Evolution of next-generation Just-In-Time Supply to Production

[Vishnu_Gattupal]

It’s a bit of nostalgia, a bit of history, a bit of evolution and most importantly, about the next generation Just In Time Supply to Production processes.

For simplicity, let me type it as nJIT S2P in this blog. (This is not an official SAP terminology or acronym)

Back in the old days of the SAP ERP Central Component (ECC) world, we had the solutions JIT inbound and JIT outbound to handle line supply for component suppliers and OEMs in the same order.

For more than a decade, these solutions were just in maintenance mode without any innovations.

Come 2019, SAP decided to invest in the next generation solutions by co-innovating with some of the biggest and most prestigious OEMs in the world.

The result is two next-generation solutions.

1. Next generation Just In Time Supply to Production (This is designed for production line supply that can be used by OEMs as well as component suppliers)


2. Next generation Just In Time Supply to Customers (This is designed for component suppliers)

The nJIT S2P solution is a bit like an orchestra conductor who orchestrates a symphony with EWM, TM, LE, PP, MM etc for a smooth line supply process.

 

The above picture is only for illustrative purposes, not to be be considered as an architecture or entire process flow.

 

In this blog, I try to demystify the evolution of nJIT S2P in a manner that could help SAP customers and prospects to choose the correct release for their business needs.

But before we jump into the nJIT S2P, let’s look at some of the process limitations in the old SAP ECC JIT outbound solution (JITO).

• JITO only works with WM, not with EWM


• JITO Doesn’t support or have functionality for Just in sequence calls for vehicle production (JIS calls)


• JITO Supports transfers from IM-IM, IM-WM and WM-WM


• JITO doesn’t support automatic JIT call creation – S2L transaction supports it partially only for APO scenario for automatic call-offs – demand-driven scenarios


• SAP ECC version (JITO) also doesn’t support
  
  
  
  • Consumption-based planning
  
  
  • Takt-based planning
  
  
  
  

 

Some general high-level comparison of improvements with SAP S/4HANA nJIT S2P:

• SAP S/4HANA nJIT S2P version supports/provides
  
  
  
  • Discrete manufacturing planned and production orders
  
  
  • Repetitive manufacturing
  
  
  • JIT external calls integration with TM-LE-EWM integration. SAP ECC version JITO doesn’t support
  
  
  • Many new analytics and monitoring apps that the SAP ECC version does not have.
  
  
  • Device-agnostic experience with Fiori applications which are good-looking and easy to use
  
  
  • Two-step replenishment with supermarket scenario
  
  
  • SAP S/4HANA supports coupled parts (SETs)
  
  
  • GR process with inbound transportation is supported for IM based PSA in SAP S/4HANA.
  
  
  • GR process with for EWM based PSAs, You must use TM-LE-EWM
  
  
  
  

 

SAP S/4HANA OP 1909 FPS00 S4CORE release

• Manage JIT control cycles Fiori app for master data management


• Request replenishment Fiori app for basic JIT call creation for internal replenishment


• Transfer stock Fiori application for IM managed PSAs stock transfer

 

SAP S/4HANA OP 2020 FPS00 S4CORE release

• Enhanced managed JIT control cycle app to support several new features


• Supporting multiple planning procedures demand-driven and consumption-based


• API to create JIT calls from external systems


• Enhanced request replenishment app to support SETs, component groups, external replenishment, stock checks etc.


• Replenishment from EWM-managed source to EWM-managed PSA.


• Replenishment from external supplier to IM managed PSA without inbound processing of TM and LE using Post goods receipt Fiori app


• Embedded stock check while replenishing


• Manage JIT calls Fiori app


• Sequenced JIT calls creation for vehicle production based on vehicle planned orders


• Manage JIS calls and reorder Fiori app


• Plan supply to production Fiori app to support automatic replenishment for demand-driven and consumption-based control cycles


• An enhanced action control framework


• Extensibility to enhance the Fiori applications and several BAdIs for custom logic


• Manage Communications group Fiori app for supporting external replenishment from suppliers


• Analytical Fiori applications for monitoring components and monitoring component groups


• Applications logs and job scheduling apps for JIT processes


• Two-step production supply replenishment with consumption-based primary and secondary control cycles

 

SAP S/4HANA OP 2020 FPS01 S4CORE release:

• Two-step production supply replenishment with demand-driven primary and secondary control cycles


• External replenishment from suppliers to EWM-managed PSA using TM-LE inbound processing and goods receipt process


• Usability improvements, performance improvements and bug fixes


• Changing PSA for control cycles with active JIT calls


• Mass change of replenishment time for the manage JIT calls app

 

SAP S4HANA OP 2021 FPS00 Release

• Overview analytics


• Monitoring of Sequenced JIT calls


• External replenishment JIT call restriction: Not possible to edit or modify JIT calls once a message is successfully sent to suppliers or partners


• Migrate Control Cycle and Communication Group data


• Two-step production supply replenishment with demand-driven primary and secondary control cycles


• Two-step production supply replenishment with not-relevant for planning primary and demand-driven secondary control cycles

 

• EWM: Blocked Status of JIT Calls during Warehouse Task processing


• EWM: Picking status reversal


• Deviation quantity for the difference between the Advanced Shipping Notification (ASN) quantity or delivered quantity and the requested quantity


• Calculation of physical stock at the Production Supply Area (PK37)


• EWM supplies to IM (Inventory managed) PSA


• Usability improvements & bug fixes

 

SAP S4HANA OP 2022 FPS00 Release

• Introduction of takt-based planning for line replenishments


• New functionalities for sequencing of vehicles and complex component assemblies


• Define pre-production assemblies that feed into the main production assembly line


• Determination of progress of assembly based on reporting point feedback mechanism


• Two-step production supply replenishment with takt-based primary and secondary control cycles


• The enhanced production confirmation process


• Provision to consider buffers in assembly lines


• Demand forecasting and Enhanced stock calculation based on takt based planning


• Integration of repetitive manufacturing planned orders with iPPE factory layout


• New Fiori apps
  
  
  
  • To monitor the production progress of vehicles on the assembly line
  
  
  • To monitor the progress of complex component assemblies
  
  
  
  

 

SAP S4HANA OP 2022 FPS01 Release

The RTC date for this feature pack is 22^nd February 2023. The below listed features will be available only after RTC. There is no legal binding commitment on these features.

• Handling of line splits on a production line


• Handling of reporting point failures


• Resequencing of vehicles in sequencing buffer


• Takt-time adjustments using BAdIs


• Adaptation of shift sequences and breaks for complex components production


• UI extensibility and enhancement possibilities for BAdIs


• Confirmation Date/Time determination for physically used-up entries using BAdIs and possibility to do custom implementation


• Determine activities/operations for a complex component assembly if the routing (CA03 transaction) refers to a "reference operation set"(CA13 transaction)


• API with PSA and Planned Order as input parameters, to provide information about the demand date & time

 

That’s not the end of it, as the solution keeps evolving with more process completeness and more innovations.

Hope you have had a good learning and understanding on the evolution of the nJIT S2P product and release wise features that could help you decide which version delivers what features. This should also help our customers get a better clarity in terms of which version to choose for their implementations.

Hope you enjoyed the blog, do share your questions and thoughts on the comments section below.

You may also refer to the deep dive blogs that could give you more information

Next-generation Just-In-Time and Just-In-Sequence Processing in SAP S/4HANA | Part 1

Next-generation Just-In-Time Supply to Production | Part 2

Next-generation Just-In-Time Supply to Customer | Part 3

For more details, please feel free to reach out to vishnu.gattupalli