Extend or Replace BOM and Routing using Order Processing Mode in SAP Digital Manufacturing

Introduction

Order Processing Mode is a powerful feature in SAP Digital Manufacturing (DM) that allows customers to modify the local processing logic for Bills of Materials (BOMs) and Routings at SAP Digital Manufacturing level, enabling endless possibilities and greater control over the manufacturing process.

In this blog post, I will show you the details about Order Processing Mode, discussing its functionalities, prerequisites, and show a comple examples.

By the end, you will have a clear understanding of how to effectively utilize this feature to streamline your manufacturing operations.

Order Processing Mode

Order Processing Mode allows you to customize the order processing logic for BOMs and Routings at the material level, while maintaining seamless integration between SAP DM and your existing ERP system.

This is achieved by selecting one of the following values for the Order Processing Mode flag in the Build section of the Manage Materials app:

When to use each one:

• Use ERP BOM and Routing (default value): This is the default option, and can be used when standard BOM and Routing downloaded from ERP are desired.

• Merge Order-Specific Routing with Master Routing: Can be used when you want to extend the ERP Routing with extra Operation Activities at SAP Digital Manufacturing level.

• Local DM override scenarios: Can be used to completely override the ERP Routing by a brand new one created directly at SAP Digitial Manufacturing level.

You can find more details about each option here: Order Processing Mode.

How to Implement it

To implement Order Processing Mode, you must:

• Create or Enhance BOM and Routing for your header material with DM-specific Operation Activities and mappings.
• In Manage Materials app, select your header material for which you want to modify the order processing logic, choose the appropriate Order Processing Mode value based on your requirements in the Build section and inform new values for BOM and Routing if needed.

Example 1: Replace Scenario

In the example below, I used Use Local Routing and ERP BOM without Quantity Split on Steps option to completely replace ERP Routing with a much more detailed Routing created at SAP DM level.

To implement this option, first you must create some local Operation Activities in SAP Digital Manufacturing, like WASH:

Then, create a brand new Routing locally in SAP DM, using your locally created Operation Activities:

For each Operation Activity, you can define Reporting Activity field, which is the ERP Operation where this local Operation Activity will report back confirmations to. Keep in mind this is optional and if you don´t map any ERP Operation here, local Operation Activity confirmations will not be reported back to ERP:

Edit the respective Master BOM (Bill of Materials) and adjust Assembly Operation Activity mapping for each Component to the locally created Operation Activities:

Set Order Processing Mode to Use Local Routing and ERP BOM without Quantity Split on Steps in Manage Materials Build tab for your header material, and inform Routing and BOM values on Main tab:

As soon as new production orders come from ERP, you should be able to see that your local Routing is used:

And that the Component to Operation Activity mapping maintained in the Master BOM is reflected:

Example 2: Merge Scenario

In the example below, I used Merge Order-Specific Routing with Master Routing option to extend the ERP Routing by merging it with an extended version of the Master Routing at SAP DM level.

To implement this option, first you must create some local Operation Activities in SAP Digital Manufacturing, like WASH:

Then, extend the Master Routing of your Header Material to include your local Operation Activities, while keeping the original Operation Activities from ERP:

Before

After

For each local Operation Activity added, you must define Reporting Activity field, which is the ERP Operation where this local Operation Activity will report back confirmations to. Keep in mind this is mandatory, otherwise Order Download message will fail in Integration Message Dashboard.

Set Order Processing Mode to Merge Order-Specific Routing with Master Routing in Manage Materials Build tab for your header material, and leave Routing and BOM values empty on Main tab:

As soon as new production orders come from ERP, you should be able to see that the Routing is extended with your local Operation Activities:

Outcome

The outcome of implementing Order Processing Mode in SAP Digital Manufacturing is the ability to customize and optimize the processing logic for Bills of Materials (BOMs) and Routings.

By leveraging Order Processing Mode, you can effectively adapt to different scenarios and requirements, aligning your manufacturing processes more closely with your organization’s needs and goals.

Ultimately, this contributes to better resource utilization, reduced operational costs, and enhanced overall performance in your manufacturing environment.

Conclusion

Order Processing Mode in SAP Digital Manufacturing offers a flexible solution for customizing the order processing logic for BOMs and routings, enabling a seamless integration with your existing ERP system.

By understanding the different options available and their respective functionalities, you can leverage this feature to optimize your manufacturing operations and improve overall efficiency.