You are the Product Manager of the company. In the model for the PC configuration, you need to create the necessary material master records for the configurable materials. The PC and the header material of each assembly where you want to use object dependencies must be configurable. You need to create two master records, one for the PC and one for the Extras.

Task:

Create the following two materials with the material type that is defined for configurable materials, using the following data:

PC T-VPC## Extras T-VPZ##

1. Create T-VPC##, using Industry Sector M (Mechanical Eng.), Plant 1200

Sales Organization 1000, and Distribution Channel 10. Define the following views for material T-VPC##: Basic Data 1, 2

Classification

Sales Organization Data 1, 2 Sales Plant Data

MRP 1, 2, 3, 4 Work Scheduling Costing 1, 2

Maintain the following data for material T-VPC##: Basic Data 1, 2

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Description: Configurable PC (Group ##) Base Unit of Measure: PC (pieces)

Classification Class Type: 300 Class: T_VPC_##

Note: Only assign the material to the class – do not assign any characteristic values. You can change the class type by choosing Extras. To continue from classification, choose the Next screen button or F8.

Sales Organization Data 1, 2 Delivering Plant: 1200 Tax Classification: 1 Item category group: 0002

(For both general and sales-specific item category group) Sales Plant Data

Transport Group: 0001 = On palettes Loading Group: 0002 = Forklift MRP 1, 2, 3, 4

MRP group: 25 = Make-to-order for configurable material MRP Type: PD = MRP

MRP Controller: 101 or 0## (Depends on database/client used) Lot size: EX = Lot-for-lot order quantity

Procurement type: X or E Scheduling Margin Key: 001

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Costing 1, 2 Just accept the default values

2. Create T-VPZ## with Industry Sector M and material type KMAT.

→Use your PC, T-VPC## as a template to copy from. Do not maintain any classification view.

Plant 1200

Sales Organization 1000 Distribution Channel 10

Maintain the following views for material T-VPZ##: Basic Data 1, 2

For material T-VPZ##, use the same data as for T-VPC##, but without a classification view and with a new description:

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Solution 4: Material Master Maintenance

Task:

Create the following two materials with the material type that is defined for configurable materials, using the following data:

PC T-VPC## Extras T-VPZ##

1. Create T-VPC##, using Industry Sector M (Mechanical Eng.), Plant 1200

Sales Organization 1000, and Distribution Channel 10. Define the following views for material T-VPC##: Basic Data 1, 2

Classification

Maintain the following data for material T-VPC##: Basic Data 1, 2

Description: Configurable PC (Group ##) Base Unit of Measure: PC (pieces)

Classification Class Type: 300 Class: T_VPC_##

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Item category group: 0002

(For both general and sales-specific item category group) Sales Plant Data

Transport Group: 0001 = On palettes Loading Group: 0002 = Forklift MRP 1, 2, 3, 4

MRP group: 25 = Make-to-order for configurable material MRP Type: PD = MRP

MRP Controller: 101 or 0## (Depends on database/client used) Lot size: EX = Lot-for-lot order quantity

Procurement type: X or E Scheduling Margin Key: 001

No in-house production time (Acknowledge warning)

Strategy group: 25 = Make-to-Order for configurable material Availability check 02 = Individual requirements

Individual/Collective 1 = Individual requirements only Work Scheduling

Production scheduler: 101 Overall Profile: PP0001

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Costing 1, 2 Just accept the default values a) Create material master records:

MMK1=

SAP Menu→Logistics→Production→Master Data→ Material Master→Material→Create (Special)→Configurable Material

or

User Menu→Material→Create (Special)→Configurable Material

Material: T-VPC##

Industry Sector:M = Mechanical Engineering→Enter => Select views: Basic Data 1, 2

Classification

Indicator “Create views selected“ Save as default values→Enter => Organizational levels:

Plant 1200

Sales organization 1000 Distribution channel 10

Save as default values→Enter Enter data as shown in the exercise.

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Do not maintain any classification view. Plant 1200

Sales Organization 1000 Distribution Channel 10

Maintain the following views for material T-VPZ##: Basic Data 1, 2

For material T-VPZ##, use the same data as for T-VPC##, but without a classification view and with a new description:

A different Description: Extras for PC (Group ##) a) Create with template:

MMK1

Material: T-VPZ##

Industry Sector: M = Mechanical Engineering Copy from ... Material: T-VPC##!!! →Enter

=> Select views:No classification, but otherwise as above. → Enter

=> Organizational levels: Fill out Copy from column !!! Plant 1200

Sales organization 1000 Distribution channel 10

Save as default values→Enter

Enter data as shown in the exercise: in other words, only change: - Description

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Lesson Summary

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Lesson: Maintaining a Super BOM

Lesson Overview

This lesson explains how to maintain a super Bill of Material with class items and configurable assemblies.

Lesson Objectives

• Maintain a super BOM without dependencies with class items and configurable assemblies

Business Example

ABC Motors is an automobile manufacturing company that manufactures various models of cars. The company is implementing variant

configuration solution to maintain all the possible end-product variants. You are the Product Manager of the company. To implement variant configuration solution, you have created the material master record. Now, you need to create the bill of material.

Overview of BOM

Figure 32: Super BOM

Definition: Bill of Material

A bill of material is a formally structured list for an object, and contains all the related objects, their description, their quantity, and their unit.

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The BOM of a configurable material contains all the parts that are required for all possible variants of the material. Object dependencies are used to configure the BOM: only the parts that are required for a specific variant are selected. The BOM is exploded according to the characteristic values assigned.

You can also make manual changes to the BOM for a sales order, provided that the settings in the configuration profile allow this. You can, for example, delete or insert components. The BOM is then saved as an order BOM for the sales order.

You can change the BOM in the production order, as in production without variants.

Items in BOM

Figure 33: Class Item - Item Category K

You can enter a class in which materials or documents are classified as an item in a BOM. The class must have a class type that allows it to be used as a BOM item.

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Figure 34: Non-Stock Item - Item Category N

You can create non-stock items both with and without a material master record. If you enter a non-stock item without entering a material number, you must enter a descriptive text and procurement data.

You enter the purchasing data for non-stock items with or without a material number, except materials with material type KMAT. The system uses the pricing data to determine the release strategy. The material group is required for generating a purchase requisition. The component is procured directly for the production order. Purchase requisitions are created automatically.

A non-stock item can also be a configurable material. In this example the EXTRAS is a place holder that contains the three components as pictured. The EXTRAS are selected when the sales order is configured, and must have the appropriate object dependencies.

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Figure 35: Variable-Size Item - Item Category R

If you want to use one material number to represent different-sized pieces of a material, you assign the item category R.

On the Variable-Size Item Data detail screen, the system uses the sizes and formula you enter to immediately calculate the variable-size item quantity required.

Material requirements can be determined directly from the BOM explosion, without having to perform additional steps first.

You do not need to maintain a separate material master record for each section of the material that is cut to size.

Variable-size items are useful in variant configuration because you can use dependencies with reference characteristics to maintain variable-size item data.

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Exercise 5: BOM Maintenance (Without

Dependencies)

Exercise Objectives

After completing this exercise, you will be able to: • Maintain super BOMs for configurable materials

Business Example

AA Computers is a PC manufacturing company. It manufactures various models of PCs. The company has decided to use SAP R/3 Enterprise to optimize its storage inventories and maintain every possible end-product variant. You are the Product Manager of the company. To model the PC and other configurable materials, you must create the super BOM. The BOM for the PC has multiple levels, so you need to create several BOMs in the system.

Task:

Create the two BOMs.

1. Create the two BOMs as shown:

in “PC - Customer Example (BOM Structure)“ Create the BOMs in:

Plant: 1200 and with:

Usage: Production = 1

The materials you require are in the following table.

All items are stock items, except for T-VPZ## and the class node for Colors. All items have quantity 1. Which item categories do the two items that are not stock items have?

You may want to copy from: T-VPC00 1200 1 and

T-VPZ00 1200 1, if you copy ask your instructor for details.

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Description Material Number Configurable Personal Computer Bolt set Casing Tower Casing Minitower Casing Desktop CPU, Standard CPU, Medium CPU, Fast

Class Node for Color

Hard disk, small

Hard disk, medium

Hard disk, large

Hard disk, extra large

MS Access MS Word MS Excel MS Office Package CD drive, slow T-VPC## T-PCS T-PC21 T-PC22 T-PC23 T-CPU-1 T-CPU-2 T-CPU-3 (200) T_VPC_COLOR T-DISK-1 T-DISK-2 T-DISK-3 T-DISK-4 T-SW-10 T-SW-40 T-SW-20 T-SW-30

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Configurable Extras for PC

Standard Keyboard

Mouse - Model: Standard

Modem 56600 bps

T-VPZ##

DPC1009

T-PZ1

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Solution 5: BOM Maintenance (Without

Dependencies)

Task:

Create the two BOMs.

1. Create the two BOMs as shown:

in “PC - Customer Example (BOM Structure)“ Create the BOMs in:

Plant: 1200 and with:

Usage: Production = 1

The materials you require are in the following table.

All items are stock items, except for T-VPZ## and the class node for Colors. All items have quantity 1. Which item categories do the two items that are not stock items have?

You may want to copy from: T-VPC00 1200 1 and

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Description Material Number Configurable Personal Computer Bolt set Casing Tower Casing Minitower Casing Desktop CPU, Standard CPU, Medium CPU, Fast

Class Node for Color

Hard disk, small

Hard disk, medium

Hard disk, large

Hard disk, extra large

MS Access MS Word MS Excel MS Office Package CD drive, slow CD drive, medium CD drive, fast

Speaker Set (2), 10 Watt

T-VPC## T-PCS T-PC21 T-PC22 T-PC23 T-CPU-1 T-CPU-2 T-CPU-3 (200) T_VPC_COLOR T-DISK-1 T-DISK-2 T-DISK-3 T-DISK-4 T-SW-10 T-SW-40 T-SW-20 T-SW-30 T-CD-1 T-CD-2 T-CD-3 T-SPEAKER-10 T-SPEAKER-15 T-SPEAKER-40