_________________________________

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

VC 101: A Beginners Guide to

Variant Configuration

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Jean-Yves Popovic
ADELANTE

_________________________________
_________________________________

2008 Wellesley Information Services. All rights reserved.

What Well Cover

_________________________________

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

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
1

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 cant 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

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
3

Who Should Use Variant Configuration?

_________________________________

Example of industries relevant to SAP VC:

_________________________________
_________________________________

Product
Complexity

_________________________________

Aircraft
Automobiles

_________________________________
PCs

_________________________________
_________________________________
Pumps

Motorcycles

Elevator
Systems

_________________________________
_________________________________

Bicycle

_________________________________

Furniture
Mass
Production

What Well 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:

_________________________________

SUBWAY

Example: You operate a

franchise, you run SAP,
your pricing and lead time must be based on the exact
order (options)
The options youll be asked for the Italian B.M.T. are:

Bread

Bread
Length

- Regular
- Italian
- Herbs
- Oat and
Honey

&

- 6
- 12

&

(choose exactly one) (choose exactly one)

Toppings

Dressing

- pepper
- onion
- olive
- lettuce
- cucumber

- vinaigrette
- ranch
- caesar

&

32

_________________________________
_________________________________

Grilled?

&

_________________________________

- Yes
- No

_________________________________
_________________________________

(choose any
combination)

_________________________________

(choose one
or none)

(choose exactly one)

_________________________________

_________________________________

(3 + 1)

(any + none)

= 2,048 variants!!

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:

_________________________________

Maintenance: One more dressing option would add 512 new

data sets
Sales Order entry: Which material number to enter?
New rules or restrictions (Example: If Italian bread chosen,
dressing must be vinaigrette, etc.)

_________________________________

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Issue
7

VC Concepts and Functionalities

_________________________________

Process flow:

_________________________________
Super Routing

Super BOM

interior
seats
seats

_________________________________

car

car
body
body
body

Op.10
Op.20

_________________________________

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:
Qty:

Italian B.M.T.

_________________________________

Italian B.M.T.
1

_________________________________

Bread

_________________________________

Regular
Italian

Pepper

Regular
Bread

Onion

Italian
Bread

Qty = 1
0.5

Herbs
Bread

Qty = 1

Oat & Honey

Bread

Qty = 1

Olive
Lettuce

Herbs
Oat & Honey

Qty = 1

_________________________________
_________________________________

Size
6
12

_________________________________

Topping

_________________________________

Pepper
Onion

_________________________________

Olive
Lettuce

Cucumber

Cucumber

How does it work? Dependencies!

_________________________________

Grilled?
Yes

No

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

Super Task List (Routing)

_________________________________
ORDER # 1234
Item:
Qty:

_________________________________

Italian B.M.T.
1

_________________________________

Bread

_________________________________

Regular

Italian B.M.T. Routing

Italian

10 sec.

Op.20: Pick and apply toppings

12 sec.

Size

20 sec.

6
12

Op.30: Put in oven and grill

_________________________________

Herbs
Oat & Honey

Op.10: Pick and Slice Bread

_________________________________
_________________________________

Topping

_________________________________

Pepper
Onion

_________________________________

Olive
Lettuce

_________________________________

Cucumber

Grilled?
Yes

No

10

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

Super Task List (Routing) (cont.)

_________________________________
ORDER # 1234
Item:
Qty:

_________________________________

Italian B.M.T.
1

_________________________________

Bread

_________________________________

Regular

Italian B.M.T. Routing

Italian
Herbs

Op.10: Pick and Slice Bread

10
5 sec.

Op.20: Pick and apply toppings

12 sec.

Op.30: Put in oven and grill

20 sec.

_________________________________

Oat & Honey

Size

_________________________________

6
12

_________________________________

Topping

_________________________________

Pepper
Onion
Olive

_________________________________

Lettuce
Cucumber

_________________________________

Grilled?
Yes

No

11

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

Super Task List (Routing) (cont.)

_________________________________
ORDER # 1234
Item:
Qty:

_________________________________

Italian B.M.T.
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.

Op.30: Put in oven and grill

20 sec.

_________________________________

Size
6

_________________________________

12

Topping

_________________________________

Pepper
Onion

_________________________________

Olive
Lettuce
Cucumber

_________________________________

Grilled?
Yes

No

12

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

Super Task List (Routing) (cont.)

_________________________________
ORDER # 1234
Item:
Qty:

_________________________________

Italian B.M.T.
1

_________________________________

Bread

_________________________________

Regular

Italian B.M.T. Routing

Italian

Op.10: Pick and Slice Bread

5 sec.

Op.20: Pick and apply toppings

8 sec.

Op.30: Put in oven and grill

_________________________________

Herbs
Oat & Honey

_________________________________

Size
6
12

20 sec.

_________________________________

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:

_________________________________

For more complex products, configuration can be done at

any BOM level
Characteristic values can be passed from any level to any
level
Purchase Orders for lower level materials can therefore be
configured
Color = blue

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Production Order

car

_________________________________
interior

engine

body

_________________________________
seats

dashboard

_________________________________
fabric
Purchase Order

frame
14

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

_________________________________

Dimensions (geometrical measures) can be

configured and inferred
Example: Window size: width = (2 x w1) + w2

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

3 variables, one equation

f Any 2 variables must be assigned values (not all of 3)
Last value is inferred*

_________________________________
_________________________________

width
w1

_________________________________

w2

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
* need to use Constraints
15

VC Concepts and Functionalities (cont.)

_________________________________

Price configuration:

_________________________________

Pricing in SD (based on conditions) will read the characteristic

values of a configurable material
Price is therefore dynamically calculated during configuration
in the Sales Order entry screen
More details in Exploiting Variant Configuration for Use in
Advanced Planning and Modeling session

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

16

Variant Configuration Knowledge Base

Material Master

Variant Class

Material Type: KMAT

Desc.: Italian B.M.T.
Variant Class: <Italian B.M.T.>

_________________________________
Pricing
Conditions

_________________________________

...

_________________________________
_________________________________

Desc.: Italian B.M.T.

Type: 300
Characteristic: Bread Type
Possible Values:
Regular
Italian
Herbs

Super
BOM
Item 10:
Item 20:

Super
Routing
Op. 10
Op. 20

_________________________________

Configuration
Profile

_________________________________

Order BOM
BOM explosion
User Interface

_________________________________

Characteristic: Length
Possible Values:
6

_________________________________
Dependencies

12

_________________________________

Precondition (PC)
Selection Condition (SC)
Procedures (P)
Constraints (C)

_________________________________
17

Which SAP Applications Use VC?

_________________________________

Configurable object types

_________________________________

Sales Orders and Production Orders (SD and PP)

f Sales Order is configured
f Order BOM (or not)
f Configuration results passed to Production Order
Maintenance Order (PM)
Network Order (PS)
Purchase Orders (MM):
f Material or Services

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
18

What Well 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

Material Master

Variant Class

Material Type: KMAT

Desc.: Italian B.M.T.
Variant Class: <Italian B.M.T.>

_________________________________
Pricing
Conditions

_________________________________

...

_________________________________
_________________________________

Desc.: Italian B.M.T.

Type: 300
Characteristic: Bread Type
Possible Values:
Regular
Italian
Herbs

Super
Routing

Super
BOM
Item 10: ...
Item 20: ...

Op. 10 ...
Op. 20 ...

_________________________________

Configuration
Profile

_________________________________

Order BOM
BOM explosion
User Interface

_________________________________

Characteristic: Length
Possible Values:
6

_________________________________
Dependencies

12

_________________________________

Precondition (PC)
Selection Condition (SC)
Procedures (P)
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)

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Values can also be deducted and/or inherited

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
21

Classification: Characteristics (cont.)

_________________________________

Example of characteristics and value assignments:

_________________________________

[Type of engine]
f Possible values: 4 cylinder, V6, V8
[Length of shaft]
f Any value within the range 3040 CM
[Gloss finish?]
f Yes or No
[Toppings]
f Pepper, Olive, Onion, etc.

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
22

Classification: System Menu

_________________________________

Variant Configuration menu is in Logistics Central

Functions
Characteristics maintenance: transaction CT04
Classes maintenance: transaction CL02

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
23

Classification: Characteristics

_________________________________

Characteristics maintenance

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

FORMAT:
Numeric:
Length, weight, etc.
May be used for
calculations
Has a Unit of Measure
Character: 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:

_________________________________

Specific value(s)
Interval(s)
f 100-200
Combinations
f <50, 100, 150180, >= 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

Classification: Reference Characteristics

_________________________________

Reference Characteristics:

_________________________________

Refer to a table field

f Example: Characteristic BOM_QTY refers to table-field
STPO-MENGE
Two functions:
f Read information
Example: Read PLANT or CUSTOMER (because value
assignment may be dependent on those)
f Change field content with dependencies:
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:
PLPO:
PLFH:
PLFL:
SDCOM:
MMCOM:

_________________________________

BOM item fields

Operation fields (Routing)
PRT fields
Sequence fields
Structure between SD and VC
Structure between MM and VC

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Tables whose field values can be read by dependencies:

VBAK:
VBAP:
VBKD:
MAEPV:
MAAPV:
VEDA:
VBPA_XX:

Sales Order header data

Sales Order Item data
Commercial data
Material Master data
Material Master fields
Contract data
Partner tables (sold-to, ship-to, bill-to, payer)

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
28

Classification: Classes

Variant Class:

_________________________________
_________________________________

Classes mostly group together characteristics

One characteristic can be assigned to many classes
Classes 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 Well 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

Material Master
Material Type: KMAT
Desc.: Italian B.M.T.
Variant Class: <Italian B.M.T.>

Variant Class

_________________________________
Pricing
Conditions

_________________________________

...

_________________________________
_________________________________

Desc.: Italian B.M.T.

Type: 300
Characteristic: Bread Type

Italian
Herbs

Super
Routing

Super
BOM

Possible Values:
Regular

Item 10:
Item 20:

Op. 10
Op. 20

_________________________________

Configuration
Profile

_________________________________

Order BOM
BOM explosion
User Interface

_________________________________

Characteristic: Length

_________________________________

Possible Values:
6

Dependencies

12

_________________________________

Precondition (PC)
Selection Condition (SC)
Procedures (P)
Constraints (C)

_________________________________
33

Master Data: Material Master

Basic Data view:

_________________________________

Configurable Material flag

Material Type KMAT has flag set by default

_________________________________
_________________________________

Classification:

_________________________________

_________________________________

Assign variant class

Sales view: Item Category group (0002 or 0004)

MRP views:

_________________________________
_________________________________

MRP type: not ND

Lot size: EX
Strategy 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:

_________________________________
_________________________________

Regular BOM that contains all possible components for all

possible variants
Dependencies will act as filters

_________________________________
_________________________________

Item category:

_________________________________

L: Stock item
N: Non-stock item (example: next
level configurable material)
K: Class item (use class type 200)
R: Variable-size item

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
37

Master Data: BOM (cont.)

_________________________________

Transaction CS01/CS02/CS03:

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
38

Master Data: BOM (cont.)

_________________________________

Class item (category K) (aka Class node)

_________________________________

You assign a class (type 200) as a BOM item

f Example: Class: COLOR
Characteristic: COLOR
Possible values: Blue, Red, Green
You assign this class to materials (possible components) and
classify them:
f Material Raw1 Blue
f Material Raw2 Red
f Material Raw3 Green
During 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:

_________________________________
_________________________________

Same principle as Super BOM

Regular routing that contains all possible sequences,
operations and PRTs for all possible variants
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 Well 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

Material Master

Variant Class

Material Type: KMAT

Desc.: Italian B.M.T.
Variant Class: <Italian B.M.T.>

_________________________________
Pricing
Conditions

_________________________________

...

_________________________________
_________________________________

Desc.: Italian B.M.T.

Type: 300
Characteristic: Bread Type
Possible Values:
Regular
Italian
Herbs

Super
Routing

Super
BOM
Item 10: ...
Item 20: ...

Op. 10 ...
Op. 20 ...

_________________________________

Configuration
Profile

_________________________________

Order BOM
BOM explosion
User Interface

_________________________________

Characteristic: Length
Possible Values:
6

_________________________________
Dependencies

12

_________________________________

Precondition (PC)
Selection Condition (SC)
Procedures (P)
Constraints (C)

_________________________________
44

Object Dependencies

Precondition:

Can a characteristic (or characteristic value) be selected?

_________________________________
_________________________________

Must a characteristic (or characteristic value) be selected?

_________________________________

Procedures

_________________________________

Selection condition:

_________________________________

Infer values (including to reference characteristics)

Recursive, in sequence

_________________________________
_________________________________

Constraints (see VC Advanced presentation)

_________________________________

Infer values, and consistency check

Assigned to configuration profile only

_________________________________
_________________________________
45

Object Dependencies: Precondition

Precondition:

_________________________________

Can a characteristic (or char. value) be selected?

_________________________________

Assigned to:

_________________________________

_________________________________

Characteristic
Characteristic value

_________________________________

Examples:

_________________________________

Characteristic TANDEM_SADDLE appears in the value

assignment screen only if BIKE_MODEL = Tandem
Characteristic value 21 gears of characteristic GEARS
appears only if BIKE_MODEL = Mountain

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
46

Object Dependencies: Selection Condition

Selection Condition:

_________________________________

Must a characteristic (or characteristic value) be selected?

_________________________________

Assigned to:

_________________________________

_________________________________

Characteristic value
BOM items, Routing (operation, sub-operation,
sequence, PRT)

_________________________________
_________________________________

Examples:

_________________________________

BOM item Italian bread selected if BREAD_TYPE = Italian

Bread
Characteristic SPEAKER_TYPE selected only if OPTION =
STEREO System

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
47

Object Dependencies: Procedures

Procedures

_________________________________

Infer values (including to reference characteristics)

Recursiveness (in sequence), and can be overwritten

_________________________________
_________________________________

Assigned to:

_________________________________

_________________________________

Characteristic and characteristic values

BOM items (for example, to change the quantity)
Routing operations (for example, to change standard values)

_________________________________
_________________________________

Examples:

BOM quantity of BREAD is 0.5 if BREAD_SIZE = 6

Operation Preparation is 5 seconds if one topping, 10
seconds if two toppings, etc.
Characteristic value of BREAKING_SYSTEM is set to ABS if
CAR_ENGINE is set to V6 or V8
48

Object Dependencies: Dependency Editor

_________________________________

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

+,-,*,/
Standard functions: cos, sin, ceil, floor, etc.

_________________________________

Object variables:

_________________________________

_________________________________

Not ABAP, not a programming language (more like a

script)
Operators: AND, OR, NOT, IF, >, <>,
Arithmetic expressions:

_________________________________

_________________________________

$root: refers to header material in a configuration

$self: refers to the current object
$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:

_________________________________

Lets 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.)

_________________________________

Lets assign Selection Conditions to Operations:

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Double
click

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
51

Object Dependencies: Selection Condition (cont.)

Lets set the Pick and Slice bread operation time to:

_________________________________
_________________________________

5 seconds if bread size = 6

20 seconds if bread size = 24
(Else time remains 10 seconds)

_________________________________
_________________________________

In the routing, operation 10, click on Object Dependency

Procedure

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

52

Object Dependency: Recap

BOM item
Routing Op.

Assigned to
Precondition
(PC)

Can a
characteristic
(or char.
value) be
selected?

N/A

_________________________________
Characteristic

Characteristic
Value

Ex.: Char.
Tandem_saddle appears
as selectable only if
BIKE_MODEL= Tandem

Ex. Value 21 gears (of

char. GEARS) appears as
selectable only if
BIKE_MODEL = Mountain

Ex.: Char.
TANDEM_SADDLE must
be assigned a value if
BIKE_MODEL = Tandem

N/A

Ex.: If Char. ACCESSORIES

selected, then BOM
quantity of item SHIPPING
BOX set to 2.

Ex.: Char. value of char.

BRAKING SYSTEM is set
to ABS if ENGINE_TYPE
= V6 or V8

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Selection
Condition
(SC)

Must a char.
(or char.
Value) be
selected?

Ex.: BOM item Racing

Handlebar selected if
BIKE_MODEL = Racing
Ex.: Operation Install
Modem selected if
EXTRAS = Modem

Procedure
(P)

Infer values,
including
reference
data
(overwrite,
recursive)

Ex.: If VERSION = PC
Deluxe, then there are
two DVD Drive (BOM qty)
Ex.: If FINISH = Gloss,
then Op.Time = Op.Time +
10 minutes

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
53

What Well 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

Material Master

Variant Class

Material Type: KMAT

Desc.: Italian B.M.T.
Variant Class: <Italian B.M.T.>

_________________________________
Pricing
Conditions

_________________________________

..

_________________________________
_________________________________

Desc.: Italian B.M.T.

Type: 300
Characteristic: Bread Type
Possible Values:
Regular
Italian
Herbs

Super
Routing

Super
BOM
Item 10: ..
Item 20: ..

Op. 10..
Op. 20 ..

_________________________________

Configuration
Profile

_________________________________

Order BOM
BOM explosion
User Interface

_________________________________

Characteristic: Length

_________________________________

Possible Values:
6

Dependencies

12

_________________________________

Precondition (PC)
Selection Condition (SC)
Procedures (P)
Constraints (C)

_________________________________
55

Configuration Profile

Defines the configuration scenario:

_________________________________

PldOrder
Order Set
Order BOM
Multi-level configuration

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

User Interface design:

_________________________________

_________________________________

Allowed 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
Use in Advanced Planning and Modeling session

then SAVE
58

What Well 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.)

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
61

Simulation (cont.)

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
62

Simulation (cont.)

_________________________________
_________________________________

RESULT
(BOM)

_________________________________

RESULT
(Routing)

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Italian Bread QTY = 1

_________________________________

Two operations
Op.10 Std Value = 10 sec

_________________________________
63

Simulation (cont.)

_________________________________
_________________________________

Back to
configuration screen:
24 (double)
No grill

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
64

Simulation (cont.)

_________________________________
_________________________________

RESULT
(BOM)

RESULT
(Routing)

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Italian Bread QTY = 2

_________________________________

Op. 20 (grill) not selected

Op. 10 Std Value = 20 sec

_________________________________
65

What Well 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

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Constraints, Variant Tables

_________________________________

Configuration scenarios:

_________________________________

Order BOMs, Order Set (CU51)

Process flow: Sales Order, Engineering,
Multi-level Configuration

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Planning for VC

Make-to-Stock? Make-to-Order? Engineer-to-Order?

Assemble-to-Order?
Planning Strategies
Characteristics Based planning

_________________________________
_________________________________
69

Other Topics (Addressed in a Subsequent

Presentation) (cont.)

Engineering Change Management (ECM) and Order

Change Management (OCM)
Technical:

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Client management
Performance issues

_________________________________

Sales Configuration Engine (SCE) and Internet Pricing

and Configuration (IPC)
Modeling tips
Variant Configuration Project

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
70

What Well 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

_________________________________
_________________________________

http://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:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Wellesley Information Services, 990 Washington Street, Suite 308, Dedham, MA 02026

Copyright 2008 Wellesley Information Services. All rights reserved.