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Contents
Quality Certificates:
Guaranteed Reliability Printed or on the Internet 5-1
Certificate Processing in Sales & Distribution 5-1
Flexible Certificate Planning 5-2
Certificate Creation - Meeting Your Requirements 5-3
Certificate Processing at Goods Receipt 5-4
Collaborative Business:
Certificate Data for the Whole Company 5-5
Dear Reader,
Nowadays, an investment in business software is an investment in the future of
your company. You must ensure that all internal and external business processes
are well managed. At SAP we focus on the active participation of employees and
recognize that employees are the focal point of your business processes.
0-1
Introduction
Purpose
This brochure targets project planners, decision-makers, and people interested
in implementing QM. It explains how QM is integrated in mySAP.com - an
Internet-based business platform. It provides an insight into the current
functional scope of QM, including the new Internet scenarios. It also shows how
QM is integrated into Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and into the
business processes of the supply chain.
The first chapter explains the integrated QM application and its inclusion in
mySAP.com.
Further chapters describe how standard quality management tasks are supported
by QM inspection planning (chapter 3), quality inspections (chapter 4), quality
certificates (chapter 5), the processing of unplanned events using notifications
(chapter 6), quality control and different evaluation methods (chapter 7), and
test equipment management (chapter 8).
For detailed information about Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and its
components, visit the PLM homepage in SAPNet: http://sapnet.sap.com/plm.
0-2
Introduction
Key Expressions
mySAP.com
An Internet-based platform that can include all SAP products and those of other
manufacturers.
mySAP Workplace
MiniApp
Collaborative Business
Mobile Business
0-3
Overview
1-1
Overview
Internal Integration
In the integrated mySAP.com platform, quality management functions are
incorporated into other applications and systems, such as Materials
Management, Production, Sales & Distribution, and Controlling. You can
therefore access all important processes. The exchange of data with other
applications prevents information from being duplicated. For example, when a
goods receipt is posted, the system automatically starts a quality inspection and
transfers any available information relating to material, vendor, and lot size to
the inspection lot data record.
1-2
Overview
The flexible mySAP Workplace allows you to adapt the roles to suit your
individual needs.
With the mySAP Workplace, role users always have immediate access to current Immediate Access to Information
information: MiniApps supply you with the key figures relevant for the role,
which are easy to work with and interpret.
1-3
Overview
Quality Manual in the If you decide to use the SAP Knowledge Warehouse as a solution for your
mySAP Workplace company-specific Quality Manual, the role user can access the most up-to-date
version of the manual using the mySAP Workplace. This means that you can
immediately access the procedures and work instructions that are relevant for
your business processes.
Collaborative Business The QM Internet scenarios have opened up a new range of possibilities in Quality
Management. You can record results directly on the Web during a source
inspection at the vendors and vendors can supply a quality certificate on the
Internet for supplied goods or electronically transfer certificate data to a
specified destination. With mySAP.com, you can establish lasting partnerships
and build up trust.
Mobile Computing Inspection results can often not be directly recorded at the work center: For
example, for field inspections in environmental management or for the
inspection of machines that are not easily accessible. In such situations, you can
use mobile results recording.
1-4
Overview
1-5
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
2-1
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
You can make changes to the master data centrally and you can transfer it from
one source system to one or more target systems. In addition, there are tools
available for research and analysis of master data that is linked in a hierarchy
(for example, central where-used lists and the product structure browser).
2-2
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
Changes made to master data are coordinated by a central engineering change Engineering Change Management
management. The changes can be run through an approval procedure (for
example, according to GMP requirements). Different versions can be created and
then distributed using Workflow. It is also possible to allocate a revision level
with regard to a specific valid-from date when a change is made.
Using the integrated classification system, you can specify and assign data that Classification
is available in the SAP System (such as materials, documents, and inspection
plans), in order to be able to locate this data later according to specific search
criteria (such as batch characteristics).
2-3
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
Life-Cycle Collaboration
Life-Cycle Collaboration makes it possible for you to transfer product
information across the entire supply chain. Partners, manufacturers, vendors,
and customers can communicate directly with one another. They can, for
example, exchange CAD files, specifications, and inspection results.
Internet Scenario: In the product development stage, if you are cooperating with customers or
Quality Notifications partners, SAP QM offers you the opportunity to initiate product ideas or changes
to products using quality notifications. Customer complaints that can be entered
on the Internet can thereby be used to determine what product qualities the
customer requires. Vendors can ask for permission to deviate from specifications
if they cannot strictly adhere to customer specifications.
Internet Scenario: You use certificate profiles to plan which characteristics are to appear on the
Certificates certificate. You work with your customer or vendor to decide this. This certificate
data can be exchanged electronically (QDI, Quality Data Interchange) or can be
stored on the Internet as a PDF document, for example.
Internet Scenario: You can record inspection results using the Internet or Intranet. Results can be
Results Recording recorded by external service providers (for example, commercial analysts) and
internal inspectors (for example, in a source inspection) at their respective work
centers.
Internet Scenario: Internet service requests are used to enter and process queries and problems on
Service Requests the Internet. This tool is particularly useful when combined with the solution
database and used as an Intranet solution (for example, to report a printer
problem, or to send improvements to the internal recommendations
department).
2-4
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
Procurement
Materials Management provides information for the purchasing agent about the Vendor Evaluation
vendors delivery reliability, price record, and service record. QM provides the
purchasing agent with information about the quality management system used
by the vendor, and the quality of previously delivered goods. In order to do this,
the SAP System summarizes quality scores from vendor audits, goods receipt
inspections, and complaints against the vendor.
In some industry sectors, vendors must have a quality management system (for Vendor Release
example, that complies with the ISO 9000 series of standards) in their company
and they must have this system certified by an accredited organization. Your
QM System checks if the QM system used by the vendor is adequate for certain
materials and then either releases or blocks the supply relationship accordingly.
You can limit the release of this supply relationship to a specific time frame and
a maximum delivery quantity. If the vendor has serious quality problems, you
can block requests for quotations, purchase orders, or goods receipts for specific
materials supplied by this vendor.
2-5
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
2-6
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
If the quality of a supply relationship is consistently high, you may want to Dynamic Modification
waive the goods receipt inspection, particularly if the vendor has a certified
QM system. For partial lots, you can set the system to inspect a goods receipt
only once for each purchase order, goods receipt, or batch. If you do not want
to waive the goods receipt inspection completely, you can reduce the scope of
the inspection as far as the quality level allows. The reduction of the inspection
scope may lead to a skip lot. If you allow a skip lot and an automatic usage
decision for a material, the system processes the skipped lots automatically
without user intervention. It then immediately posts the inspection lot quantity
to unrestricted-use stock (ship to stock).
If the prerequisites for ship to stock are not fulfilled, the system automatically Receiving Inspection
triggers inspection lot processing upon goods receipt. In addition to the goods
receipt document, the SAP System also creates an inspection lot record, selects
an appropriate inspection plan, and determines the sample size based on the
quality level.
If goods are delivered in containers, you can take physical samples in Physical-Sample Drawing
accordance with a sample-drawing procedure. The documents you need (such
as sample-drawing instructions, sample labels, and inspection instructions) are
available for printing immediately. You can then proceed with the inspection.
You can record the results for the goods receipt inspection in the form of Recording Inspection Results
inspection characteristic values and/or defect data records or texts. If serious and Defects
problems arise during a goods receipt inspection, a quality notification can be
created automatically. Inspection results can also be recorded automatically
using electronic measuring equipment.
There are costs associated with every inspection and every defect. Appraisal Appraisal Costs
costs are determined by the activity confirmations of the people involved in an
inspection. The costs that are calculated on the basis of these confirmations for
one or more inspection lots can be collected in several QM orders and then be
passed on to the cost object. Costs associated with defects are collected by
QM orders assigned to quality notifications.
The processing of an inspection lot in QM ends after the inspection is completed Inspection Completion
and the usage decision is made. The accepted inspection lot quantity is manually
or automatically posted to unrestricted-use stock. Special stock postings are
available for rejected quantities. This includes posting to blocked stock, transfer
posting to a different material, returning to the vendor, or posting to scrap.
If the material is handled in batches, the system proposes a batch status that is
compatible with the usage decision. When you release the goods receipt lot
quantity, QM is no longer responsible for managing the stock.
2-7
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
Once the usage decision is made, the system updates the quality level and the
QM Information System and makes the inspection lot quality score available for
the vendor evaluation. It also updates material and vendor information in the
quality data record. For example, once the inspection lot has been completed,
it updates the status of the supply relationship from model delivery to regular
delivery.
The SAP System can trigger a series of user-defined follow-up actions on the
basis of the usage decision. For example, you can print specific inspection
reports.
Invoice Verification If invoices for the delivery of goods are received before the usage decision is
made for the goods receipt inspection lot, you can prevent an automatic
payment during invoice verification.
Complaints Against the Vendor Defects in a delivered material that have been caused by the vendor or
manufacturer can be documented in a quality notification. You can use the
SAP Business Workflow to pass this notification on to the processor responsible.
This processor can then initiate various tasks (such as a posting to blocked stock
or the sending of a complaint against the vendor). It is possible to enter the
complaint on the Internet on the vendors Web site.
2-8
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
Production
QM integrates quality inspections into the production process. It thereby Industry Sector Independent
supports different types of production, from order-related, lot-based production
and assembly processes in mechanical engineering, through repetitive
manufacturing in the automotive industry, to batch-based process
manufacturing in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries.
It is possible to initiate inspections on the basis of different types of goods Manufacturing Order Inspections
movements. Inspection lots can therefore be automatically created when a
material is removed or when a product for the production or process order is
processed at goods receipt.
When you are inspecting raw materials or semi-finished products, the planned Materials Planning
duration of the receiving inspection is taken into account in materials planning.
Inspection lots for an inspection during production can be created in the Inspection During Production
following ways:
■ As an inspection lot during production when a production order is released
(not stock relevant), or as an early inspection lot for a goods receipt (is stock
relevant, that is, the stock in quality inspection in materials management is
managed using the usage decision for the inspection lot)
■ When goods are received from a subcontractor for external processing
operations
The sample size is calculated and the shop papers (such as sample-drawing and Physical-Sample Drawing
inspection instructions, and sample labels) are printed at previously determined
work centers after the valid routing or master recipe has been selected.
You can set the system to require a digital signature (electronic signature) from Digital Signature
the user who releases the physical-sample drawing or makes the usage decision
to ensure that that user has the appropriate authorization.
2-9
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
Recording Inspection Results Inspection results can be recorded for the following objects:
and Defects
■ Inspection characteristics: The inspection results can be recorded in
summarized form, in classes, or as single values.
■ Inspection points: Several inspections are performed for each inspection
characteristic. Inspection points can be user-defined, and can be planned in
advance if necessary. They can be based on production quantities or
production times (for example, inspecting a wire basket or silo once during
each shift or every two hours).
■ Physical samples: This can be planned in advance using a sample-drawing
procedure or it can be unplanned.
■ Partial lots: Production quantities of the same quality can be grouped
together.
■ Batches: The inspection results can be used for batch determination at a later
stage (for example, they can be applied when choosing products at the
delivery stage, or when deciding which sub-components to use for
production).
■ Serial numbers: This applies if the inspection results are to be assigned to a
single unit. In this case, the serial numbers can be copied from the production
order.
Defects can be recorded for inspection characteristics, inspection operations, or
inspection lots.
Process Control (SPC) The inspection results are the basis for statistical process control using control
charts. A control chart can be valid for several inspection lots and production
orders. The warning and action limits of a control chart are calculated using the
most recent inspection results or the results of an initial run. If an action limit
is exceeded, messages and notifications can be created.
2-10
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
When you are recording inspection results, you can also confirm production Appraisal Costs,
quantities and costs for the production order. Such confirmations control the Confirming Production Quantities
subsequent production process (for example, the future release of operations and
inspection operations or subsequent work that has yet to be performed).
The inspection is completed when the usage decision is made for the inspection Inspection Completion
lot. Users with the appropriate authorizations can, settings permitting, post stock
quantities, classify batches according to their quality, and perform follow-up
actions. In QM, you can also activate a digital signature requirement for the
usage decision.
2-11
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
Batch Determination If you manage the stock of a material in batches, QM allows you to select
suitable batches at delivery using batch characteristics.
2-12
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
Inspection lots can be created at the picking stage or at goods issue. After you Inspection for Delivery or
have chosen a suitable inspection plan, the sample size is calculated and the for Goods Issue
shop papers (sample-drawing items, inspection instructions, sample labels) are
printed. When the inspection results have been recorded, the inspection is
completed with the usage decision.
At goods issue, you can use a quality certificate to document that the inspection Certificate at Goods Issue
results are in accordance with the customer specifications. You can enter
inspection characteristics from the inspection plan, and characteristics that were
defined in the batch determination as inspection specifications on the certificate.
The form, content, and means of output are customer-specific. These are derived
from the specifications made by the recipient of the certificate at picking or at
goods issue.
The formatted quality data contained in a quality certificate can be sent Quality Data Exchange
electronically and then automatically transferred into an inspection lot at the
vendor site. It is also possible to make this data available on the Internet.
Customer complaints can also be created and processed as quality notifications Processing Complaints and
on the Internet. You can document defects and tasks in a notification. You can Handling Returns
also perform various follow-up functions using the action box. You can, for
example, process return or repair orders, enter costs, perform stock postings, or
trigger inspections.
2-13
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
Service
Variant Configuration Internal and external inspection laboratories perform inspections as a service
in the Sales Order (commercial analysis). When creating the sales order, these laboratories can
transfer the inspections requested by the customer from inspection plans into a
service order.
Service Order Inspection The inspections can be selected using variant configuration in the sales order,
or by selecting inspection operations in the service order. Once the inspections
have been selected, inspection lots can be created when the service order is
released. Then the inspection can begin and inspection instructions and sample-
drawing instructions can be printed.
Results Recording Using a Inspection results can be recorded using mobile devices, or directly in the
Mobile Device, the Internet, or QDI customer system using the Internet. If required, it is also possible to transfer
inspection results in electronic form (Quality Data Interchange [QDI]).
Resource-Related Billing Document After the inspection results have been confirmed, it is possible to invoice the
customer for the inspection costs.
Calibration Inspection A calibration inspection is also treated as a service. In the master data for
calibration planning (maintenance plan with a maintenance strategy, equipment
master records, master inspection characteristics, maintenance task list), you can
define how a piece of test equipment is to be calibrated in a planned cycle (time-
dependent or performance-dependent).
Recording Inspection Results The maintenance plan is used to create an inspection lot for the planned
and Defects inspection date. The inspection results can be recorded for the equipment or for
the functional location according to the specifications defined during
calibration planning. Results for the calibration inspection can also be recorded
using mobile devices or on the Internet.
Inspection Completion The calibration inspection is completed when the usage decision is made. When
making the usage decision, you decide when the next inspection will take place
and you release or block the test equipment for use.
2-14
Quality Management in the Product Life Cycle
Inventory Management
Materials Management categorizes inventory by the stock types unrestricted- Stock Categories
use, blocked, and in quality inspection. Usually, the specified quantity of a
material received is posted to inspection stock for the duration of the goods
receipt inspection. This stock can only undergo a transfer posting during
inspection lot processing (for example, when the usage decision is made, it can
be posted to unrestricted-use stock). In the inspection lot, you can view all of
the posting documents that relate to the lot stock.
If you use Warehouse Management, Quality Management also manages the Warehouse Management
inspection lot samples and the units that are created due to the usage decision
or while locating a storage bin. The inspection lot identifies each unit and
transfer requirement. The system performs the following tasks according to the
strategy required for placement in storage: it triggers the transport of samples
and partial quantities and it posts the stock.
Handling units can also be used as transport units. A handling unit is a physical Handling Unit Management (HUM)
unit consisting of packaging and the materials or batches stored within or on
this packaging. The system allows you to move these handling units, as opposed
to just moving the materials. A quality inspection can, therefore, also be
performed with reference to handling units.
Materials Management can manage stocks for materials in batches and it can Batch Management
recognize the difference between batches in unrestricted-use or blocked stock.
You can use QM to monitor the shelf-life of batches and the deadlines for
recurring inspections. In addition, you can use it to change the batch status and
perform stock postings automatically (for example, post to blocked stock when
the expiry date is exceeded).
The batch where-used list helps you to determine which raw material batches Batch Tracking
or semi-finished products make up the batch of a finished product (top-down
analysis) or, conversely, which batches of semi-finished or finished products are
made up of a particular batch of a raw material (bottom-up analysis). The where-
used list also forms the basis for printing inspection results from the previous
assembly stages (for example, semi-finished products) for an end product on a
quality certificate.
2-15
Inspection Planning
Inspection Planning:
Putting Quality Strategies into Action
To complete these tasks, you can use the reusable basic data as building blocks
and flexible planning tools.
3-1
Inspection Planning
Task lists that differ only slightly in terms of content can be grouped together
in common task list groups. The information that can differ within a task list
group may consist of the task list usage, vendor assignment, or the validity of
certain lot size intervals.
3-2
Inspection Planning
You define the following information in the task list header: Task List Header
■ Material-task list assignments
Assignment of a task list to materials (you can assign several materials to a
task list and there can be several task lists for one material). Inspection plans
can also be assigned to a vendor or customer, in addition to the material.
■ Administrative data (such as the validity date, change status, responsible
planner group, task list usage, processing status)
■ Control data (such as the dynamic modification rule for adapting the
inspection scope)
You can store the following information for each inspection operation: Operation
■ Description of operation and control parameters for operation
■ Reference to work a center
■ Specifications for scheduling and calculating the appraisal costs
In the inspection characteristic you: Inspection Characteristic
■ Specify the characteristic description and define the control parameters for
results recording
■ Can reference an inspection method, sampling procedure, or a dynamic
modification rule
■ Define qualitative or quantitative specifications for the attributive/variable
inspection and results recording, depending on the characteristic type
■ Can define individual specifications for every task list assignment to a
material, vendor, or customer. This means you do not have to create
redundant inspection plans to modify customer or material-dependent target
values and tolerances.
Test equipment is listed for each operation. For each inspection characteristic, Test Equipment
you can specify with which equipment the characteristic values must be
measured.
3-3
Inspection Planning
Fig. 3-2: Inspection Plan Structure and the Use of Master Data in Inspection Plans
Inspection Characteristic
An inspection characteristic describes what should be inspected. You can create
an inspection characteristic directly in a task list or predefine it as an inspection
characteristic master record (master inspection characteristic). Master inspection
characteristics can be:
■ Referenced in several task lists or material specifications
■ Linked to characteristics in the SAP classification system, for example, to
transfer inspection results for a batch to the batch classification
3-4
Inspection Planning
Inspection Method
An inspection method describes how a characteristic is to be inspected. You can
also assign documents that are stored in the SAP Document Management
System (for example, drawings, descriptions) to an inspection method.
Inspection methods are assigned to master inspection characteristics or
inspection characteristics in task lists. You can assign several inspection
methods to a master inspection characteristic.
Catalog
A catalog is a summary of codes for content-related terms. Catalogs make it
easier to uniformly describe qualitative data (for example, attributes for
qualitative characteristics, defect types, or usage decisions). For each catalog,
you can:
■ Define code groups with codes and enter explanatory texts in different
languages
■ Select codes from one or more code groups and combine them in a selected
set. This allows you to create a value list that applies to a specific application.
QM supports all common sampling types (for example, 100% inspection, sample
based on percentage, fixed sample, sample in accordance with a sampling
scheme). If the sampling types and valuation rules provided with the standard
SAP System are not sufficient, you can supplement them with your own self-
defined function modules.
You can also plan independent and dependent multiple samples and record the
inspection results from several samples for an inspection characteristic. Each of
these samples may contain several values and each is valuated individually. On
the basis of the individual sample results, the SAP System automatically
determines the characteristic result, for example, based on the worst-case
principle.
3-5
Inspection Planning
The inspection stage is then changed depending on the inspection results for
inspection lots or characteristics. You can control the dynamic modification of
the inspection stages either by accepting or rejecting the inspection lot or
inspection characteristics. You can also assign a dynamic modification rule to
the inspection type in the material master (inspection type level) or at the header
or characteristic level in the task list.
Test Equipment
Test equipment consists of fittings, objects, documents, or materials that are
needed for a quality inspection. They can be fixed parts of a work center or
consist of moveable equipment. In the inspection plan, you can define test
equipment at different levels and it can be represented by various master
records, such as production/resource tools (PRT), material, equipment, or
document.
The PRT master record contains administrative data and information relating
to status, location, and a possible PRT group assignment. If you use the
SAP classification system, you can define additional properties. You can
reference document master records from the PRT master record or use document
master records as test equipment in task lists. You can access drawings and other
documents using the document management interfaces to CAD systems or to
the SAP ArchiveLink.
Work Center
The work center specifies where an operation is to be performed and who should
process it. The available personnel and machine capacities are also managed by
the work center. You provide the basis for capacity planning and scheduling of
operations when you specify the work centers in which the operations are to be
performed in the task lists.
3-6
Inspection Planning
Each work center is assigned to a cost center. The activities in a work center are
valuated using rates that are determined by cost centers and activity types (for
example, working time or quantity). You can record both inspection results and
the activities performed in a single step.
You can also generate worklists for specific work centers when you record
results or make the usage decision.
Planning Tools
The Engineering Workbench is an efficient tool, which you can use to process Engineering Workbench
several task lists simultaneously (routings, reference operation sets, and
inspection plans). The data you require can be read from different task lists and
restructured. You can perform various tasks using the Engineering Workbench,
including the following:
■ Generate worklists for replacing data within task lists (for example, by
selecting task lists that use a certain dynamic modification rule or sampling
procedure)
■ Process individual operations from different task lists in one work step
■ Simultaneously process complex task lists by blocking objects (at task list
header or operation level)
■ Create where-used lists (for example, for production resources/tools, dynamic
modification rules, sampling procedures, sample-drawing procedures,
selected sets)
■ Display documents defined in the SAP Document Management System in
your own screen area (for example, technical drawings)
3-7
Inspection Planning
Product Structure Browser Using the Product Structure Browser, you can display related objects for a
product structure hierarchically. During inspection planning, for example, you
can determine whether or not task lists or material specifications exist for a
certain material. If you expand the product structure further, additional detailed
information can be displayed (such as inspection characteristics, and
documents).
Where-Used Lists A where-used list shows you in which task lists master inspection
characteristics, inspection methods, or sampling procedures are used.
Mass Data Changes With the function Mass data change, you can adapt objects from the where-used
list (master inspection characteristics, inspection methods, or sampling
procedures) to suit new conditions. You can also use this function to create and
change inspection setup data in the material master.
3-8
Inspection Planning
The system maintains separate engineering change statuses for each structural Engineering Change Management
element in a task list. When you make a change using a change number, you
can determine what was contained in a plan at a specific date, and the date on
which a change is to become effective.
Using Application Link Enabling (ALE), you can transfer specific basic data (for Cross-System Transfer of Master Data
example, inspection setup for materials, inspection methods, inspection
characteristics, or catalog/code groups) from a source system to one or more
target systems. This means that it is quick and easy to transfer basic data used
in one plant to another plant.
3-9
Quality Inspections
As Quality Inspector, you have to prove that a material meets predefined quality
requirements. With QM, you can show that these requirements have been met.
Inspections can be triggered for inspection points during production, physical
samples in the process industry, or automatically for goods movements. In
addition to a planned inspection for which you can document quality using
quantitative and qualitative inspection results, you can also make a record of
unplanned events in the form of defect data or quality notifications.
■ For all quality inspection tasks, the mySAP Workplace provides you with the
tools you require for the role of Quality Inspector and the opportunity to
customize the settings.
■ With collaborative business, it is possible for your internal and external
business partners to record inspection results on the Intranet or Internet.
■ Using mobile computing, you can record inspection results on site and later
transfer the data to your QM System.
4-1
Quality Inspections
The material master record is the basis for the control of inspection lot
processing. The control is defined in Customizing for material-independent
inspection processes (for example, calibration inspections). The SAP Business
Workflow can trigger follow-up steps using the processing status of the
inspection lot.
Inspection Type There are different variants for inspection lot processing. In QM, these are
defined as inspection types (for example, goods receipt inspection, inspection
during production).
■ Inspection with/without a task list or material specification
■ Recording of inspection characteristic results/defects
■ Manual/automatic specification assignment, sample determination, and
usage decisions
■ Control of inspection stock posting
4-2
Quality Inspections
For inspections with an inspection plan, the system selects the corresponding Inspection Specifications
inspection specifications (for example, inspection plan, material specification,
or batch characteristics). If a customer has specific product requirements, these
can be copied from the sales order to the inspection.
Shop papers are printed and inspection results recorded on the basis of the
inspection specifications.
Examples of shop papers are: Shop Papers
■ Sample-Drawing Instructions
Contain the information required for the physical-sample drawing and for
distributing samples to work centers or laboratories.
■ Physical-Sample Labels
For labeling of physical samples.
■ Inspection Instructions
Lists information about the test equipment and inspection characteristics for
each inspection operation, and specifies the inspection methods,
specifications, and sample size for each inspection characteristic. The Quality
Inspector can record inspection results on the inspection instruction, if the
layout is suitable.
4-3
Quality Inspections
Inspection
During the inspection, you can:
■ Record, valuate, and close inspection results for characteristics
■ Record defect data and quality notifications
■ Confirm activities
Direct transfer of results is possible if you link electronic test equipment to QM.
Inspection results can also be recorded for serial numbers and batches. The
inspection results recorded in QM can be transferred to the batch class. As a
result, the system can search for a batch with specific characteristic values at
goods issue.
4-4
Quality Inspections
The quality level is also updated. Consequently, the inspection stages for the Quality Level
next inspection are determined.
The usage decision can also trigger a chain of automatic follow-up actions (for Follow-Up Actions
example, sending a mail to purchasing if an inspection lot is rejected). In
addition, the statistical data for the inspection lot is updated in the information
system.
QM logs all user actions using the name, date, and time. This means all actions
can be tracked. An electronic batch record can also be created for materials that
are managed in batches.
The usage decision has significant consequences and therefore, requires a special Authorization for the
authorization concept (for example, material-specific authorizations). Using Usage Decision
digital signatures, you can ensure that the usage decision can only be made by
authorized users.
Inspection Results
There are two types of inspection results in QM:
■ Results for the planned inspection of inspection characteristics (characteristic
inspection results)
■ Unplanned defects defined during the inspection (defect data)
Characteristic inspection results are generally recorded for each operation. For
this, inspection specifications must be assigned to the inspection lot and sample
calculation must be completed. Both characteristic inspection results and defect
data can be recorded for an inspection lot with a task list.
4-5
Quality Inspections
Characteristic Results
You record and valuate characteristic results according to inspection
specifications.
Characteristic Types You can record inspection results for the following types of characteristics:
■ Qualitative characteristics
Non-numerical characteristic values or variables stemming from these values
(for example, the number of defects) are entered as results.
■ Quantitative characteristics
Measured values or variables stemming from these values (for example, the
mean value) are entered as results.
Recording Forms Depending on the detail you require, you can choose from the following
recording forms for a characteristic:
■ Summarized values (for example, the mean value and standard deviation of
several measured values, or an individual measured value)
■ Classed values (number of results within value classes)
■ Single values (for example, several measured values)
In addition to single values, you can note the serial numbers of the items to
be inspected.
4-6
Quality Inspections
In an attributive inspection, you can also plan dependent double and multiple
samples. If the result for the current sample lies between the acceptance and
rejection numbers, the sample size is increased according to the sampling
scheme. Once you have recorded the results for this new sample, the sample is
valuated again using the updated valuation parameters.
You can confirm the characteristic inspection results recorded in different Valuation
inspection operations. During results recording, an inspection characteristic
undergoes a series of status changes. The authorization management function
controls who has the authorization to record, valuate, or close results. To fulfill
special security requirements (for example, Good Manufacturing Practices,
GMP), you can define that a digital signature is required.
You can use the following valuation modes to accept or reject an inspection
result:
■ Manual valuation
■ Attributive inspection based on the number of nonconforming units or
defects
■ Decision based on the attribute codes of qualitative characteristics
■ Decision based on the tolerance range of quantitative characteristics
■ Variable inspection with single-sided or double-sided tolerance limits
■ Valuation based on the action limits of a control chart
Characteristics with independent multiple samples are valuated at sample level,
for example, based on the worst-case principle, last-case principle, or best-case
principle. Inspection points must also be valuated.
4-7
Quality Inspections
Inspection Points You can use inspection points to perform several inspections on one
characteristic. You can define various inspection points in the system:
■ Time-dependent (for example, one inspection every hour)
■ Quantity-related (for example, an inspection after 100 units have been
produced)
■ Freely-defined (for example, one inspection per shift)
Distribution Functions After results recording, the system determines the fraction of nonconforming
units for all inspection characteristics and uses this information to estimate the
fraction of nonconforming units in the inspection lot. The most common
mathematical distribution methods are supplied in the system (normal, binomial,
and Poisson distribution).
Statistics You can display the following graphics in results recording:
■ Histogram
A histogram illustrates the frequency distribution of the sample results in the
form of a bar chart. In this chart, you can identify typical and extreme values
for a sample, as well as the location, dispersion range, and form of the
distribution.
■ Run Chart
This displays the run of measured values for a characteristic over a period of
time as a line chart. You can identify the dispersion and systematic location
changes, and display trend analyses.
■ Control Chart
The control chart shows the time run of characteristic values in the
production process with warning and action limits.
4-8
Quality Inspections
You can also record inspection results in tabular form: Tabular Results Recording
■ Processing characteristics for several inspection lots
In this view, you can record results for the inspection characteristics that
occur in several inspection lots. In the recording table, the inspection lots
selected in the worklist are displayed in columns, the characteristics are
displayed in rows.
■ Processing several inspection points in an operation
In this view, you can record results for several inspection points in an
operation. In the recording table, the inspection characteristics are displayed
in columns, the corresponding inspection points are displayed in rows.
■ Processing master inspection characteristics for all inspection lots
In this view, you can record the results for a specific master inspection
characteristic for all inspection lots. In the recording table, the inspection lots
are displayed in rows for the master inspection characteristic that has been
selected.
4-9
Quality Inspections
Defect Data
Defects recording provides information to control quality and optimize
processes. It enables pareto analyses of types of defects or their causes,
according to their weighting or how frequently they occur. It also provides
empirical values for risk indicators in failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA).
Qualitative defect data can be described with the help of cataloged terminology
(for example, defect type, defect location, or defect cause), and additional text.
Activating a Quality Notification A defect data record can be converted into a quality notification. As a result,
the whole range of functions in notifications can be used (for example, link to
SAP Business Workflow).
4-10
Quality Inspections
Sample Management
In many branches of the process industry (especially in the chemical,
pharmaceutical, and food industries), products are inspected several times
during the manufacturing process to ensure they fulfill the required quality
criteria. To perform these inspections, physical samples are drawn during
production, or when goods are received.
4-11
Quality Inspections
4-12
Quality Inspections
4-13
Quality Inspections
Label Printing You can trigger label printing for physical samples using the physical-sample
drawing. The labels contain important information and can be used to identify
the sample containers. The labels can be printed with bar codes. You can use a
bar code scanner to quickly enter information.
For automatically created physical samples, the system can print labels at
inspection lot creation. With the physical-sample data record and the physical-
sample drawing, labels can be reprinted or manually printed.
Confirmation Requirement When physical samples are automatically created, the sample-drawing
procedure controls whether the physical-sample drawing is to be confirmed
manually or automatically. If a physical-sample drawing requires confirmation,
all physical samples contained in the sample drawing are released. If physical
samples are created manually, they must always be released manually,
irrespective of whether they have been added to an existing physical-sample
drawing, or belong to a new sample drawing.
Digital Signature A digital signature may be required when a physical-sample drawing is
confirmed (for example, in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices
[GMP]). This signature guarantees that only specifically authorized users can
perform certain activities.
Results Recording Planned physical samples are displayed automatically in a worklist for results
recording. You can process these physical samples immediately, provided that
they have the appropriate status. If you want to record results for an unplanned
physical sample, you must first release the sample manually and then record its
results.
Valuation Once you have recorded all the results for a physical sample, you valuate the
physical sample based on the operation (for example, accepted or rejected).
When all physical samples in the inspection lot are valuated, you make the usage
decision for the lot.
4-14
Quality Certificates
In addition to the usual output forms for certificates (printer or fax), you can
make certificates available to your customers on the Internet or transfer
certificate data electronically for further processing.
5-1
Quality Certificates
The form master record allows you to tailor your certificates to your companys
needs. The standard SAP System contains an example of a form to simplify this
process.
Data from Raw Materials and In addition to printing characteristics that are directly linked to the product
Semi-Finished Products requiring the certificate, you can also define that characteristic data from raw
materials and semi-finished products used when creating the finished product
are printed on the certificate. At this point, you can refer to inspections or batch
classifications. The system selects batches for data formatting that are linked to
one another by production orders, process orders, or production versions. The
characteristic values for these materials in the production chain can also be
taken from other plants.
5-2
Quality Certificates
Apart from the characteristic data defined in the certificate profile, the certificate
can also be structured to contain all other information that is available at
certificate creation; this includes, for example, data from the sales order.
Fig. 5-1: Example of a Quality Certificate for a Finished Product with Characteristic
Values from Raw Materials and Semi-Finished Products
The system finds the correct certificate profile, recipient, and shipping terms
with the help of the flexible condition technique. The system can search for the
address of the certificate recipient by using, for example, the sold-to-party, the
ship-to-party, delivery type, or shipping point, and then decide whether the
certificate is to be issued in printed form, by fax, or electronically. It then
searches for the corresponding profile for the material group, material, customer,
or a combination thereof. All the information required for these searches is
contained in data for the delivery.
5-3
Quality Certificates
As a last step, the system determines the contents of the certificate based on the
requirements in the certificate profile, such as characteristic values in picking
batches. It structures the information according to the specified form, and
transfers the resulting certificate to the output medium, and, if required, the
optical archive.
You can also manually trigger the creation of certificates for deliveries,
inspection lots, or batches, and control their output. You can create a print
preview to check the contents of the certificate, before it is finally issued.
Shipping Status The processing status of delivery item data is consistently maintained so that
you can always tell if a certificate was created properly.
5-4
Quality Certificates
Collaborative Business:
Certificate Data for the Whole Company
As the vendor, you can allow your customers to access the SAP System over the Certificate Access on the Internet
Internet and call up a quality certificate for their purchased goods. Depending
on the customers needs, it is possible for them to access a certificate created
on call, or one that was created for a delivery item and is already stored using
SAP ArchiveLink.
If you want a recipient to be able to use the quality data displayed on your Quality Data Exchange
certificate, you should send the certificate electronically to the target system.
5-5
Quality Certificates
The certificate data can also be transferred to a recipient system without a link
to a specific delivery and be processed further there. In such cases, the certificate
data refers to the inspection lot or batch.
5-6
Notifications
6-1
Notifications
6-2
Notifications
6-3
Notifications
Requests or problems are created using the general notification that cannot, at
first, be assigned at a business level. As the responsible Notification Processor,
you assign a suitable notification type to a general notification, depending on
the subject of the notification. This controls all further processing.
Recording Options Quality notifications can be recorded manually or automatically:
■ You create a notification manually on the Internet, Intranet, or directly in a
SAP System.
■ For defects recording during inspection processing, a quality notification can
be created automatically.
Notification Processing
Processing Views If you manually enter and process quality notifications, you can use a simplified
or an enhanced processing view. The simplified view is meant for occasional
users who do not require the whole range of notification functions. This view is
used to quickly record problem notifications. All notification functions are
available in the enhanced view. This view is particularly useful for regular users.
Recording When manually entering notifications, the person creating the notification first
describes the subject in text form, names a reference object, if possible (for
example, a sales order or delivery note), and assigns an appropriate priority to
the problem. QM copies the linked information to the notification.
The person entering the notification can immediately see if, for example,
notifications already exist for the same material or customer. They can
immediately switch to the one of these notifications and call up information
about how to solve the problem.
Processing As the responsible Notification Processor, you are informed about notifications
using worklists or the SAP Business Workflow. You can implement tasks and
record costs immediately. You can also perform defects analysis for the
individual problems. You define the necessary corrective tasks and assign them
to the appropriate employees.
Completion You complete the problem notification after all tasks have been successfully
completed and their costs have been calculated. The steps you perform mirror
the status of the individual tasks and the complete quality notification. You can
display the most significant processing steps of a notification in the action log.
6-4
Notifications
Partners
The people involved in the creation or processing of a notification (for example,
vendors or customers) are marked as partners in the notification. Departments
and people within your company who are involved in notification processing
can also be included as partners. You therefore have a complete overview of all
people involved.
6-5
Notifications
Notification Item
Problems or errors that have occurred are documented as notification items.
They contain information relating to defects analysis, such as the defect type
and location. You can assign various causes to a notification item. You can
access user-defined catalogs to describe the defect type, location, and cause.
Tasks/Activities
The tasks and activities used to correct the defects are subordinate to the
notification item. Tasks and activities can also be assigned to the notification
header, so that you can take the first steps to resolve a problem even before the
analysis is available.
Optimized Usage
Action Box You can use the action box to flexibly enhance the functions in the notification
to suit your needs. You can simplify usage and control problem processing with
regard to procedures. The action box includes typical tasks and activities for
processing notifications. These tasks or activities are represented as follow-up
functions and can be executed with a mouse-click. These follow-up functions
are available:
■ Creation of letters of compliance or 8D reports for complaints against the
vendor
■ Send request for permission to deviate from specifications
■ Create new quality notification from an existing notification
■ Send decisions by e-mail, fax, or print preview (for example, confirmation
of receipt, interim notice, or final notice)
■ Call up the solution database
■ Initiate calls from the notification
The process is simplified by using colors to mark the processing statuses of
activities. In this way, you can immediately recognize which process steps have
already been processed and which are outstanding.
Solution Database Complaints must be processed quickly and efficiently. With the integrated
solution database, you can quickly find solutions when processing notifications.
You call up the solution database from the action box and start a free-text search
in the database using the entered problem description. You can therefore quickly
determine whether similar problems have occurred in the past and which tasks
were used to successfully solve them.
6-6
Notifications
Worklists are available for processing quality notifications, defect items, tasks, Flexible Worklists
and activities. In particular for notifications or tasks, you can select and process
objects that you:
■ Created
■ Processed last
■ Are responsible for processing or which are within your area of responsibility
■ Are responsible for processing within a specific partner function
If the SAP Business Workflow component is used, all parties involved in Workflow
notification processing are informed about the tasks they must perform.
Depending on the status of notifications or tasks, work items are entered in the
mailbox of the responsible parties. You can call up the necessary processing
functions directly from a work item. If the processor responsible is unable to
complete the task within the deadline, the SAP System forwards the operation
to a department responsible for urgent outstanding tasks (escalation).
Depending on the priority of the notification, you can define a sequence of System Response
standard tasks using a response profile. These tasks can then be proposed on
request in the notification and must be completed within a specified period of
time.
If you create new documents in the system when processing notifications (for Document Flow
example, a sales order), then these are linked to the quality notification using
the central document flow. You can display all documents that are linked to the
notification in a list or as a graphic.
Using the classification system, you can classify defects, define additional defect
characteristics, specify value ranges for these characteristics, and record
characteristic values.
6-7
Notifications
Tasks
A task is a processing step that is performed during notification processing. With
a user-defined status sequence, you can track the processing status of the task.
You can define the completion deadline and the person responsible for each task.
The system manages the status of each task and only allows you to complete a
quality notification once all the tasks have been processed.
6-8
Notifications
Support Functions
Communication
Notifications on the Internet and Intranet
In the age of e-Commerce, the Internet provides many opportunities for
customers and vendors to communicate directly. Using the Internet connection
for quality notifications, you can reduce the resources and time needed for
recording a complaint, thereby improving notification processing. The customer
records the problem on the Internet. QM then triggers internal operations using
the Business Workflow. The customer can display the processing status of the
notification at any time on the Internet.
If notifications are created for general requests or problems from the users
working environment, the Internet Service Request is the Internet and Intranet
medium for finding answers and solutions quickly.
The notifications are easy to enter and process, and provide solutions quickly.
All employees are involved in continuous process improvement within your
company using the Internet service request. The Internet service request is the
medium:
■ With which different subjects can be recorded
■ Which searches for solutions using the integrated solution database
■ Which triggers multiple internal service processes
■ With which a problem analysis is documented for complex subjects
■ Which forwards the notification to the person responsible for processing
using the SAP Business Workflow
SAPphone
SAPphone enables you to integrate computer and telephone services. Quality
notifications support incoming and outgoing calls:
■ If customer calls to complain, the customer data is copied directly to the
customer complaint.
■ If you process a quality notification, you can initiate a telephone call to the
customer, vendor, or another partner directly from the notification.
6-9
Notifications
Sending E-Mails
When processing a notification, you can send important data to an internal or
external address (Internet) as a fax or by e-mail.
Assignment of Documents
Using the SAP Document Management System, documents, such as CAD
drawings, Word, and HTML documents can be assigned to the notification. These
documents are then available during notification processing.
6-10
Notifications
6-11
Quality Control
The role of Quality Manager in the mySAP.com Workplace provides the basis
for your quality control related tasks, which range from strategic planning, to
monitoring and evaluating inspections and notifications. MiniApps provide an
overview of all important key figures and evaluations in QM. As a result, you
can continuously evaluate your quality strategy and modify it at a moments
notice if a problem arises.
7-1
Quality Control
To reach the quality goal, the SAP System determines inspection stages for the
next inspection lot after each usage decision. It uses the dynamic modification
rule in the task list to determine inspection stages and then writes them to a
quality level data record. The SAP System takes the quality level into account
when determining the inspection scope and it specifies the inspection scope in
the inspection instruction. The inspection lots are summarized in a quality level
according to specific criteria. For example, inspection lots in production are
summarized according to material, plant, and task list, while inspection lots for
goods receipt inspections are summarized according to material, vendor,
manufacturer, plant, and task list.
7-2
Quality Control
Figure 7-1 shows how master data and transaction data interact during dynamic
modification of the inspection scope. The main features of this interaction are
as follows:
■ Dynamic modification rules apply uniformly for all inspection characteristics
in a task list, or individually for certain inspection characteristics, or
generally for the inspection type that is active for the material.
■ Tightening or reducing the inspection scope based on the results of a previous
inspection is controlled either by the valuation of the inspection lot (dynamic
modification by lot) or by the valuations of the individual inspection
characteristics (dynamic modification by characteristic).
When several lots of the same material are to be inspected simultaneously, there
are two times when the system can dynamically modify the inspection scope:
■ The inspection scope is modified in advance by assuming that all open
characteristics will be accepted. If a lot is rejected as a result of an inspection,
the inspection scope will be updated again after the usage decision has been
made.
■ The inspection scope is modified after the usage decision for the current
inspection lot has been made.
7-3
Quality Control
Quality Control Chart The most important tool for statistical process control is the quality control
chart, a graphic tool for documenting, analyzing, and controlling processes. You
can use this chart in an inspection during production and during the
procurement or shipping process.
You choose one or more control variables for the relevant characteristic,
determine their values at regular intervals by taking samples from the process
and enter them in the chart in chronological order.
Types of Control Charts QM provides the following types of control charts for inspection characteristics
with a normal distribution:
■ Mean value chart with tolerances (acceptance chart)
■ Mean value chart without tolerances (Shewhart chart)
■ Standard deviation chart (Shewhart chart)
■ Range chart (Shewhart chart)
7-4
Quality Control
In addition to the control variable, each track also contains control limits. If
these limits are exceeded, you intervene in the process. For some control chart
types, you can predefine warning limits or a center line. The limits are
determined using statistical methods from the current process data, or from the
results of an initial run. You can also enter them manually on the basis of
existing data. Various algorithms can be used for the calculation.
■ The acceptance charts are based on your predefined tolerances. They
determine the share of scrap in the process. The limits of these charts are
extended if a long-term reduction in the process variance is achieved.
■ If you are using a Shewhart chart, the limits become tighter as a result of a
long-term reduction in the process variance. These charts only take internal
process parameters into account and not external tolerance specifications.
They use a continuously recurring statistical test to check that the controlled
status of the process has not changed.
As an Inspection Planner, you determine whether a quality control chart is to
be maintained for a given inspection characteristic. The charts may include
several inspection lots or production orders. The SAP System creates the quality
control charts when preparing the quality inspection and updates them when
you record results. As a Quality Inspector, you can display the charts when you
are recording results and, if you have the appropriate authorization, you can use
them to calculate the action and warning limits. If necessary, you can exchange
the algorithms.
You can evaluate inspection results using the quality control chart. The standard
SAP System contains a valuation rule that rejects a sample as soon as any action
limit is exceeded. When this occurs, the SAP Business Workflow automatically
notifies the department (as long as the defect class has been set appropriately
in the defect code of the task list characteristic).
7-5
Quality Control
Worklist for Control Charts You can view all of the control charts you are responsible for in a worklist. In
the role of Quality Manager, you can access a MiniApp which shows you all
charts where control limits have been exceeded.
Western Electric Rules Apart from showing where control limits were exceeded, control charts can
indicate that a process may be running out of control on the basis of unusual
patterns (for example, runs or trends). The criteria used to detect such patterns
are referred to as Western Electric Rules. In the worklist for control charts, you
can check the stability of processes according to the following criteria:
■ 1 point outside of control limits
■ 2 of 3 consecutive points outside 2/3 of the control limits
■ 4 of 5 consecutive points outside 1/3 of the control limits
■ 8 consecutive points above or below the center line (run)
■ 15 consecutive points within 1/3 of the control limits
■ 6 consecutive points in ascending/descending order (trend)
On the selection screen, you can decide whether:
■ The check according to Western Electric Rules should be carried out
immediately. In this case, all control charts that correspond to the selection
criteria are checked.
■ You want to view a list of control charts, from which you can then choose
individual control charts to be checked.
Violations of the Western Electric Rules are displayed in a list along with the
chart number, track, and sample number. From this list, you can branch to the
inspection results to display detailed information on the individual inspections
and to view the control chart.
Process Capability Indices In the mean-value chart, you can display the process capability indices cp and
cpk in a second window.
7-6
Quality Control
You can use a histogram evaluation to display the frequency distribution of Histogram
measured values in a bar chart. This allows you to recognize typical and extreme
values of a sample, as well as to judge the location, dispersion, and form of the
distribution. You can blend the histogram out and replace it with a normal
distribution if required.
7-7
Quality Control
Quality Scores Quality scores for inspection lots are a proven tool for quality control. QM provides
you with several ways of determining the quality score. It uses information from
the following sources:
■ Usage decision
■ Estimated fraction of nonconforming units in the lot
■ Estimated fraction of nonconforming units for characteristics
◆ Maximum share of defects
◆ Weighted average share of defects
■ Quality score of the characteristic defect classes
◆ Minimum (worst) quality score
◆ Weighted average quality score
7-8
Quality Control
Vendor Evaluation
When procuring materials, you can use the vendor evaluation to select a suitable
vendor. This function provides you (as the purchaser) with a summarized score
that has been calculated for the vendor according to main and subcriteria.
The subcriteria for the main criterion Quality come from the following sources:
■ Goods receipt inspection:
The average of the quality scores of all goods receipt lots from the vendor
for a specific time period.
■ Complaints:
The number of valid complaints in relation to the turnover.
■ QM System audit:
Either the average quality score of all system audits executed during a
specified time period, or the quality score of the most recent system audit.
You define the criteria and their relative weighting according to your company
requirements.
7-9
Quality Control
These tools complement each other. Report lists primarily evaluate operative
data. SAP BW and QMIS, however, analyze summarized data that can be stored
for a long period of time.
Results History
With the help of the results history, you can analyze single values that were
recorded for a characteristic when you recorded results and when you made the
usage decision. You define the period of time to be analyzed. You can prepare
the data in list form and graphically represent the progression of values over a
period of time using a run chart. With the help of a trend analysis, you can
represent the predicted course of the values. Exporting the data, for example,
to a Microsoft EXCEL® file provides additional options for processing the
information.
7-10
Quality Control
Many key figures used by the Quality Manager are based on information coming
from outside QM. Examples of this are the vendor evaluation in purchasing,
returned quantities in stock management, scrap and rework quantities in
production, or returns in sales. This information is integrated in the SAP BW
Business Content and can be linked with the key figures from QM, thereby
providing you with a complete picture of the quality in your company.
7-11
Quality Control
7-12
Quality Control
Quality Costs
Within the SAP System, the Controlling component plans, collects, and Controlling
evaluates all costs incurred by a company. These costs include quality-related
costs (quality costs). In QM, you record appraisal costs originating from quality
inspections or nonconformity costs originating from quality notifications.
Quality costs from other applications (for example, Human Resource
Management) can also be included in the cost calculation.
The Controlling component uses QM orders to manage quality costs. The QM Order
following types of QM orders are provided in the standard SAP System:
■ Appraisal costs order
◆ For individual settlement
◆ For collective settlement
■ Nonconformity costs order
You can also define your own specific order types. When creating an inspection
lot, or a quality notification, you can create or assign a corresponding QM order.
7-13
Quality Control
Appraisal Costs
Appraisal cost orders are stored in the material master and assigned by the
SAP System as cost collectors to individual inspection lots. If, however, a special
settlement is required for an inspection, that settlement takes precedence. This
is the case, for example, when the lot belongs to a production order or when it
comes from a goods receipt for a purchase order that is assigned to a cost center
account.
Activity Confirmation The SAP System calculates appraisal costs using the activities that you, as the
inspector, confirm. You can confirm activities, for example, on the basis of the
hours worked. Accounting fixes the types of activities, such as set-up or
inspection time, and the valid charges for the cost center that performs the
activity. The activities performed for inspection lots are logged during results
recording or when the usage decision is made. Activities performed for
inspections during production are confirmed at the same time as confirmations
for production orders are made.
Other inspection costs, such as material usage, are settled to the order in which
you confirm the inspection activity.
Nonconformity Costs
To settle nonconformity costs for a quality notification, you create a QM order
when processing a notification. You assign the order to the notification header
and use it as a cost collector for costs such as those relating to a warranty, to
scrapping or to the settlement of activities performed. You can also assign
rework orders to this cost collector account. This allows you to debit all costs
for a quality notification to the appropriate personnel and analyze the costs.
7-14
Test Equipment Management
On Target with
Efficient Test Equipment Management
8-1
Test Equipment Management
8-2
Test Equipment Management
To organize your test equipment and make it easier to locate, you can:
■ Combine similar test equipment in groups
■ Use the classification system to categorize test equipment according to
technical features
■ Assign the test equipment to a construction type (material)
The maintenance plan is the central planning object, in which you assign the Maintenance Plan
list of equipment to be inspected, the maintenance task list, and the calibration
schedule. The maintenance plan specifies which types of activities must be
performed periodically and how often they are to be performed. In the
maintenance plan, you can enter time-based or performance-based intervals for
performing these activities. When maintenance deadlines are automatically
called, the system creates maintenance orders.
In the task list, you plan the recurring work processes in a standardized form. Maintenance Task List
To perform a calibration inspection, you can include inspection characteristics
in the maintenance task list.
In turn, you can include a maintenance task list in a maintenance plan. The task
list specifies the activities to be performed for individual maintenance deadlines.
8-3
Test Equipment Management
8-4
Test Equipment Management
Calibration Inspection
The calibration inspection covers the following activities:
■ Scheduling the maintenance plan and creating the maintenance order and
inspection lot
The maintenance plan is usually scheduled automatically using a periodically
run program. When this program is run, the system creates calls and converts
these calls into orders when they become due. You can make a setting in
Customizing that releases the orders directly, causing the inspection lots to
be created.
■ Inspecting and calibrating test equipment
You can create a worklist of the calibration inspections that are planned for
a specific period, according to various criteria (for example, all test equipment
to be calibrated in the next week, or test equipment sorted by cost center or
work center). You can use this information to identify and prepare the test
equipment for inspection.
When a maintenance order is released, the system automatically creates an
inspection lot. All orders that have been released, and all inspection lots that
are to be processed appear in a worklist for results recording and can be
processed in any sequence.
If test equipment unexpectedly fails during use, you can create a maintenance
notification (malfunction report). Within this maintenance notification, you
can manually create a maintenance order to schedule a calibration
inspection.
■ Recording results
You can record results in the worklist for the equipment. You can use the
characteristic types and recording functions of QM.
During a calibration inspection, you can make confirmations for the
maintenance order (for example, to record costs for activities performed or
for materials that were required for the calibration inspection). In addition,
there are other order processing functions available, such as capacity
planning.
If characteristics are rejected, you can create maintenance notifications, start
corrective tasks, and document the success of these corrective tasks.
8-5
Test Equipment Management
8-6
Test Equipment Management
8-7
Test Equipment Management
8-8
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