When we research about S/4 HANA, we find a lot of information about the simplified scenarios or about the cool new features, such as MRP Live, Embedded PP/DS or Accelerated ATP.
However, there is an relevant topic which is very often forgot, that is the fact the standard business functions and many industry solution functionalities are active by default in S/4 HANA.
The standard PP business functions were already available in the previous ERP releases, but they had to be activated in the Switch Framework and many users and consultants don't even know that they exist. A list of the available business functions can be found on the following link:
https://help.sap.com/erp2005_ehp_04/helpdata/EN/87/9dce5314894208e10000000a174cb4/frameset.htm
Considering the Industry Solution functionalities, I have already answered many threads in SCN telling that a specific functionality would be only available in an Industry Solution and now these are available in S/4 HANA. Here are some examples of the most useful of these functionalities that are relevant for manufacturing:
Order Combination
We can find many threads in SCN of users asking how two orders could be processed in parallel in the same work center. The answer was always that the order combination functionality was available in the DIMP industry solution and that those orders could be combined with transaction MILL_OC. We can combine operations of different production orders and even from different materials, posting a single confirmation, as the work is executed together, in the same work centers.
More details about the order combination can be found in the following link:
https://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp60_sp/helpdata/en/5b/cec353b677b44ce10000000a174cb4/content.htm
Parts Interchangeability
In some situations, the same part can be provided by different vendors and a different material is created in the system for each vendor. With the creation of a Manufacturer Part Number MRP Set (MPN-MRP Set) in transaction PIC01 we allow MRP to plan together those different materials. It will add the stock and consider planning elements of different materials, only suggesting the replenishment when there is not enough stock for all the materials under the MPN-MRP Set.
You can find more information about this feature on the following SAP Help link:
https://help.sap.com/erp2005_ehp_03/helpdata/EN/15/d8c353b677b44ce10000000a174cb4/frameset.htm
Fast Entry of Characteristics and Co-Products in Production Orders
For companies using classification of batches and co-products, there is a new tab in the production order transaction, which allows you to include new co-products on the order and quickly classify the order batches.
More information about the Fast Entry can be found below:
https://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp60_sp/helpdata/en/58/cfc353b677b44ce10000000a174cb4/content.htm
Mass Processing of Manufacturing Orders with Characteristic Selection
Another interesting DIMP feature that is now available is the mass processing of production and process orders with characteristics. Basically, in the mass processing transactions for production and process orders (COHV and COHVPI) we have an option to select order based in characteristics.
The picture below shows the new selection option in transaction COHV.
https://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp60_sp/helpdata/en/1b/eac353b677b44ce10000000a174cb4/content.htm
WBS Grouping, Pegging, Distribution (GPD)
This functionality was available for project manufacturing in IS-ADEC. It allows you to combine material requirements from different work breakdown structures (WBS) elements (across several projects or plants) into one or more grouping WBS elements for common inventory management and material requirements planning (MRP).
https://help.sap.com/erp2005_ehp_05/helpdata/en/78/f5c353b677b44ce10000000a174cb4/frameset.htm
However, there is an relevant topic which is very often forgot, that is the fact the standard business functions and many industry solution functionalities are active by default in S/4 HANA.
The standard PP business functions were already available in the previous ERP releases, but they had to be activated in the Switch Framework and many users and consultants don't even know that they exist. A list of the available business functions can be found on the following link:
https://help.sap.com/erp2005_ehp_04/helpdata/EN/87/9dce5314894208e10000000a174cb4/frameset.htm
Considering the Industry Solution functionalities, I have already answered many threads in SCN telling that a specific functionality would be only available in an Industry Solution and now these are available in S/4 HANA. Here are some examples of the most useful of these functionalities that are relevant for manufacturing:
Order Combination
We can find many threads in SCN of users asking how two orders could be processed in parallel in the same work center. The answer was always that the order combination functionality was available in the DIMP industry solution and that those orders could be combined with transaction MILL_OC. We can combine operations of different production orders and even from different materials, posting a single confirmation, as the work is executed together, in the same work centers.
More details about the order combination can be found in the following link:
https://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp60_sp/helpdata/en/5b/cec353b677b44ce10000000a174cb4/content.htm
Parts Interchangeability
In some situations, the same part can be provided by different vendors and a different material is created in the system for each vendor. With the creation of a Manufacturer Part Number MRP Set (MPN-MRP Set) in transaction PIC01 we allow MRP to plan together those different materials. It will add the stock and consider planning elements of different materials, only suggesting the replenishment when there is not enough stock for all the materials under the MPN-MRP Set.
You can find more information about this feature on the following SAP Help link:
https://help.sap.com/erp2005_ehp_03/helpdata/EN/15/d8c353b677b44ce10000000a174cb4/frameset.htm
Fast Entry of Characteristics and Co-Products in Production Orders
For companies using classification of batches and co-products, there is a new tab in the production order transaction, which allows you to include new co-products on the order and quickly classify the order batches.
More information about the Fast Entry can be found below:
https://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp60_sp/helpdata/en/58/cfc353b677b44ce10000000a174cb4/content.htm
Mass Processing of Manufacturing Orders with Characteristic Selection
Another interesting DIMP feature that is now available is the mass processing of production and process orders with characteristics. Basically, in the mass processing transactions for production and process orders (COHV and COHVPI) we have an option to select order based in characteristics.
The picture below shows the new selection option in transaction COHV.
https://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp60_sp/helpdata/en/1b/eac353b677b44ce10000000a174cb4/content.htm
WBS Grouping, Pegging, Distribution (GPD)
This functionality was available for project manufacturing in IS-ADEC. It allows you to combine material requirements from different work breakdown structures (WBS) elements (across several projects or plants) into one or more grouping WBS elements for common inventory management and material requirements planning (MRP).
https://help.sap.com/erp2005_ehp_05/helpdata/en/78/f5c353b677b44ce10000000a174cb4/frameset.htm
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