_________________________________

_________________________________
_________________________________

VC 101: A Beginner’s Guide to _________________________________

Variant Configuration _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Jean-Yves Popovic _________________________________
ADELANTE
_________________________________
© 2008 Wellesley Information Services. All rights reserved.

What We’ll Cover …

_________________________________
• Introduction _________________________________
• Variant Configuration concepts _________________________________
• Classification _________________________________
• Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists
_________________________________
• Object dependencies
_________________________________
• Configuration profiles
_________________________________
• Simulation
• Other topics _________________________________

• Wrap-up _________________________________
_________________________________

Why Are We Here?

_________________________________
• If you manufacture complex products, or multi-variant _________________________________
products …
_________________________________
• If you need to offer your customers high levels of
customization (configuration) … _________________________________
• If you can’t possibly keep all possible variants in stock, _________________________________
but you need flexibility and fast reaction to market _________________________________
demand …
_________________________________
• If Sales, Engineering, Planning, and Production are
_________________________________
overwhelmed with an enormous amount of data to
create and maintain … _________________________________
_________________________________

2
 Why Are We Here? (cont.)
_________________________________
• … Then you need to streamline the information flow _________________________________
across your organization using SAP Variant
_________________________________
Configuration (VC)
_________________________________
• This session will walk you through the steps of building
a simple VC model _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Who Should Use Variant Configuration?

_________________________________
• Example of industries relevant to SAP VC: _________________________________
_________________________________
Product
Complexity
Aircraft _________________________________
Automobiles
_________________________________
PCs
_________________________________
_________________________________
Motorcycles
Pumps
_________________________________
Elevator
_________________________________
Systems Bicycle
Furniture _________________________________
Mass
Production
4

What We’ll Cover …

_________________________________
• Introduction _________________________________
• Variant Configuration concepts _________________________________
• Classification
_________________________________
• Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists
_________________________________
• Object dependencies
_________________________________
• Configuration profiles
• Simulation _________________________________
• Other topics _________________________________
• Wrap-up _________________________________
_________________________________

5
 Why Variant Configuration (VC)?
_________________________________
• Why should VC be used: _________________________________
Œ Example: You operate a SUBWAY® franchise, you run SAP,
_________________________________
your pricing and lead time must be based on the exact
order (options) _________________________________
Œ The options you’ll be asked for the Italian B.M.T.® are: _________________________________
Bread Bread Toppings Dressing Grilled?
- Regular Length - pepper _________________________________
- Italian - onion - vinaigrette
& - 6” & & & - Yes
- Herbs
- 12”
- olive - ranch
- No
_________________________________
- Oat and - lettuce - caesar
Honey - cucumber _________________________________
(choose exactly one) (choose exactly one) (choose any (choose one (choose exactly one)
combination) or none) _________________________________
4 x 2 x 32 x 4 x 2 _________________________________
(any + none) (3 + 1)

= 2,048 variants!! 6

Why Variant Configuration (VC)? (cont.)

_________________________________
• In this example (and if there are no other restrictions), _________________________________
your organization would need to create and maintain _________________________________
2,048 data sets (Material Masters, BOMs, Task Lists,
Costing, and Pricing records)! _________________________________
• Plus: _________________________________
ΠMaintenance: One more dressing option would add 512 new _________________________________
data sets
_________________________________
ΠSales Order entry: Which material number to enter?
ΠNew rules or restrictions (Example: If Italian bread chosen, _________________________________
dressing must be vinaigrette, etc.)
_________________________________
_________________________________
Issue
7

VC Concepts and Functionalities

_________________________________
• Process flow: _________________________________
Super BOM Super Routing
car car
_________________________________
interior body
body
body + Op.10

Op.20
+ _________________________________
seats
seats dashboard
Op.30

_________________________________
_________________________________
Sales/Customer Services Engineering Production/Procurement

_________________________________
Sales Quote Sales Order Prod Order _________________________________
Order BOM
Purch Order _________________________________
_________________________________

8
 VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)
_________________________________
• Super-BOM ORDER # 1234
_________________________________
Item: Italian B.M.T.
Qty: 1
_________________________________
Italian B.M.T. Bread
Regular _________________________________
Italian
Regular Herbs
Pepper
Bread
Qty = 1 Oat & Honey
_________________________________
Onion
Italian
Qty = 1
0.5
Size _________________________________
Bread 6”

Olive
Herbs 12”
_________________________________
Qty = 1
Bread Topping
Oat & Honey Pepper
_________________________________
Lettuce Qty = 1 Onion
Bread
Olive _________________________________
Lettuce
Cucumber
Cucumber
_________________________________
Grilled?
How does it work? Dependencies! Yes No
9

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

_________________________________
• Super Task List (Routing) ORDER # 1234
_________________________________
Item: Italian B.M.T.
Qty: 1 _________________________________
Bread
Regular _________________________________
Italian B.M.T. Routing Italian
Herbs
Op.10: Pick and Slice Bread 10 sec. Oat & Honey
_________________________________
Op.20: Pick and apply toppings 12 sec. Size _________________________________
6”
Op.30: Put in oven and grill 20 sec. 12” _________________________________
Topping
Pepper
_________________________________
Onion
Olive _________________________________
Lettuce
Cucumber
_________________________________
Grilled?
Yes No

10

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

_________________________________
• Super Task List (Routing) (cont.) ORDER # 1234
_________________________________
Item: Italian B.M.T.
Qty: 1
_________________________________
Bread
Regular
_________________________________
Italian B.M.T. Routing Italian
Herbs
Op.10: Pick and Slice Bread 10
5 sec. Oat & Honey _________________________________
Op.20: Pick and apply toppings 12 sec. Size
_________________________________
6”
Op.30: Put in oven and grill 20 sec. 12”
_________________________________
Topping
Pepper _________________________________
Onion
Olive
Lettuce
_________________________________
Cucumber

Grilled?
_________________________________
Yes No

11
VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)
_________________________________
• Super Task List (Routing) (cont.) ORDER # 1234
_________________________________
Item: Italian B.M.T.
Qty: 1
_________________________________
Bread
Regular _________________________________
Italian B.M.T. Routing Italian
Herbs
Op.10: Pick and Slice Bread 5 sec. Oat & Honey
_________________________________
Op.20: Pick and apply toppings 8 sec.
12 sec. Size _________________________________
6”
Op.30: Put in oven and grill 20 sec. 12”
_________________________________
Topping
Pepper _________________________________
Onion
Olive _________________________________
Lettuce
Cucumber
_________________________________
Grilled?
Yes No

12

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

_________________________________
• Super Task List (Routing) (cont.) ORDER # 1234
_________________________________
Item: Italian B.M.T.
Qty: 1 _________________________________
Bread
Regular _________________________________
Italian B.M.T. Routing Italian
Herbs
Op.10: Pick and Slice Bread 5 sec. Oat & Honey
_________________________________
Op.20: Pick and apply toppings 8 sec. Size _________________________________
6”
Op.30: Put in oven and grill 20 sec. 12” _________________________________
Topping
Pepper
_________________________________
Onion
Olive _________________________________
Lettuce
Cucumber
_________________________________
Grilled?
How does it work? Dependencies! Yes No

13

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

_________________________________
• Multi-level Bills Of Materials: _________________________________
ΠFor more complex products, configuration can be done at
any BOM level
_________________________________
ΠCharacteristic values can be passed from any level to any _________________________________
level
_________________________________
ΠPurchase Orders for lower level materials can therefore be
configured _________________________________
Color = blue Production Order
_________________________________
car

_________________________________
interior engine body
_________________________________
seats dashboard
_________________________________
fabric frame
Purchase Order
14
VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)
_________________________________
• Dimensions (geometrical measures) can be _________________________________
configured and inferred
_________________________________
• Example: Window size: width = (2 x w1) + w2
_________________________________
Π3 variables, one equation
f Any 2 variables must be assigned values (not all of 3) _________________________________
ΠLast value is inferred* _________________________________
width
_________________________________
w1 w2

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
* need to use Constraints
15

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

_________________________________
• Price configuration: _________________________________
ΠPricing in SD (based on conditions) will read the characteristic _________________________________
values of a configurable material
ΠPrice is therefore dynamically calculated during configuration _________________________________
in the Sales Order entry screen _________________________________
Œ More details in “Exploiting Variant Configuration for Use in
Advanced Planning and Modeling” session _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

16

Variant Configuration Knowledge Base

_________________________________
Pricing
Material Master
Conditions
_________________________________
Material Type: KMAT
Desc.: Italian B.M.T. ƒ ... _________________________________
Variant Class Variant Class: <Italian B.M.T.>
Desc.: Italian B.M.T.
_________________________________
Type: 300
Characteristic: Bread Type Configuration
Super Super _________________________________
Possible Values: BOM Routing Profile
Regular
Italian ƒ Item 10: … ƒ Op. 10 … ƒ Order BOM _________________________________
Herbs ƒ Item 20: … ƒ Op. 20 … ƒ BOM explosion
ƒ User Interface _________________________________
Characteristic: Length
Possible Values:
6”
_________________________________
Dependencies
12”
ƒ Precondition (PC) _________________________________
ƒ Selection Condition (SC)
ƒ Procedures (P) _________________________________
ƒ Constraints (C)

17
Which SAP Applications Use VC?
_________________________________
• Configurable object types _________________________________
ΠSales Orders and Production Orders (SD and PP)
_________________________________
f Sales Order is configured

f Order BOM (or not)

_________________________________
f Configuration results passed to Production Order _________________________________
ΠMaintenance Order (PM) _________________________________
ΠNetwork Order (PS)
_________________________________
ΠPurchase Orders (MM):
f Material or Services _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

18

What We’ll Cover …

_________________________________
• Introduction _________________________________
• Variant Configuration concepts _________________________________
• Classification _________________________________
• Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists
_________________________________
• Object dependencies
_________________________________
• Configuration profiles
_________________________________
• Simulation
• Other topics _________________________________

• Wrap-up _________________________________
_________________________________

19

Variant Configuration Knowledge Base

_________________________________
Pricing
Material Master
Conditions
_________________________________
Material Type: KMAT
Desc.: Italian B.M.T. ƒ ... _________________________________
Variant Class Variant Class: <Italian B.M.T.>
Desc.: Italian B.M.T.
_________________________________
Type: 300
Characteristic: Bread Type Configuration
Super Super _________________________________
Possible Values: BOM Routing Profile
Regular
Italian ƒ Item 10: ... ƒ Op. 10 ... ƒ Order BOM _________________________________
Herbs ƒ Item 20: ... ƒ Op. 20 ... ƒ BOM explosion
ƒ User Interface _________________________________
Characteristic: Length
Possible Values:
6”
_________________________________
Dependencies
12”
ƒ Precondition (PC) _________________________________
ƒ Selection Condition (SC)
ƒ Procedures (P) _________________________________
ƒ Constraints (C)

20
Classification: Characteristics
• Characteristics are standard SAP Classification objects
• They represent the possible “options” you will need to
set when configuring a product
• VC is about assigning values to characteristics (value
assignment)
ΠValues can also be deducted and/or inherited
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

21

Classification: Characteristics (cont.)

_________________________________
• Example of characteristics and value assignments: _________________________________
Π[Type of engine] _________________________________
f Possible values: “4 cylinder,” “V6,” “V8”

Π[Length of shaft]
_________________________________
f Any value within the range 30–40 CM _________________________________
Π[Gloss finish?] _________________________________
f “Yes” or “No”
_________________________________
Π[Toppings]
f “Pepper,” “Olive,” “Onion,” etc. _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

22

Classification: System Menu

_________________________________
• Variant Configuration menu is in Logistics Œ Central _________________________________
Functions
_________________________________
• Characteristics maintenance: transaction CT04
_________________________________
• Classes maintenance: transaction CL02
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

23
Classification: Characteristics
• Characteristics maintenance
FORMAT:
ƒNumeric:
ƒ Length, weight, etc.
ƒ May be used for
calculations
ƒ Has a Unit of Measure
ƒCharacter: alphanumeric
Note: other formats (Date, Time Currency)
are not allowed in VC
For numeric formats only
Enforces value assignment
24
Classification: Characteristics (cont.)
• Allowed values:
ΠSpecific value(s)
ΠInterval(s)
f 100-200
ΠCombinations
f <50, 100, 150–180, >= 200
Other values can be assigned
(format must be respected)
Default Value
25
Classification: Characteristics (cont.)
• Others:
Reference Characteristic:
Refer to a table field
Link to a Document (CAD
drawing, JPEG picture, Word
document, etc.)
Values can also be assigned
to Documents
26
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_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
 Classification: Reference Characteristics
_________________________________
• Reference Characteristics: _________________________________
ΠRefer to a table field
_________________________________
f Example: Characteristic BOM_QTY refers to table-field
STPO-MENGE _________________________________
ΠTwo functions: _________________________________
f Read information
_________________________________
ƒ Example: Read PLANT or CUSTOMER (because value
assignment may be dependent on those) _________________________________
f Change field content with dependencies: _________________________________
ƒ Change BOM quantity or Operation Duration (based on
value assignment) _________________________________
_________________________________

27

Classification: Reference Characteristics (cont.)

_________________________________
Tables whose field values can be changed by dependencies: _________________________________
STPO: BOM item fields _________________________________
PLPO: Operation fields (Routing)
PLFH: PRT fields _________________________________
PLFL: Sequence fields
SDCOM: Structure between SD and VC
_________________________________
MMCOM: Structure between MM and VC
_________________________________
Tables whose field values can be read by dependencies: _________________________________
VBAK: Sales Order header data
VBAP: Sales Order Item data
_________________________________
VBKD: Commercial data
_________________________________
MAEPV: Material Master data
MAAPV: Material Master fields _________________________________
VEDA: Contract data
VBPA_XX: Partner tables (sold-to, ship-to, bill-to, payer)
28

Classification: Classes
_________________________________
• Variant Class: _________________________________
ΠClasses mostly group together characteristics
_________________________________
ΠOne characteristic can be assigned to many classes
ΠClasses of class type 300 collect and manage the _________________________________
characteristics to which you assign values in the Sales Order _________________________________
• Transaction CL02: (create/change/display) _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

29
Classification: Class Maintenance
• Class: Basic Data
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

30

Classification: Class Maintenance (cont.)

• Class: Characteristic assignment
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

31

What We’ll Cover …

_________________________________
• Introduction _________________________________
• Variant Configuration concepts _________________________________
• Classification
_________________________________
• Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists
_________________________________
• Object dependencies
_________________________________
• Configuration profiles
• Simulation _________________________________
• Other topics _________________________________
• Wrap-up _________________________________
_________________________________

32
Variant Configuration Knowledge Base
_________________________________
Pricing
Material Master
Conditions
_________________________________
Material Type: KMAT
Desc.: Italian B.M.T. ƒ ... _________________________________
Variant Class Variant Class: <Italian B.M.T.>
Desc.: Italian B.M.T. _________________________________
Type: 300
Characteristic: Bread Type Super Super Configuration _________________________________
Possible Values: BOM Routing Profile
Regular
Italian ƒ Item 10: … ƒ Op. 10 … ƒ Order BOM _________________________________
Herbs ƒ Item 20: … ƒ Op. 20 … ƒ BOM explosion
ƒ User Interface _________________________________
Characteristic: Length
Possible Values:
6”
_________________________________
Dependencies
12”
ƒ Precondition (PC) _________________________________
ƒ Selection Condition (SC)
ƒ Procedures (P) _________________________________
ƒ Constraints (C)

33

Master Data: Material Master

_________________________________
• Basic Data view: _________________________________
ΠConfigurable Material flag _________________________________
ΠMaterial Type KMAT has flag set by default
_________________________________
• Classification:
ΠAssign variant class _________________________________
• Sales view: Item Category group (0002 or 0004) _________________________________
• MRP views: _________________________________
ΠMRP type: not ND _________________________________
ΠLot size: EX
_________________________________
ΠStrategy group
_________________________________

34

Master Data: Material Master (cont.)

_________________________________
• Basic Data 2 view: _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
• Classification view:
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

35
Master Data: Material Master (cont.)
_________________________________
• Sales org. 2 view: _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

36

Master Data: BOM

_________________________________
• Super BOM: _________________________________
ΠRegular BOM that contains all possible components for all _________________________________
possible variants
Œ Dependencies will act as “filters” _________________________________
• Item category: _________________________________
ΠL: Stock item _________________________________
ΠN: Non-stock item (example: next
level configurable material) _________________________________
ΠK: Class item (use class type 200) _________________________________
ΠR: Variable-size item _________________________________
_________________________________

37

Master Data: BOM (cont.)

_________________________________
• Transaction CS01/CS02/CS03: _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

38
Master Data: BOM (cont.)
_________________________________
• Class item (category K) (aka Class node) _________________________________
ΠYou assign a class (type 200) as a BOM item
_________________________________
f Example: Class: COLOR

ƒ Characteristic: COLOR
_________________________________
ƒ Possible values: Blue, Red, Green _________________________________
ΠYou assign this class to materials (possible components) and _________________________________
classify them:
f Material Raw1 ΠBlue _________________________________
f Material Raw2 ΠRed _________________________________
f Material Raw3 ΠGreen
_________________________________
ΠDuring value assignment (configuration), you assign a value
to this item (example: Red), and the BOM component is _________________________________
determined accordingly
39

Master Data: BOM (cont.)

_________________________________
• Class nodes are a simple way to handle some basic _________________________________
product configuration (without using Object _________________________________
Dependencies)
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

40

Master Data: Task List (Routing)

_________________________________
• Super Routing: _________________________________
ΠSame principle as Super BOM
_________________________________
ΠRegular routing that contains all possible sequences,
operations and PRTs for all possible variants _________________________________
Œ Dependencies will act as “filters” _________________________________
• Note that dependencies can be assigned to sequences _________________________________
(alternative and parallel), operations, and PRTs
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

41
Master Data: Task List (Routing) (cont.)
_________________________________
• Transaction CA01/CA02/CA03: _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

42

What We’ll Cover …

_________________________________
• Introduction _________________________________
• Variant Configuration concepts _________________________________
• Classification _________________________________
• Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists
_________________________________
• Object dependencies
_________________________________
• Configuration profiles
_________________________________
• Simulation
• Other topics _________________________________

• Wrap-up _________________________________
_________________________________

43

Variant Configuration Knowledge Base

_________________________________
Pricing
Material Master
Conditions
_________________________________
Material Type: KMAT
Desc.: Italian B.M.T. ƒ ... _________________________________
Variant Class Variant Class: <Italian B.M.T.>
Desc.: Italian B.M.T.
_________________________________
Type: 300
Characteristic: Bread Type Configuration
Super Super _________________________________
Possible Values: BOM Routing Profile
Regular
Italian ƒ Item 10: ... ƒ Op. 10 ... ƒ Order BOM _________________________________
Herbs ƒ Item 20: ... ƒ Op. 20 ... ƒ BOM explosion
ƒ User Interface _________________________________
Characteristic: Length
Possible Values:
6”
_________________________________
Dependencies
12”
ƒ Precondition (PC) _________________________________
ƒ Selection Condition (SC)
ƒ Procedures (P) _________________________________
ƒ Constraints (C)

44
Object Dependencies
_________________________________
• Precondition: _________________________________
ΠCan a characteristic (or characteristic value) be selected?
_________________________________
• Selection condition:
_________________________________
ΠMust a characteristic (or characteristic value) be selected?
• Procedures _________________________________
ΠInfer values (including to reference characteristics) _________________________________
ΠRecursive, in sequence _________________________________
• Constraints (see VC Advanced presentation) _________________________________
ΠInfer values, and consistency check
ΠAssigned to configuration profile only _________________________________
_________________________________

45

Object Dependencies: Precondition

_________________________________
• Precondition: _________________________________
ΠCan a characteristic (or char. value) be selected? _________________________________
• Assigned to:
_________________________________
ΠCharacteristic
ΠCharacteristic value _________________________________
• Examples: _________________________________
ΠCharacteristic TANDEM_SADDLE appears in the value _________________________________
assignment screen only if BIKE_MODEL = “Tandem”
Œ Characteristic value “21 gears” of characteristic GEARS
_________________________________
appears only if BIKE_MODEL = “Mountain” _________________________________
_________________________________

46

Object Dependencies: Selection Condition

_________________________________
• Selection Condition: _________________________________
ΠMust a characteristic (or characteristic value) be selected?
_________________________________
• Assigned to:
_________________________________
ΠCharacteristic value
ΠBOM items, Routing (operation, sub-operation, _________________________________
sequence, PRT)
_________________________________
• Examples:
_________________________________
Œ BOM item “Italian bread” selected if BREAD_TYPE = “Italian
Bread” _________________________________
ΠCharacteristic SPEAKER_TYPE selected only if OPTION = _________________________________
“STEREO System”
_________________________________

47
Object Dependencies: Procedures
_________________________________
• Procedures _________________________________
ΠInfer values (including to reference characteristics)
_________________________________
ΠRecursiveness (in sequence), and can be overwritten
_________________________________
• Assigned to:
ΠCharacteristic and characteristic values _________________________________
ΠBOM items (for example, to change the quantity) _________________________________
ΠRouting operations (for example, to change standard values)
_________________________________
• Examples:
_________________________________
Œ BOM quantity of BREAD is 0.5 if BREAD_SIZE = 6”
Œ Operation “Preparation” is 5 seconds if one topping, 10 _________________________________
seconds if two toppings, etc. _________________________________
Œ Characteristic value of BREAKING_SYSTEM is set to “ABS” if
CAR_ENGINE is set to “V6” or “V8” 48

Object Dependencies: Dependency Editor

_________________________________
• Not ABAP, not a programming language (more like a _________________________________
script) _________________________________
• Operators: AND, OR, NOT, IF, >, <>, …
_________________________________
• Arithmetic expressions:
_________________________________
Π+,-,*,/
ΠStandard functions: cos, sin, ceil, floor, etc. _________________________________
• Object variables: _________________________________
Π$root: refers to header material in a configuration _________________________________
Π$self: refers to the current object
Π$parent: refers to instance above $self
_________________________________

• Note that ABAP function modules can be called in _________________________________

dependencies as variant functions
49

Object Dependencies: Selection Condition

_________________________________
• In our Italian B.M.T. example: _________________________________
Œ Let’s assign Selection Conditions to each of the BOM items:
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Double click
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Syntax check
_________________________________

50
 Object Dependencies: Selection Condition (cont.)
_________________________________
• In our Italian B.M.T. example: (cont.) _________________________________
Œ Let’s assign Selection Conditions to Operations:
_________________________________
_________________________________
Double _________________________________
click
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

51

Object Dependencies: Selection Condition (cont.)

_________________________________
• Let’s set the “Pick and Slice bread” operation time to: _________________________________
Œ 5 seconds if bread size = 6” _________________________________
Œ 20 seconds if bread size = 24”
Π(Else time remains 10 seconds)
_________________________________

• In the routing, operation 10, click on Object Dependency _________________________________

ΠProcedure Π_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

52

Object Dependency: Recap

_________________________________
BOM item Characteristic
Assigned to Æ Characteristic
Value
_________________________________
Routing Op.
Can a
N/A Ex.: Char. Ex. Value “21 gears” (of _________________________________
“Tandem_saddle” appears char. “GEARS”) appears as
Pre- characteristic as selectable only if selectable only if
condition (or char. BIKE_MODEL= “Tandem” BIKE_MODEL = “Mountain” _________________________________
(PC) value) be
selected? _________________________________
Ex.: BOM item “Racing Ex.: Char. N/A
Selection Must a char. Handlebar” selected if “TANDEM_SADDLE” must _________________________________
(or char. BIKE_MODEL = “Racing” be assigned a value if
Condition Ex.: Operation “Install BIKE_MODEL = “Tandem”
(SC)
Value) be
Modem” selected if
_________________________________
selected?
EXTRAS = “Modem”
_________________________________
Infer values, Ex.: If VERSION = “PC Ex.: If Char. ACCESSORIES Ex.: Char. value of char.
including Deluxe,” then there are selected, then BOM “BRAKING SYSTEM” is set
Procedure reference two DVD Drive (BOM qty) quantity of item SHIPPING to “ABS” if ENGINE_TYPE _________________________________
Ex.: If FINISH = “Gloss,” BOX set to 2. = “V6” or “V8”
(P) data
(overwrite,
then Op.Time = Op.Time +
10 minutes
_________________________________
recursive)

53
What We’ll Cover …
_________________________________
• Introduction _________________________________
• Variant Configuration concepts _________________________________
• Classification _________________________________
• Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists
_________________________________
• Object dependencies
_________________________________
• Configuration profiles
_________________________________
• Simulation
• Other topics _________________________________
• Wrap-up _________________________________
_________________________________

54

Variant Configuration Knowledge Base

_________________________________
Pricing
Material Master _________________________________
Conditions
Material Type: KMAT
Desc.: Italian B.M.T. ƒ.. _________________________________
Variant Class Variant Class: <Italian B.M.T.>
Desc.: Italian B.M.T. _________________________________
Type: 300
Characteristic: Bread Type Super Super Configuration _________________________________
Possible Values: BOM Routing Profile
Regular
Italian ƒItem 10: .. ƒOp. 10.. ƒ Order BOM _________________________________
Herbs ƒItem 20: .. ƒOp. 20 .. ƒ BOM explosion
ƒ User Interface _________________________________
Characteristic: Length
Possible Values:
6”
_________________________________
Dependencies
12”
ƒPrecondition (PC)
_________________________________
ƒSelection Condition (SC)
ƒProcedures (P) _________________________________
ƒConstraints (C)

55

Configuration Profile
_________________________________
• Defines the configuration scenario: _________________________________
ΠPldOrder
_________________________________
ΠOrder Set
ΠOrder BOM _________________________________
ΠMulti-level configuration _________________________________
• User Interface design: _________________________________
ΠAllowed screen, default screen
_________________________________
• Availability Checks
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

56
 Configuration Profile: Example
_________________________________
• Transactions CU41/CU42/CU43: _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

57

Configuration Profile: Example (cont.)

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Detail screen: _________________________________
_________________________________
priority
_________________________________
description class type
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Note: More will be covered in the “Exploiting Variant Configuration for … then SAVE
Use in Advanced Planning and Modeling” session 58

What We’ll Cover …

_________________________________
• Introduction _________________________________
• Variant Configuration concepts _________________________________
• Classification
_________________________________
• Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists
_________________________________
• Object dependencies
_________________________________
• Configuration profiles
• Simulation _________________________________
• Other topics _________________________________
• Wrap-up _________________________________
_________________________________

59
Simulation
_________________________________
• Our model is now functional _________________________________
• Transaction CU50 allows us to simulate our _________________________________
configuration:
_________________________________
Value
Assignment _________________________________
(Configuration)
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

60

Simulation (cont.)
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
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61

Simulation (cont.)
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
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62
 Simulation (cont.)
_________________________________
_________________________________
RESULT RESULT _________________________________
(BOM) (Routing)
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

ƒ Two operations
_________________________________
Italian Bread – QTY = 1 ƒ Op.10 Std Value = 10 sec
_________________________________

63

Simulation (cont.)
_________________________________
_________________________________
Back to
configuration screen:
_________________________________
ƒ 24” (double)
ƒ No grill
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

64

Simulation (cont.)
_________________________________
_________________________________
RESULT RESULT _________________________________
(BOM) (Routing)
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

ƒ Op. 20 (grill) not selected _________________________________

Italian Bread – QTY = 2 ƒ Op. 10 Std Value = 20 sec
_________________________________

65
What We’ll Cover …
_________________________________
• Introduction _________________________________
• Variant Configuration concepts _________________________________
• Classification _________________________________
• Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists
_________________________________
• Object dependencies
_________________________________
• Configuration profiles
_________________________________
• Simulation
• Other topics _________________________________
• Wrap-up _________________________________
_________________________________

66

Configuration Cockpit
_________________________________
• Transaction PMEVC _________________________________
• One of the difficulties in VC, when modeling, was to _________________________________
have all the information available at your fingertips (i.e.,
_________________________________
without having five sessions opened!)
• This cockpit solves that issue: It allows you to navigate _________________________________
through all relevant objects (characteristics, _________________________________
dependencies, … ) _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

67

Configuration Cockpit (cont.)

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

68
Other Topics (Addressed in a Subsequent Presentation)
_________________________________
• Variant Pricing (SD, MM) _________________________________
• Material Variants (Type Matching) _________________________________
• More on Object Dependencies
_________________________________
ΠConstraints, Variant Tables
• Configuration scenarios: _________________________________
ΠOrder BOMs, Order Set (CU51) _________________________________
Œ Process flow: Sales Order, Engineering, …
_________________________________
ΠMulti-level Configuration
_________________________________
• Planning for VC
ΠMake-to-Stock? Make-to-Order? Engineer-to-Order? _________________________________
Assemble-to-Order?
_________________________________
ΠPlanning Strategies
ΠCharacteristics Based planning 69

Other Topics (Addressed in a Subsequent

Presentation) (cont.) _________________________________
• Engineering Change Management (ECM) and Order _________________________________
Change Management (OCM) _________________________________
• Technical:
_________________________________
ΠClient management
ΠPerformance issues _________________________________
• Sales Configuration Engine (SCE) and Internet Pricing _________________________________
and Configuration (IPC) _________________________________
• Modeling tips _________________________________
• Variant Configuration Project
_________________________________
_________________________________

70

What We’ll Cover …

_________________________________
• Introduction _________________________________
• Variant Configuration concepts _________________________________
• Classification
_________________________________
• Material Master, BOMs, and Task Lists
_________________________________
• Object dependencies
_________________________________
• Configuration profiles
• Simulation _________________________________
• Other topics _________________________________
• Wrap-up _________________________________
_________________________________

71
Resources
_________________________________
• http://help.sap.com _________________________________
Πhttp://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/92/58d45541
_________________________________
7011d189ec0000e81ddfac/frameset.htm
• SAP PLM145 course “Variant Configuration: Modeling _________________________________
and Integration” _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

72

7 Key Points to Take Home

_________________________________
• You now understand the working principles of SAP VC, _________________________________
and you are able to build a simple, working model … _________________________________
• … but you feel that you just touched the tip of the
_________________________________
iceberg
• SAP VC is a powerful and flexible tool, and can be quite _________________________________
complex _________________________________
• SAP VC spans the whole organization (sales, _________________________________
engineering, production, etc.)
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

73

7 Key Points to Take Home (cont.)

_________________________________
• It is obvious that a VC project is not just implementing _________________________________
another module
_________________________________
• There are many ways to make VC work for you, but the
goal is to find the optimal way (functionalities, _________________________________
performance, maintenance, etc.) _________________________________
• You need to learn more … in our next session _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

74
Your Turn!
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
How to contact me: _________________________________
Jean-Yves Popovic _________________________________
jypopovic@adelante-tm.com
75
Notes:
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