Product Information
Highlights for Manufacturing in SAP S/4HANA 2021 – Part 2: Production Planning, Engineering, Operations
Beginning of October 2021 we released SAP S/4HANA 2021.
The blog Highlights for Manufacturing in SAP S/4HANA 2021 – Part 1: Quality Management summarizes the highlights for the business area Quality Management.
In the following blog post, I will summarize the highlights for the business areas Production Engineering, Production Planning, Production Operations as part of the line of business Manufacturing in SAP S/4HANA 2021.
Table of content (for quick access, just click on one of the business area links):
Production Engineering
Integration with PLM Change Record
Manage Routings and Master Recipes
Production Planning
Material Requirements Planning
Time-Dependent Safety Stock in MRP
Supplier Collaboration with MRP Change Requests
MRP App Improvements
Capacity Planning
Mass Maintenance of Work Center Capacities
Flexible Time Horizon
Capacity Scheduling Table
Extended Production Planning
Predictive Material and Resource Planning (pMRP)
Flexible Constraints for Multiple Materials
Planning configurable products
Demand-Driven Replenishment (DDMRP)
Provide delivery schedule lines to suppliers
Flexible net demand and projected stock calculations
Projected on-hand alerts based on the on-hand buffer status
Integrated DDMRP with SAP S/4HANA and SAP IBP
Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling in embedded PP/DS
What’s new in ePP/DS – Overview
Demand-Driven Scheduling
Production Operations
Supervisor Apps -Enhancements
Manage Process Orders
Manage Process Order Operations
Manage Production Orders and Operations
Kanban
Kanban Board – Enhancements
Withdraw Quantity from Kanban Container
Kanban Control Cycles Analysis
Monitor Kanban Containers
SAP IoT Embedded Kanban Process
APIs and Business Events
Note that many of the described innovations are available in SAP S/4HANA Cloud already, since we have one code line for all SAP S/4HANA deployment modes, and again, all of these Innovations will also be available for SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition.
Production Engineering
Production with approved master data (Integration with PLM Change Record)
In general, with Change Record, you can initiate, manage, and track changes to your products. Managing engineering change processes with Change Record ensure Production with approved master data which is an important requirement in process industries.
To enable approved production for process orders, you need to make configuration settings for the required approval. You can configure change record types according to your needs with master recipe and BOM. New change rules allow you to define that a change record is required to change the master recipe.
For instance, if you create and approve changes to production master data in the change record, the Process order is automatically approved. Material list can no longer be changed. Release is not possible without approval.
Fig. 1: Use the change record for engineering change of material BOM and master recipe and production with approved master data
Watch the demo video in my 2111 blog in which I show you how to use the change record for engineering change of material BOM and master recipe and production with approved master data.
Manage Routings and Master Recipes
The new SAP Fiori apps Manage Routings and Manage Master Recipes are so-called wrapper apps which enables you to search through existing master data and navigate to the apps for creation of new routings / master recipes as well as change and display of existing routings / master recipes.
Using the Manage Routings app as an example, the next figure shows the standard capabilities of the new apps such as filter customization, adding additional table columns and their export to excel.
Fig. 2: SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Routings’
In addition, the next figure shows the navigation to the wrapped Create, Change and Display apps using the app Manage Master Recipes as an example.
Fig. 3: SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Master Recipes’
Production Planning
Material Requirements Planning
Time-Dependent Safety Stock in MRP
With the time-dependent safety stock you can make the safety stock more flexible and
dynamic.
The new ODATA API API_PROD_TIMEDPDNTSTCK_SRV enables you to create, read and update the time dependent stock levels such as max stock, reorder point and safety stock. In addition, you can split and merge the stock validity intervals.
In the Manage Product Master Data app, you can specify the safety stock method. Open the Plants tab for a particular product and open the MRP Data -> Lot-Size Data for a particular plant.
The new field MRP Safety Stock Method is available to select static or time-dependent safety stock. If you choose the second option,
- Safety stock delta is determined as planned demand or receipt for MRP or MPS procedures
- Safety stock levels are considered in MRP Live + Classic, MRP Apps, Predictive MRP and Long Term Planning
Fig. 4: ‘Manage Product Master Data’ app – new field ‘MRP Safety Stock Method’
Fig. 5: ‘Stock/Requirements List’ app – Safety Stock Delta
For a preview of future enhancements to the time-dependent safety stock read my 2111 and 2202 blogs.
Supplier Collaboration with MRP Change Requests
Next, I would like to introduce an important innovation in the area of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) called Supplier Collaboration with MRP Change Request. This innovation improves the communication with suppliers and the processing of MRP change requests in an integration scenario with an external procurement system. The integration scenario enables material planners in SAP S/4HANA to directly inform their suppliers about exceptions that occurred in an MRP run, such as planned changes in quantity or date of purchase orders. The next figure shows a simplified process flow diagram about the MRP Change Request Integration Scenario with the technical name SAP_COM_0667:
Fig. 6: MRP Change Request Integration Scenario (simplified process flow)
On the left side of the figure you can see the SAP S/4HANA system, on the right side the Ariba Network as the procurement system. The communication between both systems is done via SOAP and ODATA APIs.
The next figure shows the detailed process flow of the MRP Change Request Integration Scenario:
Fig. 7: Detailed process flow of the MRP Change Request Integration Scenario
In the SAP S/4HANA system, users with the business role Material Planner – External Procurement can use the Create MRP Change Requests app to create change requests for existing purchase order schedule lines based on the list of rescheduling proposals from MRP rescheduling checks. You can send these change requests to suppliers using an external procurement system to request a change of the quantity or delivery date for a purchase order schedule line so that material availability can be ensured and customer requirements can be fulfilled. In the external procurement system, suppliers can accept or reject the change requests or send new proposals. After you have received an answer from a supplier, you can either apply or discard the changes included in a specific change request or proposal.
Fig. 8: ‘Create MRP Change Requests’ app
The new Manage Change Requests app enables you to follow up on changes you have requested from your vendor as well as place requests for changes you have collected. You create change requests when using the apps for managing material shortages or uncovered requirements. You can request that the vendor change the quantity or delivery date in a purchase order or stock transport order so that material availability can be ensured and customer requirements can be fulfilled. At the end of the process, you either apply the changes, which automatically updates the order, or you discard the request.
With the Schedule Sending of MRP Change Requests app, you can schedule MRP change requests and status updates to be sent to your suppliers periodically, by using the APIs provided.
With the Schedule MRP Rescheduling Checks app, you can schedule MRP rescheduling checks to run periodically.
Customizing options enables you to automate the processing of responses to MRP Change Requests:
- Customized logic for automated processing of answered change request
- Automated applying to the purchase order when change request accepted
- Automated discarding when change request rejected
- Automated applying / discarding for new proposal within / outside the tolerance intervals
Fig. 9: Customizing – Automated Processing of Responses to MRP Change Requests
I first described the MRP Change Integration Scenario on my 2108 blog. There you can also find a short system demo. For a preview of future enhancements to the MRP Change Integration Scenario read my 2111 blog.
MRP App Improvements
Intraday Supply
The following features are now available for the Monitor Material Coverage – Net Segments and Monitor Material Coverage – Net and Individual Segments apps:
- Intraday supply
- Shortage with reference to safety time
The new intraday supply is a combination of days’ supply and a statistical statement about how long (evenly averaged over the day) the final previous days’ inventory will be sufficient relative to the aggregated daily requirement. You can filter and sort the displayed lists by this new column. The intraday supply is displayed with two decimal places.
Fig. 10: ‘Monitor Material Coverage’ app – Intraday Supply
Shortage with Reference to Safety Time
Two new threshold types are available in the material shortage profile. These threshold types determine the colors used in the Stock Availability column of the Monitor Material Coverage – Net Segments and Monitor Material Coverage – Net and Individual Segments apps. The column displays a chart that shows the stock availability of a selected material within the horizon you select.
A new calculation of the colors of the Stock Availability chart is only done for days that have a supply or demand. Otherwise the color stays like on the day before.
To display shortages with reference to safety time, one of the following settings must be made in the material master:
- Safety time (complete days)
- Material shortage profile (which has the relevant threshold type, see below) (days with decimals)
Production in alternative Plant
Now, you can display information on the planning plant and the supplying / receiving plant in the Manage Material Coverage and Manage Production Orders or Process Orders apps if a material is planned and produced in two different plants. The new column with this information is only visible if a material is relevant for this scenario. Information on the special procurement type was added to the material info and the material quick view of the apps.
Fig. 11: Enhancements in ‘Manage Material Coverage’ app and ‘Monitor Production Orders’ app
My Area of Responsibility – Work Center Groups
You can use the My Area of Responsibility for Work Center Groups app to display all work center groups of each plant and assign the names of the work center groups and plants for which you are responsible. You can change the assignment of the work center groups and plants at any time. You need to group work centers into groups based on the group type and plant in the Manage Work Center Groups app.
Fig. 12: ‘My Area of Responsibility – Work Center Groups’ app
Schedule Unassigning of MRP Areas
By the way: With the new application job app Schedule Unassigning of MRP Areas, you can schedule the deletion of assignments of materials to MRP areas in the product master as a background job using the job template Schedule Unassigning of MRP Areas. For the assignments that shall be deleted, the deletion indicator must be set.
Planned Order – Long Text
Fig. 13: ‘Create Planned Order’ app – Long Text tab
Capacity Planning
As a production planner, be informed that two SAP Fiori apps in Capacity Planning were renamed:
- The app Schedule Production was renamed to Capacity Scheduling Table.
- The app Monitor Work Center Schedules was renamed to Capacity Scheduling Board.
Fig. 14: SAP Fiori Launchpad for Capacity Planning – Two renamed apps and new app ‘Mass Maintenance of Work Center Capacities’
Mass Maintenance of Work Center Capacities
With the new SAP Fiori app Mass Maintenance of Work Center Capacities you can perform a mass create of intervals for the selected work center capacities. As a Production Planner, you must manage the capacities of multiple work centers to meet future demands. When you foresee a spike in demand, you can create multiple intervals for a few or all capacities that belong to the work centers in a production line/Work Center group. Intervals can be created for both working and non-working days. Within the given interval, you can create shifts for a single day and allow it to repeat on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Fig. 15: New SAP Fiori app ‘Mass Maintenance of Work Center Capacities’
Watch the demo video about the new Mass Maintenance of Work Center Capacities app in my 2108 blog.
Flexible Time Horizon
The next figure shows the Flexible Time Horizon in Capacity Planning.
The SAP Fiori apps Manage Work Center Capacity (no. 1), Capacity Scheduling Table (no. 2), and Capacity Scheduling Board (no. 3) allow you now to set an offset value before and after the current date in the Horizon filter based on which the dates are calculated. The dynamic date range is based on offset values. X and Y are dynamic values.
Fig. 16: Flexible Time Horizon in Capacity Planning
Additionally you can now choose the Bucket Type and set an overdue horizon using the Overdue For filter in the Manage Work Center Capacity app. The application is rounded off by configuration options for the overdue time frame and the overdue time is visible in the object page as shown in the screenshot.
Fig.17: SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Work Center Capacity’ – ‘Bucket Type’ and ‘Overdue For’ filter
Capacity Scheduling Table
The Capacity Scheduling Table app now displays a new icon indicating that Variant Configuration is available. You can navigate to the Variant Configuration screen to view the product configuration for the production orders.
Fig. 18: SAP Fiori app ‘Capacity Scheduling Table’ – new icon indicates now that Variant Configuration is available
The object page redesign enables now space saving. The Show More button allows you to display additional information (Product, Order Data,…) with one click.
In addition, the Sourcing and Scheduling area displays the fields Setup Group Category and Setup Group Key.
Fig. 19: ‘Capacity Scheduling Table’ app – Show More and new fields Setup Group Category and Key
Extended Production Planning
Predictive Material and Resource Planning (pMRP)
Predictive Material and Resource Planning (pMRP) is our simulative mid- and long-term planning tool. For a short recap of the enhancements of the past release read my 2020 blog.
What’s new with the SAP S/4HANA 2021 release?
Flexible Constraints for Multiple Materials
Define Flexible Constraints
In the Define Flexible Constraints app, you can now create constraints for multiple materials, for example materials of a material group, supplied materials or materials of a production line. In addition, a constraint that is added without saving, is available as a draft.
The figure below shows how a production planner or material planner for external procurement adds a constraint for a group of materials.
Fig. 20: SAP Fiori app Define Flexible Constraints
Watch the video in my 2102 blog which shows how to add a constraint for materials procured from a supplier.
Display Constraint Quantities in the Simulation Components View of the Process pMRP Simulations app
In the Simulation Components view of the Process pMRP Simulations app, you can now display the constraint quantities for each material and source of supply in a simulation. An exceeded constraint quantity is displayed in red. If there is an issue with a material constraint in a simulation, you can now check which maximum constraint for which material component has been violated.
Watch the video in my 2105 blog which shows Constraints in the Simulation Components view of the Process pMRP Simulations app.
Planning configurable products
You can now use a new planning strategy to create inactive planned independent requirements for configurable materials. These planned independent requirements are only used by pMRP during the simulation process.
In SAP S/4HANA Cloud the predefined planning strategy P6 is available as shown in the next figure. You can use the process also in SAP S/4HANA. For this purpose, you have to create a planning strategy such as P6 for Planning without final assembly-MTO pMRP by yourself in the on-premise system.
Fig. 21: SAP Fiori app Manage Product Master Data – planning strategy P6 which is predefined in SAP S/4HANA Cloud. In SAP S/4HANA create a planning strategy like P6 by yourself.
The following process chart shows how you can consider a ‘Planning BOM’ in the pMRP simulation by using the planning strategy Planning without final assembly-MTO pMRP. For instance, the ‘Planning BOM’ contains 10 different engines of a forklift. The configuration of the particular sales order determines which engine will be consumed.
Fig. 22: ‘Planning BOM’ considered in pMRP simulation
Demand-Driven Replenishment (DDMRP)
Provide delivery schedule lines to suppliers
You can use Predictive Material and Resource Planning (pMRP) to create and send forecast delivery schedules for materials in a demand-driven environment to suppliers.
In certain business processes, procurement proposals are triggered late (demand-driven replenishment, non-MRP Kanban replenishment). You can use predictive MRP to give suppliers a provisional, non-binding forecast. To send a component forecast as determined by pMRP, use the Subassembly Components option when releasing the simulation, and let the MRP run create delivery schedule lines that are sent to the supplier.
Fig. 23: Provide delivery schedule lines to suppliers for demand-driven products using pMRP
To ensure that delivery schedule lines do not become binding and cause costs, you have to set up the adjustment period for planned independent requirements (PIR) to end before the trade-off zone defined in the purchase scheduling agreement. The adjustment period must be greater than the trade-off zone. This ensures that the PIR become irrelevant shortly before the delivery schedule lines become binding and cause costs.
Flexible net demand and projected stock calculations
The MRP type configuration allows now the definition of additional requirements for inclusion in net-flow position (NFP) calculation.The following additional requirements categories can be included for open past demand:
- Purchase requisition releases of stock transfer purchase requisitions
- Scheduling agreement delivery schedules of stock transfer schedule lines
- Subcontracting requirements (parts to be provided) of subcontracting purchase requisitions
- Dependent requirements of planned orders
SAP delivers a new MRP type D2 to support the case of repetitive manufacturing.
Fig. 24: MRP Type Configuration – new MRP type D2
Review also detailed information about Demand-Driven Replenishment Planning Procedure in SAP Help.
The Demand-driven replenishment app shows all demand elements with view All MRP Elements even not all elements are taken into the net-flow position calculations according to the MRP type.
Fig. 25: ‘Replenishment Planning Details’ page – All MRP Elements view
Changing the view to DD-Relevant MRP Elements, only net-flow position relevant demand and supply elements are listed. The links allow you to navigate directly to the display or change planned order apps.
Fig. 26: ‘Replenishment Planning Details’ page – DD-Relevant MRP Elements view
In the case of MRP type D2, planned order are considered as demands but only if they are either firmed and/or marked for repetitive manufacturing.
Fig. 27: ‘Display Planned’ Order app – Planned order is marked for repetitive manufacturing
Projected on-hand alerts based on the on-hand buffer status
With the new Projected On-Hand Alerts app, a production planner can monitor the occurrence of material stockouts closely and hence ensure that optimum quantities of stock are maintained. This app is designed to display stock alerts in the future till the decoupled lead time (DLT) before the actual replenishment takes place. It displays the projected on-hand alerts at the first instance when stock level reaches below safety stock, below threshold and/or stockout.
Fig. 28: New SAP Fiori app ‘Projected On-Hand Alerts’
Fig. 29: ‘Projected On-Hand Alerts’ app – Projected On-Hand Alerts tab to display first appearance of projected stock alerts
On the Supply / Demand List tab, projected stock alerts are shown using inverted highlights colored according to buffer levels for demand-driven execution for under and over stock situations
Fig. 30: ‘Projected On-Hand Alerts’ app – Supply / Demand List tab
Display of projected stock until end of the decoupled lead time (DLT) in relation to the demand-driven buffer zones for execution.
Fig. 31: ‘Projected On-Hand Alerts’ app – Supply / Demand List tab
I recommend that you watch the five minutes demo video in my 2105 blog about the Projected On-Hand Alerts app.
Integrated DDMRP with SAP S/4HANA and SAP IBP
With release SAP S/4HANA 2020 FPS2 the integrated demand-driven replenishment process for SAP IBP for Supply Chain and SAP S/4HANA enables positioning and sizing of buffers in SAP IBP for demand-driven replenishment and their integration into SAP S/4HANA for demand-driven replenishment for supply planning and execution.
Fig. 32: Integrated DDMRP with SAP S/4HANA and SAP IBP
The integration of S/4HANA and SAP IBP for DDMRP is based on the SAP Cloud Platform Integration for Data Services (CPI-DS).
For the integration of master data, actual quantities and total demands, the SAP S/4HANA supply chain integration add-on for SAP Integrated Business Planning is required.
The data flow from IBP to S/4HANA is done by calling the following APIs:
For more information see DDMRP Supply Generation with SAP S/4HANA for Demand-Driven Replenishment.
Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling in embedded PP/DS
What’s new in ePP/DS – Overview
Thomas Klemm announces the October release of the SAP S/4HANA 2021 version of SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing for planning and scheduling in his blog
SAP S/4HANA 2021 Manufacturing for Planning and Scheduling (ePPDS) is now available
which describes the following innovations:
- Tank Planning
- Time dependent stock levels
- Demand Driven Scheduling
- Production Planning Optimization (PPO – Evolution of initial 2020 Release)
- Flexible Integration
- Synchronized Planning – Production Planning Integration
Demand-Driven Scheduling
Following on from the previous chapter about Demand-Driven Replenishment let me highlight here the process of Demand-Driven Scheduling which in now supported in PP/DS. This feature allows you to align material buffers with capacity bottlenecks. These are the key capabilities:
- Resolving of bottleneck situations by finite scheduling of control point resources
- Consideration of control point resource availability
- Making sure that material buffers are not running idle
- Aligning inhouse production priority of both buffered and non buffered materials
- Visualize scheduling results along with DDMRP KPIs
- Integration into overall DDMRP process in SAP S/4HANA
Fig. 33: Demand-Driven Scheduling with PP/DS – Control Point Resources
For supporting this, a new scheduling heuristic (based on the algorithm – /SAPAPO/DD_SCHEDULE_HEURISTIC) is provided. This heuristic is provided to support and complement the concepts of Demand Driven (DD) planning in SAP S/4HANA. This heuristic considers safety stock parameters for the products relevant for DD planning (referred to as Buffered Product and in general identified by MRP type) and calculates the priorities of operations of orders for buffered and non-buffered products.
Additionally, for better visualization of DDMRP related KPIs in PP/DS, such KPIs as Projected Stock, Projected Stock Status, Safety Stock, Max Stock and Reorder Point are available in PP/DS transactions such as Product view, Receipts view and Resource Planning table.
It is now possible to navigate from DDMRP Fiori applications such as Replenishment Planning, Replenishment Execution and Projected On-Hand Alerts to PP/DS apps such as Resource Planning Table, Product View and Receipts View. The next figure shows the Resource Planning Table with new DDMRP Heuristic sequencing based on priorities.
Fig. 34: Demand-Driven Scheduling with PP/DS – Resource Planning Table with new DDMRP Heuristic sequencing based on priorities
For a general overview of Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS)
on SAP S/4HANA, please refer to the blog Overview of the key functionality Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling in embedded PP/DS on S/4HANA.
Review also the brand new blog post Overview PP/DS on DSC Edition for S/4HANA with use case MMP & SEQ.
Production Operations
Supervisor Apps – Enhancements
Manage Process Orders
With the 2020 release, we launched the new SAP Fiori app Manage Process Orders which enables supervisors to manage the progress of process orders (see my 2020 blog).
Now, this app allows users to select multiple orders and release or technically complete them. You can also choose to perform these actions immediately or schedule it for later as background job. The Integration with Application Logs app enables the user to view logs for both Release and Technically Complete actions.
Fig. 35: SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Process Orders’ – Release Order
Fig. 36: SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Process Orders’ – Operations Progress Micro Process Flow Chart
The new facet Other Manufactured Products shows details of Co-products & By-products and the MicroChart shows a comparison of Planned and Delivered quantities.
Fig. 37: SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Process Orders’ – New facet ‘Other Manufactured Products’
The Order Schedule facet has a popover representing details on Secondary Resources.
Fig. 38: SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Process Orders’ – Secondary Resources popover
The Order Information facet displays a pie chart depicting Delivered, Open and Confirmed Scrap Quantities.
Fig. 39: SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Process Orders’ – Order Information facet
The Time Delay issue popover was enhanced with Delay Duration details.
Fig. 40: SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Process Orders’ – Time Delay issue popover
Manage Process Order Operations
With the new SAP Fiori app Manage Process Order Operations a Production Supervisor in Process Manufacturing can monitor the progress of process orders at the detailed operations level. You can have an overview of the phases, components, relationships between phases, all the other operations linked to the process order.
Fig. 41: New SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Process Order Operations’
The Operation progress chart gives percentage of operation progress and also number of confirmed phases with interrupted phases if any in case of time event.
Fig. 42: New SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Process Order Operations’ – Operation progress chart
The object page provides different facets like components, relationship, all operations with respective details and also displays confirmations, goods movement and quality management information.
Fig. 43: New SAP Fiori app ‘Manage Process Order Operations’ – Object Page
Analogous to the Manage Process Orders app, the Manage Process Order Operations app offers also the
- Time Delay Issue popover enhanced with Delay Duration details
- New Secondary Resources facet to display Secondary Resources and scheduling details.
Watch also the demo video about the new Manage Process Order Operations app in my 2105 blog.
Manage Production Orders and Operations
The Manage Production Orders app and Manage Production Operations support you in your daily work as a production supervisor. You can now use new functions and features that provide you with more information about your production orders and operations.
Parallel and/or Alternative Sequences
Display parallel and/or alternative sequences for your standard sequences in a graphical representation in the Order Schedule section on the detail screen of both apps.
Fig. 44: Graphic for sequences in the supervisor apps Manage Production Orders and Manage Production Operations
Production Resources/Tools (PRTs)
Use a new filter to display whether production resources/tools (PRTs) are assigned to any operation of an order. In the Order Schedule section on the detail screen of both apps, you can open a dialog to display the PRTs for the current operation or all PRTs for the order.
Fig. 45: PRTs are displayed in the Order Schedule section within the supervisor apps Manage Production Orders and Manage Production Operations
Suboperations
In the Manage Production Orders app, you can now display suboperations in the Order Schedule section on the detail screen. The relevant column is displayed by default.
Fig. 46: ‘Manage Production Orders’ app – Suboperations
In the Manage Production Operations app, you can display suboperations as well in the worklist as in the Order Schedule section on the detail screen. A default filter for suboperations is available.
Fig. 47: ‘Manage Production Operations’ app – Suboperations
Goods Movements
With the Manage Production Orders app you can review goods movements for production orders.
Fig. 48: ‘Manage Production Orders’ app – review goods movements for production orders
Batch Number
Fig. 49: Batch number in ‘Manage Production Operations’ app
Order Split
You can now split a production order in the Manage Production Orders app as well as in transaction CO02. You can also split a production order and instruct the system to transfer the component costs to the child order.
Personalization
You can now create a tile for your personalized view of the apps and define where the tile will be stored on the SAP Fiori launchpad. If you work with the home page, you can select one or more groups. If you work with spaces and pages, you can select one or more pages
Kanban
Kanban Board – Enhancements
The SAP Fiori Kanban Board app enables you to constantly monitor your control cycles with their circulating Kanban containers (see my 2020 blog).
Automatic Refresh and Reverse Status Change
The Kanban Board app allows you now to define a time interval for automatically refreshing the list of kanban containers with the latest status and information. To do this, press the Board Settings button, which is marked in red dashed on the next screenshot.
Additionally, you can set back the status of containers that are on “Error” to their previous valid status. The previous valid status of the container shown above was “Empty”. As a result the button “Set back to EMPTY” is active. This button is also marked with a red dashed line in the screenshot above besides the “Board Settings” button.
Create Event-Driven Kanban Containers in the Kanban Board
The event-driven kanban process is used for fluctuations in material demand and allows you to flexibly react to the current inventory situation at the production line.
For event-driven kanban control cycles it is now possible to create one or more kanban containers directly from the Kanban Board. By selecting the + Create Containers button in the Kanban Board app, the system creates one or several event-driven containers with the status “Empty”. Depending on the replenishment strategy, it also creates the appropriate replenishment elements automatically.
Withdraw Quantity from Kanban Container
In the Set Kanban Container Status SAP Fiori app you can now withdraw quantities from kanban containers which can be automated by barcode scanning. This feature enables you to withdraw a partial or the complete quantity of a material from a kanban container. You can choose one of the two processing options Change Status or Withdraw Quantity and select these options individually for each entered kanban container.
Kanban Control Cycles Analysis
The new SAP Fiori app Kanban Control Cycle Analysis is a graphical analysis tool which provides an aggregated overview of the status of kanban containers in selected control cycles. By selecting measures and dimensions you can create evaluations to visualize the overall replenishment situation and identify errors or critical situations in the kanban process.
As a production supervisor in lean manufacturing, this app supports you to
- analyse kanban control cycles to check container statuses within the plant and production supply area, or based on additional filter criteria,
- use different chart types and personalization options for quick insights into the overall kanban replenishment situation,
- take prompt actions based on your analysis results, for example, check the container information on the SAP Fiori kanban board.
Fig. 53: New SAP Fiori app ‘Kanban Control Cycles Analysis‘
Watch the video in my 2102 blog to get an impression of the new Kanban Control Cycle Analysis app in the system.
Monitor Kanban Containers
As a production supervisor in lean manufacturing, the new Monitor Kanban Containers app helps you to monitor and evaluate your Kanban containers allowing you to act quickly to solve issues. You can personalize the displayed list of Kanban containers according to your use cases. You can navigate to a Kanban container to see more details.
Fig. 54: New SAP Fiori app ‘Monitor Kanban Containers’
Watch the video in my 2108 blog in which I show you how to select kanban containers with status ‘Error’.
SAP IoT Embedded Kanban Process
Fig. 55: SAP IoT Embedded Kanban Process – Flow Diagram
APIs and Business Events
Here is a short summary of new and enhanced APIs for Manufacturing.
Work Center
- RAP enabled OData Inbound Service: Read, Create and Update
- RAP based OData service for work center and pooled capacity
- Business Events: Create, Update, Delete
Master Recipe
- OData and SOAP API’s are
- Enabled with PRT information’s – Enabled with extensibility fields
- Business Events: Create, Update, Delete
Production Routing
- OData and SOAP API’s are
– Enabled with PRT information’s
– Enabled with extensibility fields - Business Events: Create, Update, Delete
Production/Process Order
- Extensibility
- Serial Numbers, Tolerances, Alternative Items
- PRTs
- Setting of Final Delivery Flag
Production/Process Order Confirmation
- Time Events
- Default Values for Time Tickets and Header Confirmations
- Batch Characteristics
For more information see SAP Business Hub.
Thanks for reading this blog. Stay tuned!
For more information on SAP S/4HANA 2021, check out the following links:
- SAP S/4HANA release info: sap.com/s4hana
- SAP S/4HANA Community here
- SAP S/4HANA 2021 – The Link Collection here
- SAP S/4HANA Cloud for Manufacturing & Supply Chain – The Link Collection here
- SAP S/4HANA PSCC Digital Enablement Wheel here
- Inside SAP S/4HANA Podcast here
- Join the SAP S/4HANA Movement
- Best practices for SAP S/4HANA here
- Help Portal Product Page here
Follow us via @SAP and #S4HANA, or myself via @GerhardWelker and LinkedIn
Hello,
Is the "Supplier Collaboration with MRP Change Requests" process also working for Scheduling Agreements? If not, is this function foreseen in future releases or is there any other proposed process?
Hello Matthias,
Currently the MRP Change Requests scenario is working with Purchase Orders only. We are aware of the requirement to enhance the MRP Change Requests scenario to Scheduling Agreements, but this topic is not on the roadmap yet.
Are you SAP partner or SAP customer? We are interested to discuss this requirement with customers. If you are interested to discuss this requirement with our product owner, please let me know.
Best regards,
Gerhard