Table of Contents

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Foreword
17
Preface
21
Part I Basic Principles of Variant Configuration
25
1 Product Configuration with SAP
27
1.1 Generation Change: From SAP ERP to SAP S/4HANA
28
1.1.1 Comparing SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA
28
1.1.2 The SAP Fiori User Interface
30
1.1.3 SAP HANA or SAP S/4HANA?
30
1.1.4 Modes of Operation
31
1.1.5 The Digital Core
31
1.1.6 Simplification
32
1.2 Generation Change: From LO-VC to AVC
32
1.2.1 SAP S/4HANA: The Simplification List in LO-VC
33
1.2.2 AVC in SAP S/4HANA Cloud
34
1.3 Which SAP Configurators Are Available?
39
1.3.1 Internet Pricing and Configurator
39
1.3.2 Solution Sales Configurator
39
1.3.3 SAP CPQ
40
1.3.4 SAP Advanced Variant Configuration and Pricing Microservices
40
1.4 Product Configuration with AVC in an End-to-End Process
41
1.5 Managing Product Diversity
47
1.6 Manufacturing Scenarios for Configurable Products
50
1.7 Summary
52
2 The Path from LO-VC to AVC in SAP S/4HANA
53
2.1 AVC and LO-VC: An Either-Or?
53
2.2 Ways of Transformation
57
2.3 Basic Principles of the Transformation
58
2.4 Transition Workspaces
60
2.5 Transition Workbench
62
2.5.1 Structure of the Transition Workbench
62
2.5.2 Analysis of the LO-VC Model
63
2.5.3 Creating the AVC Model
65
2.5.4 Transforming a Constraint: An Example
66
2.6 Comparing the Results
67
2.7 Transferring the Material Variants
70
2.8 An Exemplary Approach to Switching from VC to AVC (Greenfield versus Brownfield)
72
2.8.1 Why Switch to AVC?
72
2.8.2 Brownfield versus Greenfield
73
2.8.3 Step 1: Scoping
73
2.8.4 Step 2: Planning
74
2.8.5 Step 3: Implementation
75
2.8.6 Step 4: Testing
75
2.8.7 Step 5: Go-Live
76
2.8.8 Step 6: Hypercare
76
2.9 Summary
76
Part II Basics of Modeling
77
3 Creating Your First Configurable Material
79
3.1 Basic Principles
80
3.2 A First Example
82
3.3 The Configurable Material Master
84
3.4 Variant Classes, Characteristics, and Configuration Profiles
86
3.5 The Valuation Interface of the Extended Variant Configuration
90
3.6 Object Dependencies for Planning and Production
94
3.7 Configuration and Prices
97
3.8 Summary
100
4 Master Data in the Modeling Context
101
4.1 Variant Configuration Modeling Environment
101
4.2 AVC Simulation Environment
110
4.3 Tools from the Classification System
119
4.3.1 Characteristic Maintenance
119
4.3.2 Class Maintenance
129
4.3.3 Classification
133
4.3.4 Search and Evaluation Options in the Classification System
139
4.4 Material Master, Bill of Materials, and Routing of the Configurable Material
145
4.4.1 Material Master of the Configurable Material
145
4.4.2 Super Bill of Materials of the Configurable Material
154
4.4.3 Super Routing for the Configurable Material
157
4.4.4 Production Versions
159
4.5 Configuration Profile and Configuration Scenarios
162
4.5.1 Overview of a Configuration Profile
162
4.5.2 Configuration Profiles in Detail
166
4.5.3 Configuration Scenarios at a Glance
170
4.5.4 Planned/Production Order without BOM Explosion Scenario
171
4.5.5 Planned/Production Order with BOM Explosion Scenario
174
4.5.6 Sales Order (SET) Scenario
177
4.5.7 Order BOM Scenario: The Engineer-to-Order Process
181
4.5.8 Order BOM Scenario: Order Bill of Materials and Order Routing
191
4.6 Characteristic Groups as User Interface Design
197
4.7 Summary
202
5 Object Dependencies
203
5.1 Basic Principles
203
5.1.1 Types and Assignment of Object Dependencies
204
5.1.2 Procedural and Declarative Character of Object Dependencies
209
5.1.3 Local and Global Object Dependencies
209
5.1.4 Status of Object Dependencies
215
5.1.5 Processing Mode of Object Dependencies
216
5.1.6 Object Dependencies in Classification and Variant Configuration
217
5.1.7 Execution Sequence of Object Dependencies
218
5.1.8 Basic Rules of the Syntax
221
5.1.9 Syntax Elements
224
5.2 Variant Tables
228
5.2.1 Creating a Table Structure
228
5.2.2 Linking a Variant Table to a Database Table or to a Custom Business Object
230
5.2.3 Contents of a Variant Table
232
5.2.4 Accessing a Variant Table
234
5.2.5 Variant Tables for Value Restrictions via Constraints
234
5.2.6 Variant Tables for Deriving Values via Procedures
236
5.2.7 Variant Tables in Conditions
238
5.3 Object Dependencies for Interactive Configuration (High-Level Configuration)
240
5.3.1 Use Constraints
240
5.3.2 Exclusive Syntax for Constraints in Detail
242
5.3.3 Constraints in the Trace
250
5.3.4 Procedures
253
5.3.5 Exclusive Syntax for Procedures in Detail
256
5.3.6 Procedures in the Trace
258
5.3.7 Facet Changes with Preconditions and Selection Conditions
259
5.3.8 AVC: Business Add-Ins
263
5.3.9 Principles of AVC Modeling for Good Performance
268
5.3.10 Constraints and the Multiple Use of Classes
270
5.4 Object Dependencies for a Bill of Materials and Routing (Low-Level Configuration)
271
5.4.1 Selection Conditions in a Bill of Materials and Routing
271
5.4.2 Class Nodes in Bills of Materials
274
5.4.3 Procedures in Bills of Materials and Routings
278
5.5 Summary
281
6 Pricing
283
6.1 Pricing in Sales
283
6.1.1 Step 1: Reference Characteristic with Reference to Structure SDCOM-VKOND
284
6.1.2 Step 2: Determine the Condition Type and Create a Variant Condition
286
6.1.3 Step 3: Check the Costing Sheet
288
6.1.4 Step 4: Assign Variant Conditions
288
6.1.5 Checking the Result of Our Modeling Steps
291
6.2 Pricing on the Basis of Sales Order Costing
295
6.3 Pricing in Purchasing
296
6.3.1 Step 1: Check the Costing Sheet
302
6.3.2 Step 2: Determine the Condition Type and Create Variant Conditions
302
6.3.3 Step 3: Assign the Reference Characteristic
305
6.3.4 Step 4: Assign Variant Conditions
305
6.4 Microservice for Pricing on SAP Business Technology Platform
306
6.4.1 How the Pricing Service Works
307
6.4.2 Administration
309
6.4.3 Extensibility
310
6.5 Summary
311
7 Material Variants
313
7.1 Material Master
314
7.2 Bill of Materials
319
7.3 Routing
323
7.4 Pricing
328
7.5 Variant Matching
328
7.6 Summary
336
Part III Integration
337
8 Integrating Variant Configuration in Platforms via Knowledge Bases and Runtime Versions
339
8.1 Architecture
339
8.2 Master Data for Configuration Integration: Knowledge Bases and Runtime Versions
342
8.2.1 Replicating Master Data from SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA Systems
342
8.2.2 The Delta List in Relation to the Use of Microservices and LO-VC
343
8.2.3 Differences between Configuration Models and Knowledge Bases in the Delta List
345
8.2.4 Selecting the Knowledge Base at Runtime
345
8.3 Tips for Generating Knowledge Base Runtime Versions
346
8.3.1 Objects of the Knowledge Base
346
8.3.2 Generating New Runtime Versions
347
8.3.3 Regenerating Existing Runtime Versions
348
8.3.4 Configuration with Runtime Versions during Changes to the Product Model
350
8.3.5 The Suitability of a Product Model for Generating Knowledge Bases and Runtime Versions
352
8.3.6 The Compatibility of the Product Model
353
8.3.7 Changes for the Application of Configuration Models in Sales and Distribution
353
8.3.8 Tips for Creating Runtime Versions
353
8.3.9 Recommendations for Naming Conventions
354
8.4 Instructions for (Re)generating Runtime Versions
365
8.4.1 When Do New Runtime Versions Need to Be Created?
366
8.4.2 When Do Existing Runtime Versions Need to Be Regenerated?
367
8.4.3 Runtime Versions in Connection with Change Numbers
367
8.4.4 How Often Should You (Re)generate Runtime Versions?
368
8.4.5 Innovations in the Use of AVC
370
8.4.6 Filtering Unneeded Runtime Versions
372
8.5 Using the Configuration Microservice in SAP BTP
373
8.5.1 Calling the Configuration Service
373
8.5.2 Administration
374
8.5.3 Extensibility
375
8.6 Variant Configuration in SAP Commerce Cloud
375
8.7 Integrated Variant Configuration in SAP CPQ
379
8.7.1 SAP CPQ as a Leading System
379
8.7.2 SAP CPQ as an Add-On for Integrated SAP ERP or SAP S/4HANA Variant Configuration
380
8.8 Summary
386
9 New Integration Aspects for Variant Configuration
387
9.1 Master Data Distribution with Product Data Replication
387
9.1.1 Challenges and Opportunities
389
9.1.2 Setting Up and Customizing Product Data Replication
392
9.1.3 Additional System Preparation for Product Data Replication
402
9.1.4 Replication Workbench: Objects and Terminology
404
9.1.5 Creating a Configuration Definition and Folder
405
9.1.6 Creating and Exploding the Baseline
407
9.1.7 From Distribution Order to Distribution Unit and Distribution Packet
411
9.1.8 Sending the UPS Packet
411
9.1.9 Posting the Packet
413
9.1.10 Correction Packets
414
9.1.11 Replicating Condition Records
418
9.1.12 Product Data Replication Add-On for Routings
419
9.1.13 Troubleshooting and Tips and Tricks
420
9.2 SAP Variant Configuration with SAP Teamcenter
424
9.2.1 The Strategic Partnership between SAP and Siemens
425
9.2.2 The Next Generation of SAP Teamcenter Integration
426
9.2.3 Current Status and Outlook for End-to-End Variant Configuration
427
9.2.4 A Real-Life Example: Consistent Variant Configuration of a Configurable Valve
428
9.3 Requirements Management and Documentation in Modeling: SAP Enterprise Product Development
432
9.4 Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Configurable Products
437
9.4.1 Data Acquisition and Preparation
443
9.4.2 Creating Models/Scenarios and Training
444
9.4.3 Using Machine Learning Models
444
9.4.4 Machine Learning in the Industry Cloud
445
9.5 Integrating AVC with SAP Workflow Management
447
9.6 Two-Tier Scenario: Cross-System Procurement of Configured Products
453
9.7 Summary
456
10 Solutions from SAP Partners
457
10.1 3D Configuration
457
10.1.1 Terminology
458
10.1.2 Functions of a 3D Configuration Integrated into the SAP System
460
10.1.3 3D Configuration, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality
461
10.1.4 Real-Life Example: TRILUX GmbH & Co. KG
462
10.1.5 3D Engine
467
10.2 Artificial Intelligence-Optimized Processing of Customer Requests
470
10.2.1 Basic Principles and General Conditions
470
10.2.2 Preliminary Considerations
474
10.2.3 Examples
477
10.3 Variant Table Contents on SAP Business Technology Platform
482
10.3.1 System Architecture
482
10.3.2 The Simple Variant Table Maintenance Application from networker, solutions
483
10.4 Variant Configuration with Machine Learning
492
10.4.1 Machine Learning and Complex Formulas: Bread Baking Example
493
10.4.2 Using Machine Learning in Real Life: “Folder Gluer” Packaging Machine Example
500
10.5 Hybrid System Configuration, End-to-End Automation, and API-Based Integration with SAP Solutions
503
10.5.1 Integrated Variant Configuration with SAP Solutions and External Software Systems
504
10.5.2 Consistent User Experience with Heterogeneous Configuration Engines in Parallel Operation
505
10.5.3 Multilevel Hybrid System Configuration and Orchestration of Heterogeneous Knowledge Bases
507
10.5.4 Service-Oriented Architectures, SAP-Compatible APIs, and Complex Multilevel Data Structures
509
10.5.5 System-Neutral Configuration IDs and Configuration Lifecycle Management
510
10.5.6 End-to-End Digitization and Automation Using Workflow Management and Integration
512
10.6 Summary
513
Part IV Industry Best Practices
517
11 Case Study: Transformation from LO-VC to AVC
519
11.1 AVC Preliminary Study
519
11.1.1 Data Model Analysis
520
11.1.2 Analysis of PFUNCTIONs
520
11.1.3 Identifying Risks and Challenges
521
11.1.4 Estimated Work Involved
522
11.2 Best Practice Transformation: A Real-Life Example
526
11.2.1 Scoping
526
11.2.2 Planning
527
11.2.3 Implementation
529
11.2.4 Testing
531
11.2.5 Go-Live
531
11.2.6 Hypercare
532
11.3 Summary
532
12 SAP Variant Configuration Communities
533
12.1 Configuration Working Group
533
12.1.1 Objective and Tasks
535
12.1.2 History
536
12.1.3 Organizational Structure
538
12.1.4 CWG Conferences
539
12.1.5 CWG Portal
541
12.1.6 CWG Sandbox Systems
542
12.2 The DSAG Variant Configuration Working Group
543
12.2.1 Interview with the DSAG Variant Configuration Working Group
544
12.3 SAP AVC Customer Co-Innovation Council
546
12.4 Summary
547
The Authors
549
Authors
549
Contributors
550
Foreword Authors
557
Index
559