Pool Asset Management: End-to-End Cycle

[tajinder_singh]

Overview:  Pool asset management (PAM) allows an organization to manage its pool assets using a graphical planning board. Examples of pool assets can be vehicles, beamers, laptop etc. In this document, I will take an example of pool asset as vehicle to go through the different steps. By using PAM, a planner can request, issue, return and then finally settle the service provided using the graphical planning board.

Steps involved in PAM:

The entire end-to-end scenario for PAM involves below steps:

1) Creation of demand

2) Demand Planning with Graphical Planning Board

3) Issue of pool asset

4) Return of pool asset

5) Settlement

Before I go into detailed steps, I would like to mention some pre-requisites that must be fulfilled before this scenario is run:

1) A functional location is created and all pooled equipment (vehicles) installed at functional location

2) A pool of vehicle is created using transaction code PAM01 and functional location assigned to this pool

3) Equipment created as pool asset must have a measuring point assigned for odometer reading and PAM category (PCM_KAT) assigned in equipment characteristics

4) All configuration related to PAM are done. Refer this link: Customizing - Pool Asset Management - SAP Library

Now, let's go through all the steps for pool asset management in detail:

1) Creation of demand:

Demand can either be created by a requester or a planner. Let's assume that the demand is created by a requester. This is done by using transaction IW21 for creating a notification with a standard notification type MF.

Requester enters user and requester information along with notification description exp. 'Request vehicle'.

Location is entered where the vehicle is required.

In 'Pool Asset' tab, start and end time for requested vehicle is entered along with the Pool Name by the requester.

In 'Settlement' tab, details of settlement object is entered.

Notification is released and saved

2) Demand Planning with Graphical Planning Board

Planner logs in the planning board using transaction PAM03 and views created notification in the bottom half section of the planning board.

Planner can drag the demand and move it to the upper portion of the planning board and can assign it to one of the available vehicle in the pool.

The planner can double click the demand and click on 'Reserve' button to reserve the demand of the vehicle on a particular time.

This changes the color of the demand to say red in the planning board.

3) Issue of pool asset

The planner will then issue the pool asset by double clicking on the request and entering odometer reading.

This changes the color of request to green meaning the vehicle is issued to the requester.

4) Return of pool asset

After the requester uses the vehicle and returns the vehicle back, planner will then enter the details in the system (such as new odometer reading) by double clicking on the green bar. This changes the green bar to a small line on the planning board.

5) Settlement

The planner then double click the small line and click on the 'Settle' button to capture the costs in a work order.

Planner assigns value against the value category from say actual vehicle usage time.

An order of type xxxx as defined in configuration is created automatically in the backend.

If you open the order, you will see the costs are reflected in the order in the 'Costs' tab.

This cost can then be settled to the final cost object by the finance team during their settlement run.

This completes the entire cycle for pool asset management.

Thanks,

Tajinder