...so why do they use Z functionality in SAP?
Life's good and you're going to treat yourself to the car of a lifetime - a brand new 2014 Audi S4!
So you go onto Audi's website to configure your car. (Side note: is Audi's car configurator powered by SAP's PLM module? But I digress.)
Choose Engine - you choose the S4 3.0 TFSI quattro Technik Manual cause you just love the manual shift.
Choose Suspension - you go with the Audi Quattro with sport differential and dampening suspension cause you know you're going to eat up the Autobahn and venture into the country too.
Choose upgraded Inlay - money's no object; you get the Beaufort oak aluminum inlay available exclusively on the S model (sorry A3 drivers)
Choose Optional Parking System - you add on the Audi parking system with rearview camera cause you know hubby will be driving it too (had you fooled, you thought with all that preceding tech talk this is written by a man; nope!)
Choose Wheelchair assist entry system - Mom is a frequent passenger and sadly she's in a wheelchair but you love her so you're going to get the hardware to make her life easier getting in and out of your Whip (don't get weird ideas; look up that word; it's slang for 'expensive car') But wait, Audi doesn't offer a Wheelchair Assist Entry System! You ask Audi for their help and they direct you to Acme Wheelchair systems, a company who has been adding these things to Audis since the days when Pluto was a planet. Acme and Audi have worked together for years to get the design just right so performance is not impacted and the assist folds up out of sight.
Finally you're done. Your dream car has been built!
At any moment did you consider going to Joe's garage and getting a different 3 litre engine?
What about the Inlay; surely your carpenter friend could build the inlay out of a wood even more beautiful than Beaufort oak. Did you consider that?
No you didn't!
You didn't consider doing any of these things because Audi has been building superbly engineered cars since, well, since Pluto was a planet. You bought the S4 because Audi has a fantastic reputation in making well crafted, superbly engineered cars. But you added on one non Audi component - the Wheelchair assist entry system. You did so because Audi didn't offer one and it came well recommended by Audi.
Now relate this to your SAP system:
The Engine is the MRP program.
The Suspension is the Available to Promise check in Sales Order Processing
The Upgraded Inlay is the Capacity Requirements Planning tool
The Parking System is the Order confirmation transaction
and the wheelchair assist is a Z report that is required for manufacturers in your province; it is not offered in Standard SAP.
Think about this. Let's all get back to using Standard SAP!
