C_TS422_2022 SAP Certified Application Associate - SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Questions and Answers

The consumption of planned independent requirements by other requirements, such as sales orders or stock transport orders, depends on the planning strategy and the requirements type of the materials involved. The planning strategy defines the basic procedure for planning a material and determines whether the consumption is relevant for planning. The requirements type controls the consumption parameters, such as the consumption mode (forward, backward, or bidirectional), the consumption interval (period of time in which the consumption can take place), and the consumption indicator (whetherthe consumption reduces the planned independent requirements or not). References: Consumption of Planned Independent Requirements | SAP Help Portal, Planning Strategy | SAP Help Portal, Requirements Type | SAP Help Portal.

 In reorder point planning, the system compares the available stock with the reorder point to determine the net requirements. If the available stock falls below the reorder point, the system triggers a procurement proposal for the material. The quantity of the procurement proposal depends on the lot size procedure that is defined in the material master. The lot size procedure determines how the system calculates the order quantity based on factors such as demand, costs, and storage space. There are different types of lot size procedures, such as static, periodic, or optimum lot size. References: [Production Planning with SAP S/4HANA], page 156; [SAP Help Portal: Lot Size Calculation].

• One-off events: These are special events that affect the demand for a product, such as promotions, holidays, or product launches. You can use the one-off events function in SAP S/4HANA to create and maintain events and assign them to products. The system considers the events when generating the forecast and adjusts the demand accordingly.
• Past sales order quantities: These are the historical data of the actual sales orders for a product. You can use the past sales order quantities as the basis for forecasting the future demand. The system applies statistical methods and algorithms to analyze the past sales order quantities and identify the trends, patterns, and seasonality of the demand.
• Market intelligence: This is the external information that influences the demand for a product, such as market research, competitor analysis, or customer feedback. You can use the market intelligence function in SAP S/4HANA to import and integrate market data from various sources into the forecast. The system adjusts the demand based on the market intelligence data and the weighting factors that you define. References: Exploring the Steps of Supply Chain Planning; SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing II, Unit 2: Demand Management; [SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide], page 76.

 A phantom assembly is a material that is not physically produced, but its components are directly consumed in the production of a higher-level material. To set up a material as a phantom assembly, you need to do the following steps:

• Define the special procurement type as 50 (phantom assembly) in the material master of the phantom assembly. This indicates that the material is not procured or produced, but its components are exploded in the BOM of the higher-level material.
• Change the item category of the phantom assembly in the BOM of the higher-level material to N (phantom item). This indicates that the phantom assembly is not relevant for production order or MRP, but its components are.
• Alternatively, you can change the phantom item indicator for the phantom assembly in the BOM of the higher-level material to X (phantom assembly). This has the same effect as changing the item category to N, but it also allows you to use the same BOM for different purposes, such as costing or sales. References: [SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide], page 68; [SAP Help Portal: Phantom Assembly].

 If you have created a new MRP-relevant material that supports both in-house production and external procurement, you need to specify the procurement type for the material in the material master record. The procurement type determines how the material is procured, either in-house, externally, or both. If you do not specify the procurement type, the MRP run does not consider the material, and it has to be planned interactively using the MRP Live app or the MD04 transaction. In interactive planning, you can manually assign a procurement type to the material and create the corresponding order proposals, such as planned orders or purchase requisitions. Alternatively, you can maintain a production version for the material, which defines the procurement type and the BOM and routing to be used for in-house production or external procurement. The production version can be assigned to the material in the material master record or in the MRP Live app or the MD04 transaction. The production version allows the MRP run to plan the material automatically based on the specified procurement type123. References: Procurement Type | SAP Help Portal, Production Version | SAP Help Portal, Material Requirements Planning with SAP S/4HANA, page 79-80.

The duration of an operation for production is determined by the combination of data maintained in the routing and the work center. The routing defines the sequence of operations, the work centers, and the standard values for each operation, such as setup time, processing time, and teardown time. The work center defines the capacity, the formulas, and the scheduling parameters for each operation, such as base quantity, operation rate, and queue time. The system calculates the duration of an operation by multiplying the standard values from the routing by the factors from the work center formulas and adding the scheduling parameters from the work center. For example, if the routing specifies a processing time of 10 minutes per unit and the work center formula is processing time = (processing time / base quantity) * operation quantity, and the base quantity is 100 units, then the duration of the operation for 50 units is (10 / 100) * 50 = 5 minutes.

The bill of material (BOM) © and the material master (D) are not data objects that determine the duration of an operation for production. The BOM defines the components and the quantities that are required for producing a material. The material master defines the general and specific attributes of a material, such as the material type, the unit of measure,the MRP data, and the production data. These data objects are relevant for planning the material requirements and the production costs, but not the operation duration. References:

https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_S4HANA_ON-PREMISE/c00ad2cac7be4ef29a4461ba114e4f91/051ebf53d25ab64ce10000000a174cb4.html

https://learning.sap.com/learning-journeys/manage-production-orders-in-sap-s-4hana-manufacturing/scheduling-production-orders_cc390d5f-b87c-4c4d-9472-8bb10ea4f476

The material type is a key attribute that classifies materials according to their characteristics and determines how they are processed in the system. The material type influences the following aspects of material management:

• Which material master screens appear and in which sequence: The material type controls which fields are required, optional, or hidden in the material master record. It also determines the order in which the screens are displayed when creating or changing a material master record. Different material types may have different views and fields depending on the business requirements. For example, a raw material may have a purchasing view, while a finished product may have a sales view.
• Whether the material is produced in-house, procured externally, or both: The material type defines the procurement type of the material, which indicates how the material is procured. The procurement type can be in-house production, external procurement, or both. The procurement type affects the planning and execution of the material requirements. For example, a material with in-house production procurement type will generate planned orders, while a material with external procurement type will generate purchase requisitions or schedule lines.

The material type does not influence the following aspects of material management:

• Which document types and class categories are allowed: The document type is a key attribute that classifies documents according to their business purpose and determines how they are processed in the system. The document type controls the number range, field selection, and status profile of the document. The document type is independent of the material type and can be used for any material type. For example, a purchase order document type can be used for any material type that is procured externally. The class category is a key attribute that classifies classes according to their application area and determines how they are processed in the system. The class category controls the characteristics, object types, and inheritance rules of the class. The class category is independent of the material type and can be used for any material type. For example, a material class category can be used for any material type that has characteristics.
• Which plant-specific and plant-independent statuses are allowed: The status is an attribute that indicates the current condition of an object in the system. The status can be plant-specific or plant-independent, depending on whether it applies to a specific plant or to all plants. The status is independent of the material type and can be used for any material type. For example, a material can have a plant-specific status of blocked for quality reasons, or a plant-independent status of discontinued. References: Material Type | SAP Help Portal, Material Master (LO-MD-MM) | SAP Help Portal, Document Types | SAP Help Portal, [Class Category | SAP Help Portal], [Status Management | SAP Help Portal]

 A production version is a master data object that links a bill of material (BOM) and a routing or a production process model (PPM) for a material. A production version is required for creating a production order in SAP S/4HANA, as it determines the components, operations, and resources that are needed for producing the material. You can create a production version manually or automatically using the CS_BOM_PRODVER_MIGRATION02 report1.

If you are trying to create a production order and no valid production version can be selected, it could be because of the following reasons:

• No bills of material (BOMs) are assigned to the production versions (A): A BOM is a master data object that defines the components and the quantities that are required for producing a material. A production version must have a valid BOM assigned to it, otherwise it cannot be used for creating a production order. You can assign a BOM to a production version on the MRP 4 tab page of the material master2.
• The order lot size is not within the validity range of a production version ©: A production version has a validity range that defines the period and the lot size interval in which it can be used for production planning. The validity range is maintained on the MRP 4 tab page of the material master2. If the order lot size (the quantity of the material to be produced) is not within the lot size interval of any production version, then no valid production version can be selected for creating a production order.

The other options are not valid reasons for not being able to select a production version for creating a production order:

• All production versions for the material are locked (B): A production version can have a status that indicates whether it is active or locked. A locked production version cannot be used for production planning, but it can still be selected for creating a production order. However, the system will issue a warning message that the production version is locked and ask for confirmation before proceeding with the order creation3.
• No production lines are assigned to the production versions (D): A production line is an organizational unit that represents a group of resources that are used for producing a material. A production line can be assigned to a production version on the MRP 4 tab page of the material master2. However, this assignment is optional and not mandatory for creating a production order. A production line can be used for grouping production versions for reporting or analysis purposes, but it does not affect the selection of a production version for creating a production order4.

References:

The subitems of a bill of material (BOM) are the components that make up the product or assembly. You can maintain the following data for each subitem:

• Quantity: This is the number of units of the component that are required for one unit of the product or assembly. You can specify the quantity in different units of measure, such as base unit, order unit, or alternative unit. You can also use variable quantities, such as percentages or formulas, to calculate the quantity dynamically based on the product or assembly characteristics.
• Scrap percentage: This is the percentage of the component that is expected to be wasted or lost during the production or assembly process. You can specify the scrap percentage for each component to adjust the quantity accordingly. For example, if the quantity of a component is 10 and the scrap percentage is 5%, the system will increase the quantity by 0.5 to account for the scrap.

The installation point (A) and the item type (B) are not data that you can maintain in the subitems of a BOM. The installation point is a field in the equipment master record that indicates where the equipment is installed. The item type is a field in the sales document item that determines the processing and pricing of the item. These fields are not relevant for the BOM subitems. References:

https://sapstack.com/pp/bom-in-sap-bill-of-material/

https://skillstek.com/bill-of-material-in-sap/

You can create a production order using the following methods:

• Create by order release: You can create a production order by releasing a planned order in the material requirements planning (MRP) run. The system converts the planned order into a production order and assigns a production order number. You can use the Manage Production Orders app or the transaction CO40 to create production orders by order release.
• Create in Kanban process: You can create a production order in the Kanban process, which is a lean manufacturing method that uses pull signals to trigger production. The system creates a production order when a Kanban status changes from EMPTY to WAITING. You can use the Kanban Board app or the transaction PK13N to create production orders in the Kanban process. References: SAP Help Portal, Manage Production Orders in SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing

A routing operation is a step in the production process that defines the work center, the duration, and the sequence of the operation. A routing operation consists of several time elements that are used to calculate the operation start and finish dates, as well as the capacity requirements. The time elements that are part of a routing operation are:

• Move time: The time required to move the material from one work center to another, or from the storage location to the work center.
• Setup time: The time required to prepare the work center for the operation, such as changing tools, adjusting machines, or cleaning the work area.
• Processing time: The time required to perform the operation, such as machining, assembling, or testing the product.
• Teardown time: The time required to restore the work center to its original state after the operation, such as removing tools, resetting machines, or disposing of waste.
• Queue time: The time that the material waits at the work center before the operation starts, due to the work center being occupied by another operation or having a fixed start date.

The pick/pack time and the float before production are not part of a routing operation. The pick/pack time is the time required to pick the material from the storage location and pack it for delivery, which is usually part of the outbound logistics process. The float before production is the time buffer before the scheduled start date of the production order, which can be used to compensate for delays or changes in the production plan.

References: [Production Planning with SAP S/4HANA], pages 177-179; [SAP Help Portal: Routing Operation].

A production planning run in Advanced Planning (PP/DS) is a process that optimizes the supply and demand situation for a set of materials and locations within a given planning horizon. The possible results of a production planning run are:

• Planned Order: A planned order is a proposal for internal production or external procurement of a material. A planned order can be converted into a production order or a purchase order, depending on the source of supply. A planned order can also be firmed, which means that it is not changed or deleted by subsequent planning runs.
• Production Order: A production order is a document that defines the operations, materials, resources, and costs required to produce a material. A production order is created from a planned order or directly by the user. A production order can be released, confirmed, and settled as part of the production process. References: [SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide], page 181; [SAP Help Portal: Production Planning Run].

Planning strategy 40 (Planning with final assembly) is a make-to-stock strategy that uses planned independent requirements to trigger the procurement and production of the necessary assemblies and components before receipt of the sales orders. As soon as the sales order is received, it consumes the planned independent requirements and adjusts the master plan to suit the current requirements situation. This means that the important feature of this planning strategy is that you can react quickly to customers’ requirements. The consumption of planned independent requirements can take place when you create a sales order, as well as when you change or delete a sales order. References: Planning with Final Assembly (40), Sample Scenario: Strategy 40, Outlining Make-to-Stock Production

A production version is a combination of a BOM and a routing that defines how a material is produced. For a production version to be valid and consistent, the following requirements must be fulfilled:

• The deletion flag must NOT be set for the BOM or the routing. The deletion flag indicates that the BOM or the routing is no longer used and should be archived. If the deletion flag is set, the production version cannot be used for production planning or execution.
• The lot size range must be within the lot size range of the assigned routing. The lot size range specifies the minimum and maximum order quantity for which the production version is valid. The lot size range of the production version must match or be smaller than the lot size range of the routing, otherwise the system will not find a suitable routing for the production order.
• The assigned routing and BOM must be valid in the entire validity period. The validity period defines the time frame for which the production version is valid. The validity period of the production version must be within or equal to the validity periods of the routing and the BOM, otherwise the system will not find a consistent BOM and routing combination for the production order. References: [SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide], page 113; [SAP Help Portal: Production Version].

The planning strategy Finite Scheduling with Reverse allows you to schedule production orders backwards from the requested delivery date, taking into account the available capacity and material constraints. To allow scheduling the past, you need to specify a negative offset time in the strategy profile. The offset time defines how far in the past the system can schedule the production order start date. For example, if you specify an offset time of -5 days, the system can schedule the production order start date up to 5 days before the current date. This can help you to avoid late deliveries and reduce lead times.

References: [SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide], page 97; [SAP Help Portal: Finite Scheduling with Reverse]

A reporting point confirmation is a function that allows you to backflush the material components and activities that have been consumed and performed at a specific operation in a repetitive manufacturing process. It also reduces the dependent requirements for the planned orders. You can use reporting point confirmation for the following purposes:

• To determine the work in progress (WIP) along the production line, by posting the quantity that is on the production line at each reporting point. This helps you to calculate the volume and value of unfinished products.
• To provide timely updates of inventory management for the staged components, by recording the withdrawal of components at a time that is close to the time of the operation in which they are used. This helps you to avoid discrepancies between the actual and planned consumption of materials. References: Reporting Point Confirmation, Repetitive Manufacturing Confirmation

The Find Slot scheduling strategy allows you to schedule an operation finitely, without removing other operations. It searches for a free slot in the resource’s capacity that can accommodate the operation’s duration and constraints. If no suitable slot is found, the operation is scheduled at the end of the resource’s capacity. This strategy is useful for inserting urgent orders or operations into an existing schedule without disrupting it too much12 References:

• SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing for planning and scheduling - SAP Community
• SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing for Planning & Scheduling - Implementation Guide

Mode selection is a feature that allows the system to choose the best mode for an activity based on the mode priority and the available capacity of the resources. A mode is a combination of a resource and a formula that determines the duration and quantity of an activity. An operation can have multiple activities, each with multiple modes. Mode selection can be used when an operation contains several activities, each of which is assigned several modes for different resources, and the system needs to determine which resource to use for each activity. Mode selection can also be used when an activity hasseveral modes for the same resource, and the system needs to determine which formula to use for the activity. Mode selection can be performed during the planning explosion or during the interactive planning. References: Mode Selection | SAP Help Portal, Mode Selection | SAP Help Portal

 Infinite planning is a method of material requirements planning (MRP) that creates new orders without checking the capacity availability of the work centers. This means that the capacity requirements of a new order are created regardless of the existing capacity load or constraints of the work center. Infinite planning assumes that the required capacity canbe increased or adjusted as needed. Infinite planning is suitable for situations where the capacity supply is flexible and the demand is urgent or unpredictable. However, infinite planning can also result in capacity overloads or unrealistic schedules that need to be resolved later by capacity leveling or rescheduling. References: SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing II, Unit 1: Material Requirements Planning; [SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide], page 77.

Make-to-stock production (10) is a planning strategy that supports the production of a finished good based on a forecast and without any reference to sales orders. This strategy is used when the finished good has a stable and predictable demand, and the company wants to maintain a certain level of safety stock to meet customer orders. If customers order more than the forecasted quantity, this does not affect the production program, as the system does not generate any additional planned orders or purchase requisitions for the finished good. Instead, the system reduces the planned independent requirements by the sales order quantity, and the excess demand is covered by the safety stock or the available stock. This strategy allows for a smooth and continuous production process, and avoids frequent changes in the production plan. References: Make-to-Stock Production | SAP Help Portal, Planning Strategies | SAP Help Portal, SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide, page 52.

If the available stock is zero and the discontinuation date is in the past, the material requirements planning (MRP) process will be affected. MRP will not create any planned orders or purchase requisitions for the discontinued component. Instead, it will create a discontinuation indicator in the MRP list and a discontinuation message in the exception message list. This will inform the planner that the component is no longer available and that a follow-up material should be used instead. References: [SAP Help Portal] - Discontinuation of Materials.