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Getting Started
With Configuration
Control
An introduction into Configuration Control not only for
beginners
Version:
4/28/2014
Robert Hügel
4/28/2014
SAP Getting Started With Configuration Control
Table of Contents
1 Motivation ....................................................................................................................................... 7
2 Prerequisites, boundary of the topics ............................................................................................. 7
3 What is Configuration Control about? ............................................................................................ 8
3.1 Technical objects ..................................................................................................................... 8
3.2 Consistence check of the technical objects............................................................................. 9
4 Before modeling define your needs .............................................................................................. 10
5 Basic rules of modeling, the first example .................................................................................... 16
5.1 General .................................................................................................................................. 16
5.2 iPPE, Integrated Product- and Process-Engineering.............................................................. 16
5.3 The example .......................................................................................................................... 16
5.4 Access node and product class .............................................................................................. 17
5.5 Structure nodes, building up a structure inside the MPL ...................................................... 21
5.6 Building up the actual structure ............................................................................................ 24
5.6.1 General remarks ............................................................................................................ 24
5.6.2 Top equipment, hard link to the corresponding set of rules ........................................ 24
5.6.3 Equipment relevant for the check of Configuration Control......................................... 26
5.6.4 Configuration check with transaction CCM2 ................................................................. 29
5.6.5 Multiple usage of a MPL ................................................................................................ 31
5.6.6 The three steps of Configuration Control...................................................................... 31
5.6.7 FID grouping (1), interpretation of the actual structure for Configuration Control
purpose 32
6 View nodes and functional locations ............................................................................................ 35
6.1 Motivation ............................................................................................................................. 35
6.2 The example .......................................................................................................................... 35
6.3 Functional locations .............................................................................................................. 37
6.3.1 The very top functional location ................................................................................... 37
6.3.2 Functional locations as installation location for equipment ......................................... 37
6.3.3 Meaning of structure levels........................................................................................... 37
6.3.4 FID Grouping (2), influence of functional locations ...................................................... 38
6.3.5 Wrong usage of functional locations, error message CCMM047.................................. 40
6.3.6 Determination of top equipment with link to MPL access node, error message
CCMM021 ...................................................................................................................................... 42
6.4 View nodes ............................................................................................................................ 45
6.4.1 General remarks ............................................................................................................ 45
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© 2014 SAP AG or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
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Title image:
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1 Motivation
This document is made to arouse the understanding how Configuration Control is working.
Basic modeling skills of the data used for Configuration Control should be provided.
If available, technical chapters should provide an insight into the coding of the application to enable
users to adjust the application to their needs.
This document is making use of the Configuration Control functionality since EhP4.
Making use of Configuration Control it is necessary to have good knowledge in the areas
shown in Figure 1. It is showing the world of Configuration Control and the applications used
to make Configuration Control running. This document is not made to explain the details of
all the mentioned used applications. Explanations are made as far as they are necessary to
get the basic knowledge of configuration control and how to model data.
Maintenance planning
Maintenance processing
Event documentation
Accounting
Installation/dismantling of parts into/from a technical device
…
The basis for all the maintenance actions which can be performed on a technical devices with the
SAP application is a data model inside the system that represents the technical device and its’
subassemblies. Within the SAP system this modeling happens via the data objects functional location
and equipment.
Technical devices, assets, buildings or parts of it can be structured with functional locations. These
functional locations are often used to model the technical device on a high and rough level. The goal
is to separate the technical device in those organizational units that fits for the company. The
separation inside the structure often happens in dependence on
Technical aspects: Devices of the engine, parts of the landing gear, press …
Functional or process driven aspects: Condensation …
Topological aspects: Building, hall, …
Equipment usually are independent, physical, individual objects to be maintained such as the engine,
the pump ….
Equipment can be installed into functional locations and equipment. In opposite functional locations
can only be assigned to superior functional locations.
Figure 2 is showing the structure of technical objects of a technical device, here an aircraft.
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Figure 2 Structure of a technical device using technical objects functional locations and equipment
The major question which might came up at this point of time: How can the correctness of the
configuration of such complex structures can be guaranteed and checked?
Figure 3 is showing the overview on the solution Configuration Control inside the SAP system.
Configuration Control is used to uphold the operational safety and reliability of technical devices
inside the SAP system.
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Within the system a data structure is defined which represents the set of rules to be used for
validation checks. This structure contains more or less the valid parts and the quantity of the parts
and the location inside the technical structure. This set of rules is used to check the actual structures
of technical devices inside the system to find invalid or missing parts.
This set of rules is called Master Parts List (MPL) and is modeled by making use of the structuring
tools of the SAP application iPPE (Integrated Product & Process Engineering).
The development of Configuration Control was once triggered in the 1990th by the civil airlines and
was developed as industry solution of Aerospace & Defense. Within the R/3 Enterprise release 4.7 a
retrofit to the SAP standard took place in the year 2003.
Therefore you first must have got an understanding on the needs of your company concerning the
checks you want to perform with Configuration Control.
This chapter should provide you with some ideas what topics to respect inside your data model.
Behind each topic you will find a keyword that gave a hint to a possible modeling solution. These
possible approaches are explained later on.
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Question/Task:
Does a task sharing of maintenance, repair and overhaul activities at the technical device
exist? Are different teams with different skills responsible for different subassemblies?
Can the technical device separated in different units from an organizational or technical
point of view?
Does there exist the burden of proof for configuration checks of assemblies of a technical
device? On which level of the structure? On the whole structure or also on subassemblies of
it?
Does there exist very big and complex subassemblies, should the data model allow the
installation/dismantling of those parts and the individual check of them?
Example:
Within the aircraft maintenance it can be expected that different teams are responsible for the
maintenance, repair and overhaul of the engines, landing gears, wing devices, ect. On the one and
these teams should be enabled to check the subassemblies they are experts in by using
Configuration Control. On the other hand a complete check of the complete aircraft should be
possible (see Figure 4).
Possible approach:
Coupled MPLs with different product classes and usage of the complete and partial check inside
Configuration Control.
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Question/Task:
Does exist the need that one and the same technical device has to be adjusted to different
operational conditions?
Example:
Within the defense area a fighter aircraft has to fulfill different missions. The aircraft itself remains
the same in the major parts. Different operational task might need different additional parts, which
are not necessary for the basic operation of the fighter aircraft (see Figure 5).
Possible approach:
Coupled MPLs with different product classes, variant configuration, object dependency, customer
specific filtering functions for MPL and actual structure.
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Question/Task:
Are there technical devices of the same model but different types?
Example:
An aircraft manufacturer AC is producing two different aircraft models AC2 and AC3. Within the
airline the aircraft model Boeing AC2 is used. Different types are in operation e.g. the short range
type AC2-S and the long range type AC2-L (see Figure 6).
Possible approaches:
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Question/Task:
Is there the need to model individual characteristics for different technical devices of the same
model?
Example:
The airline is using several aircrafts of the same model AC3 (see Figure 6). The single aircrafts are
identified by their tail number. The AC3 with the tail number AAAA-01 has 10 seats less than the
AC3 with the tail number BBBB-02.
Possible approach:
Model one MPL for the aircraft of the model AC3 and make use of Engineering Change Management
(ECM).
Question/Task:
Is there existing the possibility that materials are interchangeable concerning their
form,
fit and
function?
Example:
The pump with the material number B can be used the same way than pump with the material
number B; form fit and function are identical.
Possible approach:
Question/Task:
Example:
If once a fuel pump with the material number FP01 was installed into a technical device it is only
allowed to replace this pump with a fuel pump with the material number FP02.
Possible approach:
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Question/Task:
Are there existing relations between parts of different installation locations inside a technical device
or subassembly due to their properties?
Example:
If the fuel pump with the material number FP01 is installed within the aircraft engine the fuel
withdrawal line must have the material number FWL01.
Possible approach:
Question/Task:
Which part of a technical device should participate at the checks of Configuration Control?
Example:
Possible approach:
Finally this depends at the use case and the industry sector where Configuration Control should be
used. An airline might have a different view which parts are worth to participate, e.g. because of
safety and reliability, than the manufacturer of an aircraft engine. One might have the view of the
operator and maintainer the other one of the producer.
In any case you should be aware of the amount of data to be processed by Configuration Control
and the resulting runtime. SAP note 1536543 [SAP N1536543] should give you an idea about this.
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5.1 General
In this chapter you should be made familiar with the basics how to model an MPL and how to link
this MPL to an actual structure of technical objects of a technical device.
The functionality of Configuration Control is not able to detect modeling issues! Any modeling
error inside the actual structure or the MLP can cause fussy results inside the resulting check list of
Configuration Control!
You can use the Integrated Product and Process Engineering (iPPE) component to collect all the data
for an entire product life cycle in one integrated model. It is particularly suited to products with many
variants. You can use iPPE to document data, and later re-use and update it, from early phases of the
research and development process for a product. You can represent a complete production model
because Integrated Product and Process Engineering allows you to keep the master data for bill of
material (BOM) routings, and line design in one model. It is particularly suited to repetitive
manufacturing [SAP Help, iPPE].
Please keep mind that the MPL is only using a minor part of the mighty iPPE functionality. Not
everything allowed in the iPPE is allowed in the context of MPL modeling!
Building up a MPL is more or less respecting the specific rules of cook book which was once was
devised by the developers of the Configuration Control functionality!
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An aircraft should be checked by the means of configuration control whether the correct materials
with the correct quantity are used for the fuel tanks and the tiers.
Please keep in mind that this example seems not to be quite realistic, but it should fulfill the needs
for a basic explanation of MPL creation.
The access node is used to link the current set of rules to an actual structure of technical
object which has to be checked by the MPL.
The access node itself does not contain any information which is relevant for the check! It is
more or less the nut shell around the included set of rules.
Within Table 1 you find the necessary steps and basic rules to create an access node.
See Figure 8.
2 Create a class with the class This class have to be used later on
type 300 (Variants) and assign In the assignment of the configuration profile of the
the characteristics of step 1 configurable material (Step 3)
(when available) . As product class inside the access node definition (Step 4)
Transaction CL01
This step is mandatory!
See Figure 9.
3 Create a configurable material This configurable material is used later on
Transaction MM01 as formal access variant inside the access node
as carrier inside an equipment
o to link an actual technical object structure to a MPL
o to provide the MPL explosion with information about
the current shape (e.g. about the current aircraft type)
via variant configuration
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One MPL must contain exactly one access node at the top of the MPL!
Figure 8 to Figure 14 are showing the preparation and the definition of the access node for the
example.
Within Figure 8 some valid values for the characteristic AC_TYPE are defined. They will be used later
on in an example.
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Figure 9 Create variant class via transaction CL01 and assign characteristic
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Figure 11 Assign the variant class via configuration profile to configurable material via transaction CU41
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Only structure nodes containing data relevant for the validation via Configuration Control!
Inside the structure node you list the materials which are valid for the corresponding part in the
actual structure. Each single material has to be mentioned in one separate variant of the structure
node.
The quantity of all structure node variants of one structure node must be identical.
If you’ve more than one variant at one structure node and the quantity is greater than one, the
corresponding parts in the actual structure can use the materials listed as variants in the structure
node; the material number must not be identical for the corresponding parts.
The materials used inside the structure node variants must contain a serial number profile to enable
the serialization procedure especially for material management actions and logistic processes like
goods movement! This is very important for
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e.g. via the transaction IE4N. Within Table 2 you find the necessary steps and basic rules to create a
structure node.
Assign the structure node to a superior node inside the current MPL. This
can be another structure node or the access node inside the MPL. It is not
allowed to assign a structure node inside a MPL more than one superior
node.
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were created. Please don’t mind about the additional materials FT02 and TR02. We need them later
for further explanations.
Figure 15 is showing how to create a structure node and how to assign it to a superior node in one
step. To reach this
1. you’ve to mark the node where you want to assign a subordinate note.
2. Than press the right mouse button to reach the show context menu.
Figure 16 is showing the complete MPL of the example inside transaction PPE or PDN.
Within Figure 17 you can find an overview over the created MPL with all relevant data.
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This structure can contain technical objects like functional locations, equipment and special Bill-Of-
Material-items (BOM). The usage of special BOM-items is available since EhP2.
While functional locations are ‘only used’ to structure the actual structure, only equipment and BOM
items are relevant for the check of Configuration Control! This means, functional locations are not
part of the check!
It is very important, that this structure fulfill the needs of Configuration Control! Normally it is pretty
complex to adopt existing, old structures of technical objects to the needs of Configuration Control.
Within the first example we only use equipment to gain the basic knowledge of modeling.
Furthermore this equipment is very important to provide the filter data for the explosion of the MPL.
We will see this later in the chapters concerning
Only by this equipment this data can be provided! It presides the subordinate technical structure.
Table 3 is showing the basic rules how to create the top equipment.
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Figure 18 Inside the tab strip ‘Configuration data’ of the top equipment
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Figure 19 Create the assignment to the access node inside the tab strip ‘Configuration Control’
These equipment are relevant for the checks of Configuration Control. By standard the following
checks will be performed inside the Configuration Control Workbench (Transaction CCM2):
Used material number inside the installed equipment against the material number inside the
MPL
Quantity of the installed equipment against the desired quantity of the material inside the
MPL. Every single equipment counts as one piece in the quantity check!
Installation location in comparison to the MPL structure
Only equipment installed below the top equipment are part of the check! We will see later on how
this is working, when we are using functional location for structuring purpose. At the moment we use
a pure equipment structure.
These equipment are part of maintenance, repair and overhaul process. Whitin this process this
equipment are dismantled from and installed into the actual structure.
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The material number of the equipment to be checked by Configuration Control is part of the serial
number data of the equipment. Providing also a valid value for the serial number for the material
number the equipment can take part in the logistic processes like a goods movement.
With this data the transaction IE4N can be used to perform the installation or dismantling together
with a goods movement.
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Figure 20 Equipment representing the fuel tank inside the technical object structure
Figure 20 is showing an equipment representing the fuel tank inside the aircraft to be checked by the
rules of the structure node SN_FT. Due to the mentioned soft link via the FID the related structure
node can be located in different MPLs.
Figure 21 is showing the complete actual technical structure of the aircraft 01 which only contains
equipment in this example.
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Not all objects in FID group have the same superordinate equipment (Message no.
CCMM035)
indicate correctly that the equipment listed are installed into two different installation locations:
Equipment ETR01 and ETR02.
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If the aircrafts are pretty identical, e.g. if they have the same type, we can use the same MPL. We will
see later, how we can distinguish between the individual aircrafts and their special characteristics
within one MPL. Figure 24 is showing the multiple usage of one MPL for the aircraft 01, 02 and 03.
With this technique you might be able to reduce the data maintenance effort.
Within step 1 the actual structure is read starting with the top equipment that contains the link to
the access node of the MPL.
Within step 2, which is the most complex one, the MPL is read, making use of
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Please don’t mind about the mentioned topics Figure 25 we did not discuss so far. This is done the
following chapters.
5.6.7 FID grouping (1), interpretation of the actual structure for Configuration Control
purpose
The FID grouping is taking place in the check part of configuration control after the actual structure
and the MPL were read.
To be able to compare the actual structure and the MPL the FIDs of the equipment and BOM items
This is necessary to make the actual structure comparable to the MPL structure nodes names and its’
variant and structural information.
At the moment we should concentrate on pure equipment structures and how they are exploded
concentrating on FID inside the equipment.
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Figure 26 is showing the determination of the FID of the superior technical object, the so called
parent FID.
As result of the interpretation shown in Figure 26 we get the information related to the FID shown in
Figure 27. All the relevant technical objects (here equipment) are grouped by their FID. This means
the FID-Group for SN_FT contains the equipment EFT01 and EFT02
the FID-Group for SN_TR contains the equipment ETR01 and ETR02
the FID-Group for SN_SEAT contains the equipment ESEAT01, …, ESEAT08
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Furthermore we know that the ‘FID’ of the related superior object of equipment EFT01 is EAC01-01.
As the top equipment does not contain a FID information, the MPL node name of the access node is
taken over in a formal way.
For equipment ESEAT05 the FID of the related superior object is SN_TR. As result we get a similar
structure as show in Figure 17.
With this information we are able to perform the check against the MPL. Figure 28 is showing the
result in another way.
You might ask: Why do I need to know this? The FID-grouping of the actual structure is essential for
the checks in Configuration Control. And it has an influence on the check result. Please keep in mind
that the FIDs are nothing else than the structure node (names) inside the MPL.
Knowing the FID-grouping you might be able to interpret the results of the checks in a better way.
Furthermore the FID-grouping has an influence on the quantity check.
Let’s assume we want to check the equipment for FID group SN_SEAT:
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With this information we can check equipment by equipment that all equipment with the FID
SN_SEAT are respecting the rules 1 and 2 of the structure node SN_SEAT:
What about the quantity of 8? Looking at the MPL, the structure node SN_SEAT has a quantity of 4.
The superior structure node SN_TR has a quantity of 2. This means for the check a required amount
of 2*4 = 8 objects (here equipment) with the material number SEAT01 and the FID SN_SEAT. The
superior node of structure node SN_TR in the MPL is the access node AN_AC01 which does not
contribute at the quantity check. If we count the relevant equipment, we find 8 pieces. With this the
quantity check is passed.
can be used.
As mentioned in chapter 5.6.1, only equipment and special BOM items are relevant for the check!
View nodes and functional locations are not part of the check!
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Using functional locations the Aircraft 01 should be structured into the following structural units
inside the actual structure:
Please see chapter 3.1 for the meaning of the functional location which is used to be the structural
unit here. Often such a structuring is mandatory in specific industries when you model technical
structures by means of digital data processing. One example are the ATA chapters (ATA = Air
Transport Association, Airlines for America [A4A]) for aircraft operating companies.
Within the corresponding MPL we want to have the following structural units:
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A structural unit for the aircraft is not necessary as the access node AN_AC01 is used for this
purpose.
It is not allowed to have any additional top equipment installed at that functional location or at this
structure level!
Anyhow, functional locations do not contain any Configuration Control relevant information.
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Figure 31 Interpretation of the technical object structure respecting the FID, find parent FID
This mechanism is pretty important for the structuring of the actual structure and how it is
interpreted by Configuration Control. Later we will see an example which is modeled in a wrong way.
A wrong usage of functional locations can cause fuzzy check results in Configuration Control. A
example can be found in chapter 6.3.5.
The result of the FID-grouping is the same as shown in the Figure 27 and Figure 28!
The result for the check of this actual structure (see Figure 30) with Configuration Control does not
differ to Figure 23 (see Figure 32).
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Within Figure 35 the result of the parent FID determination by the method introduced in Figure 31 is
shown. For the equipment ESEAT01, ESEAT02, ESEAT03 and ESEAT04 the parent FID is now EAC01-
01. This is wrong. Concerning the MPL the parent node of the node SN_SEAT is SN_TR! That means,
the parent FID of an equipment with the FID SN_SEAT must be SN_TR. Figure 36 is showing Within
the result of the check. The error message
indicates the modeling error of the actual structure. Same is valid for the equipment ESEAT02,
ESEAT03 and ESEAT04.
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6.3.6 Determination of top equipment with link to MPL access node, error message
CCMM021
In some cases you get the error message
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A very important step within Configuration Control is the determination of the top equipment within
an actual structure. This top equipment provides the Configuration Control how the MPL should be
exploded. This is done by
of the top equipment. We will learn the meaning of both in one of the following chapters.
The rules of chapter 6.3.1 and 6.3.2 have to be respected. The mechanism shown in Figure 37 is more
or less also used to determine the top equipment and the link to the access node.
Please use the mechanism shown in Figure 37 to validate your actual structure.
Table 5 is showing some valid and invalid actual structures concerning the rules shown in Figure 37
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Example Remark
This structure is valid. By the rules of Figure 37
the top equipment E1 with the link to the MPL
access node can be found.
Legend:
Anyhow it is not allowed to have more than one top equipment installed at a functional location!
This is because the top equipment presides the subordinate technical structure.
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Access nodes:
o An access node is the most top node of a MPL
o It is not allowed to assign an access node to a superior structure node
o It is not allowed to assign an access node to a superior view node
Structure nodes:
o A structure node can be assigned to a superior access node
o A structure node can be assigned to superior structure node
o A structure node can be assigned to superior view node
View node:
o A view node can be assigned to a superior access node
o A view node can be assigned to superior view node
o It is not allowed to assign a view node to a superior structure node! This can be
compared to functional locations in the actual structure; you are not allowed to
‘install’ a functional location into a superior equipment.
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6.4.4 Final rules for the determination of the parent MPL node, error message CCMM047
The usage of view nodes have an influence on the determination of the parent node name of a
structure node! Figure 39 is showing how the parent node of a structure node is determined. Finally
this method is used to extract the structure relevant for the check.
Table 6 is showing some examples how this extraction is working. It is pretty important to
understand this extraction of the structure nodes and the related parent nodes as this information is
part of the configuration check.
If the actual structure contains an equipment XYZ with the FID SN3, this equipment must be
installed into an equipment with the FID SN2! If the equipment with the FID SN3 does not
meet this rule the error message
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Legend:
Figure 40 is showing our aircraft example with view nodes inside the MPL and the extracted MPL
structure inside the configuration check.
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The major disadvantage of view nodes is that they increase the runtime of the MPL explosion (Step 2
in Figure 25). Because of this it is recommended to reduce the usage of the view nodes to a
minimum.
First of we must be clear of the fact what iPPE stands for. It is Integrated Product and Process
Engineering. Using the iPPE tool the structure of a product with all its variants can be modeled from
perspective of construction. The main goal is to have a description of the product and its variants
free of redundancy which can be used in the following processes of production and service.
From the maintenance perspective a set of rules - the MPL-should be set up.
by managing the attributes and the structure of a product. Using the industry solution Discrete
Industries & Mill Products process data can be modeled as well.
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Within Configuration Control we use the iPPE application CMP to build up the MPL. For production
an planning purpose a product structure is build using the application CMP, too. With this a so called
Product Variant Structure (PVS) is build.
Both, MPL and PVS, are using the same node types within the application CMP. These node types
are:
Access node
Structure node
View nodes.
It might be possible that technical structure like an aircraft is modelled within the PSV for production
purpose. This structure is very detailed to satisfy the production needs.
Within the MPL we do not need all the production relevant parts. Only maintenance and security
relevant parts should be part of the MPL.
If we use MPL and PVS in the same system this might lead to problems within the Material Resource
Planning (MRP) as also the node of the MPL taking part although they are not relevant for
production. Therefore iPPE data in the area of construction/production and maintenance should
strictly be separated in order not to disturb follow-up-processes (like MRP for production and
recursion checks).
Due to the rules of the iPPE node type for the application CMP it is also not possible to us the same
materials inside an equipment BOM and a iPPE structure node variant.
Within this document we use the same standard node types for the MPL as used in the PVS. For this
document we act under the assumption, that in the system or client we create our MPL no
production relevant PVS does exist!
With ERP 6.0 Ehp4 new node types for the MPL are introduced for the application CMP. These node
types should only be used for MPL modelling within iPPE. With these new node types it is possible to
clearly separate the MPL from the PVS inside the same system! With this node types it is possible it is
possible to use the same materials inside the equipment BOM and the iPPE structure node variants.
With the standard iPPE node types this is not possible. Figure 41 is showing the new node types since
EhP4.
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To make use of the new node types within EhP4, you have to turn on the LOG_EAM_CC business
function, and make sure, that you have EA_IPPE-404 installed beforehand. iPPE made some
developments in EhP4, which are prerequisites for this function. You should use the new MPL node
types in iPPE to avoid the conflicts with BOM using the same materials. You can use the report
PPE_CONVERT_PVS_MPL to convert your "old" iPPE structures to the new MPL structure. Please
consider the specific behaviour of this report! You can find further information in [SAP Help,
Conversion of Standard iPPE Structures].
The chapter 7 concentrates on the Configuration Control relevant Parts of transaction IE4N.
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In opposite to the classical transactions of the plant maintenance functionality of SAP to install or
dismantle equipment/serialized equipment like IE01, IE02, IQ01, IQ02 which are only able to perform
the pure installation/dismantling, the transaction IE4N is able to
If you want to make use of the Configuration Control functionality, you have to use the transaction
IE4N for any dismantling and installing actions.
The structure gap is also included into the checks of Configuration Control. Within the checks the
structure gap indicates the missing, dismantled parts.
The information of the structure gap can be used inside the installation process of transaction IE4N
to gain knowledge about:
The structure gap is also part of the quantity check in the Configuration Control Workbench. If the
expected quantity of installed parts in an installation location is two for example and there does exist
a structure gap and a installed equipment for this installation location, no quantity error message
occurs. The additional message
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If the expected quantity of installed parts in an installation location is one for example and there
does exist a structure gap and a installed equipment for this installation location, a quantity error
message occurs:
<n> object(s) found below superior object <object number>. Expected quantity is <m> PC
(Message no. CCMM033)
Furthermore the Information for the structure gap is used to adjust the FID information of the part to
be installed. If the FID of the part to be installed does not fit to the FID of the structure gap, the FID
of the part to be installed is adjusted to the FID of the structure gap.
8.3.2 Content
A structure gap contains the following data:
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whenever you ‘install’ parts into a special type of equipment related bill of material (BOM)
with transaction IE4N by increasing the quantity of a BOM item, (since EhP2)
whenever you delete a structure gap manually via transaction CCM2
Dismantle the equipment from the installation location and release the measurement
document transfer.
Performing a goods receipt if required by the chosen IE4N dismantling action for the
serialized equipment which is dismantled.
Create a structure gap to memorize the installation location and the equipment formerly
installed with all its’ data (e.g. object number of the equipment, material number and FID).
Create/change a notification for the dismantling action.
8.4.2 Example
With the following example we concentrate on the behavior of the Configuration Control Workbench
checking a structure where a dismantling takes place before.
Within our known and so far correct aircraft example (functional location FLAC01) we dismantle
equipment ESEAT04 from equipment ETR01 using the transaction IE4N (see Figure 42).
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If we now start transaction CCM2 to check the actual structure against the MPL, we get the following
result (see Figure 43):
Figure 43 Configuration Control check with transaction CCM2 after dismantling of equipment ESEAT04
The message
In the next step we dismantle the fuel tank EFT01 with transaction IE4N (see Figure 44). The message
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Figure 44 Configuration Control check with transaction CCM2 after dismantling of equipment EFT01
Installing the equipment into the installation location and connect measurement points and
counters for the measurement document transfer between the installation location and the
installed equipment.
Performing a goods issue if required by the chosen IE4N installing action for the serialized
equipment which is installed.
Delete the corresponding structure gap of the installation location for the installed
equipment.
Create/change a notification for the installing action.
Perform the Configuration Control local check
In opposite to the checks inside the transaction CCM2 (Configuration Control Workbench) this check
only performs a check, whether the material number of the part to be installed reflects a material
number given in the corresponding MPL-structure-node.
Checks, that make it necessary to explode or analyze the complete MPL or actual structure as
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Quantity checks,
Checks from Set-Relationship,
The methodology to determine of the top equipment within Step 1 can be found in Figure 37.
If the material of the installed part/equipment does not fit an error message does occur. This error
message is preventing transaction IE4N to install this wrong part/equipment.
You can overrule the result of this check and install the wrong part/equipment by the forced
installation functionality of transaction IE4N. The fact that you’ve performed a forced installation is
memorized in the equipment data. When you check the actual structure with the Configuration
Control Workbench (transaction CCM2) an error message indicates the part with the wrong material
number and the forced installation.
8.5.3 Examples
With the following examples we try to get knowledge how IE4N and CCM2 reacts on different
common situations. We again change the actual structure of aircraft starting with functional location
step by step.
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In Figure 46 the message CCMM128 indicates that an installation should take place at an installation
location where no part was dismantled beforehand. If you confirm the warning message and save the
changes, the equipment EASEAT04 is installed into equipment ETR02.
Figure 47 is showing the log of IE4N after the successful installation. The messages CCMM028,
CCMM149 and CCMM162 indicates the installation without structure gap.
Performing the configuration check with transaction CCM2, we get the message CCMM033, as the
amount of installed parts in equipment ETR02 is 5 where 4 seats are expected (see Figure 48):
5 object(s) found below superior object ETR02. Expected quantity is 4 PC (Message no.
CCMM033)
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Figure 48 Configuration Control check with transaction CCM2 after installing equipment ESEAT04
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8.5.3.2 Dismantling of an equipment, Structure gap is also part of the quantity check
Within the next step we dismantle the equipment ESEAT04 that we installed by mistake with
transaction IE4N. During the dismantling again at structure gap for the installation location ETR02 is
created. Figure 49 is showing the check in transaction CCM2. The structure gap created by the
preceding dismantling of equipment ESEAT04 is also taken into account into the quantity check for
the parts/equipment installed into the equipment ETR02. Because of this we get the error message
CCMM033, again (see Figure 49).
Figure 49 Configuration Control check with transaction CCM2 after dismantling equipment ESEAT04 again
To manipulate a structure gap you’ve to use the transaction CCM2. With this transaction it is possible
Create a new structure gap for an installation location like a functional location or an
equipment.
Delete an existing structure gap.
Change content of a structure gap.
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8.5.3.4 Installation of a part with a wrong material number and a corresponding FID
We start this installation with the actual structure given in Figure 44.
We try to install the equipment WRONG01 with the material number WRONGMAT and serial number
1 into the functional location FLAC01 -LWING with transaction IE4N. The FID of this part is SN_FT.
There does exist a structure gap for this installation location.
The first try failed because of the rules coming from the MPL: A part with the FID SN_FT must have
the material number FT01!
coming up at the first try. With this the option to perform a forced installation is offered.
Message
Structure gap can be deleted at funct.loc. FLAC01 -LWING (Message no. CCMM280)
indicating, that despite the wrong material number the structure gap will be deleted by process of
forced installation.
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We activate the forced installation functionality and perform the installation. Error! Reference
ource not found. is showing the log after the forced installation.
The fact that you’ve performed a forced installation is notified in the equipment time segment which
is relevant for the installation (see Figure 53).
Figure 54 is showing the corresponding messages of transaction CCM2 after the forced installation.
Because of the fact that the installed equipment WRONG01 contains a wrong material number
WRONGMAT, which is indicated by message
Equipment WRONG01 (forced installation mode). Material WRONGMAT is not valid (Message
no. CCMM031)
a quantity check is not possible by Configuration Control Functionality for the equipment with the
FID SN_FT. This is indicated by the message
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Material WRONGMAT of Structure Gap (Functional Location FLAC01 -LWING) is not valid
(Message no. CCMM031)
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8.5.3.6 Installation of a part with a correct material number but a wrong FID
We now try to install the equipment WRONG02 with the correct material number FT01 and serial
number 3 into the functional location FLAC01 -LWING with transaction IE4N. The FID of this part is
SN_WRONG, which does not correspond to the information inside the structure gap at the functional
location FLAC01 -LWING.
Figure 56 is showing the log of transaction IE4N if we try to perform this installation. As shown in
chapter 8.5.3.4 we have to perform a forced installation. As result the FID of the equipment
WRONG02 is adjusted from the wrong value SN_WRONG to the correct value SN_FT when you save
the data of the forced installation (see Figure 57).
You can find the same behavior, when you try to install a part with a missing FID. Precondition is an
existing structure gap for the installation location.
Figure 58 is showing the result of the Configuration Control functionality using transaction CCM2.
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Figure 56 Log of transaction IE4N after the try to install a part with a wrong FID
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No iPPE structure found for FID <FID-Number> and class <class name/class type> (Message
no. CCMM254)
This message came up within the installation process of transaction IE4N when the FID of the
structure gap is wrong
No corresponding iPPE structure node found for function identifier (Message no. CCMM045)
This Message came up within CCM2 when an installed part (e.g. an equipment) has got a FID
which is unknown in the MPL.
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9.1 General
So far we get knowledge about the equipment as relevant part of the validation check of the
Configuration Control functionality.
Often you have the requirement to check the validity of parts inside an actual structure against the
MPL without having the data ‘overhead’ of an equipment like
time segments
accounting and location data
To satisfy this requirement SAP introduced with EhP2 the usage of a specific kind of equipment BOM.
This Configuration Control related equipment BOM is will be called cBOM inside this document.
This specific kind of BOM mustn’t be mixed up with the classic BOMs of materials, equipment and
functional location. It can’t be used inside the Material Resource Planning or as template list for the
components inside a maintenance order.
item by item.
Only one single cBOM is allowed per equipment. A differentiation via the plant is not allowed.
Within the transaction IE4N you are able to ‘dismantle’ and ‘install’ parts from/into the cBOM of an
equipment and put/take them into/from stock. The structure gaps are maintained accordingly.
No support of forced install/removal on BOM items, because there is no way to document it.
Swap does not support non serialized parts
Installation/Removal without MM posting does not support Installation/Removal of non-
serialized equipment
Non stock materials will not be supported as equipment BOM items for Configuration
Control purposes (Only stock items are supported).
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Frist of all you’ve to define a new BOM usage ‘C’. Use the customizing path
Production-> Basic Data->Bill of Material-> General Data-> BOM Usage-> Define BOM Usages
In Figure 59 you find the settings for this new BOM usage.
After this you’ve to make settings for the order of priority of BOM usage via the customizing path
In Figure 60 you find the settings you’ve to make. Use the selection ID ‘CC’.
After this you’ve to define the relevant application via the customizing path
In Figure 61you find the settings you’ve to make. Use the application ‘CC01’.
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Finally you’ve to activate the usage of the cBOM via the customizing path
You must make the following settings if you want to use the equipment BOM functions in the
configuration control workbench (see Figure 62):
Usage: C
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Application: CC01
Enhancement package:
SAP ECC 6.0, Enterprise Extension PLM, Enhancement Package 2 (EA-PLM 602)
To use this function, you must activate the business function Enterprise Asset Mgmt Part 2
(LOG_EAM_SIMP) or A&D Maint., Repair & Overhaul (AD_MRO_CI_1).
BAdIs to implement:
To activate the cBOM-usage inside transaction IE4N you’ve to implement the BAdIs
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On the detail screen add the parts item by item. Within one item you’ve to enter:
In our example we replace the equipment ESEAT01, …, ESEAT08 by corresponding cBOM items for
the equipment ETR01 and ETR02.
In Figure 63 you can see the creation of the cBOM for equipment ETR01
In Figure 64 you can see the actual structure of aircraft below functional location FLAC01.
In Figure 65 you can find the result of the check of Configuration Control for the aircraft FLAC01.
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Figure 65 Result of transaction CCM2 for the aircraft under functional location FLAC01
Installation of non-serialized materials (equipment BOM item) with material movement (goods
issue)
Dismantling of non-serialized materials (equipment BOM item) with material movement (goods
receipt)
If the equipment, where the cBOM is assigned to, has got the system status
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On Stock
Installed (in functional location or equipment)
it is not possible to maintain the cBOM via transaction IB02 ‘Change equipment BOM’. If you ignore
this you get the message
Only equipment BOM with status AVLB can be changed (Message no. CCMM506)
Only in very exceptional cases you should maintain the content of a cBOM via transaction IB02 when
the status of the equipment is ‘Available’. If you try to change a cBOM of an equipment with the
status ‘Available’ the message
Changes to equipment BOM will not be considered in warehouse stock (Message no.
CCMM505)
due to different actions on the cBOM of equipment ETR01 with transaction IE4N
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10 Object Dependency
10.1 Motivation
Imagine the following situation. An aircraft manufacturer is proving his customers with one aircraft
model, lets’ call this model AC, separated in different types:
Your airline is operating several aircrafts of the model AC of the short and long range type. You want
to use Configuration Control to validate the consistency of your aircrafts.
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Within this chapter we concentrate on the approach 3. The conditions are defined via the so called
Object Dependency approach of the iPPE-functionality.
For explanation we use again our known aircraft example from Figure 64 and Figure 65. From chapter
5.3 we know the following parts, the aircraft must contain:
2 fuel tanks with the material number FT01 (FUEL TANK 01, 5000L)
2 tiers with the material number TR01
Every tier has got 4 seats with the material number SEAT01
Now we expand this list of parts for the short and long range aircraft type of the aircraft model AC:
10.2 Introduction
From the chapter 5.4 and 5.5 you know that all structure nodes inside an MPL has got the same
product class. In our example we use the product class AC for the aircraft. This product class contains
characteristic which we make use of now. We use the characteristic AC_TYPE to define the condition
when structure node variants are valid. To do this we use the so called Object Dependency of the
iPPE.
On the other hand side we have the actual structure to be checked with the MPL. This actual
structure must provide the set of rule - the MPL – with an explicit filter criteria to explode the MPL.
Transferred to our aircraft example, we have to tell the MPL, which type of aircraft of model AC has
to be checked; short or long range. The top equipment – the equipment with the link to the access
node – is used for this purpose. This equipment is using inside its’ configuration data the same
configurable material as the access node variant in the access node does. By configuration of the
equipment we set the filter criteria to explode the MPL. In our aircraft example we use the
configurable material AC_CB. Via configuration we choose the corresponding aircraft type; short or
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long range. Remark: Within the configuration profile of the configurable material AC_CB the product
class AC used for iPPE is assigned.
Concerning the quantity of structure node variants of one structure node, the following rules are
important in context with object dependency:
Structure node variants which have the same condition inside the object dependency must
have the same quantity.
If there does exist a structure node variant without any condition, it is valid every time! Every
other structure node variant with condition must have the quantity of the structure node
variant without condition!
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If there exist structure node variants with different conditions, different quantities for every
condition. But then a structure node without condition is not allowed anymore.
Within our aircraft example we use only the characteristic of the aircraft type AC_TYPE.
Figure 68 till Figure 72 are showing the necessary changes for the structure node representing the
fuel tank for our aircraft example. The structure node SN_FT should be able to represent the valid
materials for the short and long range aircraft.
Figure 68 Additional variants for the structure node SN_FT, switch on object dependency to maintain validity, step 1 and
2
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Within our aircraft example we use an individual configuration. But you can also use a reference to a
material variant of the configurable material. In this case this configured material has to contain the
corresponding configuration.
Are showing the changes on the Configuration Data tab strip of the top equipment EAC01-01 for a
short range aircraft.
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Figure 76 is showing the result of the check of Configuration Control for the actual structure below
the functional location FLAC01. Within the top equipment EAC01-01 we configured a short range
aircraft.
Within the next step we dismantle the equipment EFT01 representing the 5000l fuel tank on the left
wing. Afterwards we install a 8000l fuel tank - equipment EFT01LONG with material number FT02 -
into the left wing and perform the check of Configuration Control again.
Figure 77 Result of the check with Configuration Control with the wrong part
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Figure 77 is showing the result of the check. Configuration Control found a wrong part be installed as
fuel tank in the left wing as for the short range aircraft only a part with the material number FT01
(fuel tank with 5000l) is valid.
You might ask: You can also fly short range with a 8000 l tank, can’t you? Yes, you can. But this
example should only show the possibilities of object dependency.
The following two chapter should give some ideas how to handle those two requirements. Please
also see note SAP note 538751 [SAP N538751].
10.5.1 Top equipment is not part of a logistic process like a goods movement
Please follow the steps you know from chapter 5.4, 5.6.2, 10.3 and 10.4. Here we just use the
configurable material for the individual configuration of the top equipment.
Table 7 in you can find the relevant steps for Configuration Control. They look pretty similar than the
steps in Table 1 and Table 3, but there are minor but essential differences.
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This configured material has to be used as material number for the serial
number of the top equipment which is the serialized part to be moved
inside the logistic process.
One MPL must contain exactly one access node at the top of the MPL!
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For this use case it is very important that the material mentioned inside the ‘SerData’ tab strip for the
serial number data of the top equipment does not contain a material with any configuration!
The configuration on the ‘Configuration Data’ tab strip is only relevant for Configuration Control. It
can be individual or refer to a configured material.
Keep in mind that material-to-material movements of this serialized equipment might be critical.
As we only have one single MPL in use this is not relevant at the moment but this fact is very
essential for coupled MPLs as we see later on.
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11.1 Motivation
With Object Dependency we are able to make major differences within one MPL between several
types of one model of the aircraft. But what about the ‘small’ differences between the individual
aircrafts of one type of a model within the fleet of the customer?
Again an aircraft manufacturer is proving his customers with one aircraft model, lets’ call this model
AC, separated in different types:
The customer is using both types and is creating one single MPL for the model AC. Within the fleet of
the short range type there is existing an aircraft with the individual tail number ACSR06 that has got
three tiers installed instead of two. The other five short range aircrafts has got two tiers (ACSR01 –
ACSR05). The four long range aircrafts have two tiers in general (ACLR01-ACLR04).
To model this, we can use the approach of the Parameter Effectivity of Engineering Change
Management (ECM). The tail number of the aircraft should be used in our example and for further
explanations as individual criteria for the MPL explosion. Within this approach the tail number is used
as ECM related serial number. Please don't mix up this specific serial number with the serial number
used in the equipment master data (Field EQUI-SERNR). This specific serial number has to be
maintained additionally.
Actually you define a structure node inside the MPL. This structure node contains a variant with a
valid material number. The variant must contain an Engineering Change Number (ECN). This ECN
describes the preconditions when this variant is valid; e.g. a range of specific serial numbers – in our
case the tail number of the aircraft.
The highest ECN per structure node variant should be taken into account when MPL is resolved for
Configuration Control. This should enable you to model progressing changes/modification processes
of a technical object during its life cycle.
The explicit Parameter Effectivity value – the explosion criteria for the MPL - of the specific serial
number is gained by the proper top equipment linked to the access node of the MPL.
Generally the ECM is used to build up progressing changes of technical objects during their life cycle
in the Configuration Control and MPL context. On the contrary the object dependency which is used
to distinguish between different types of one model. Using ECM for MPL purpose means an
additional condition for resolving an MPL-structure.
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Action:
11.2.2 Maintain the proper effectivity parameter and the effectivity type
Customizing path:
Action:
You may check whether the special effectivity parameter SERNR which we want to use for our
example for the tail number of the aircraft might exists (see Figure 78). Use ‘O’(Open interval)
for type.
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Action:
Create for our example a new type e.g. with name ZTAILNR. Maintain all mandatory data and
mark the line with the effectivity parameter SERNR (see Figure 79). As we want to use the
same change numbers with the same effectivity type, the priority does not have an effect.
Action:
Enter 'History by Sequence' in the field 'Explosion Type for Component Variants' in the screen
area 'Define PVS Parameters'.
Anyhow, please make sure that the settings in the customizing are contradictory to other business
requirements!
On the entry screen enter a change number and a proper effectivity type from above in the
screen area 'Control'.
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Maintain the valid object types by pressing the button 'Object Types' or use the menu path
<Goto><Object Types> or press F6:
Maintain the validity of the change number via the button ‘Detail view’ or use the menu path
<Goto><Validity> or press SHIFT-F9.
For the structure node variants the following two ECNs are created for our example:
ECNSR01: validity of serial number = ACSR01, ACSR02, ACSR03, ACSR04 and ACSR05
ECNSR02: validity of serial number = ACSR06
ECNLR01: validity of serial number = ACLR01, ACLR02, ACLR03 and ACLR04
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Figure 85 is showing the two variants of structure node SN_TR divided by the change number.
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Figure 85 Structure node SN_TR with two variants divided by change number.
Concerning the quantity of structure node variants of one structure node, the following rules are
important in context with an ECN:
Structure node variants which have the same condition inside the object dependency must
have the same quantity.
If there does exist a structure node variant without any condition, it is valid every time! Every
other structure node variant with condition must have the quantity of the structure node
variant without condition!
If there exist structure node variants with different conditions, different quantities for every
condition. But then a structure node without condition is not allowed anymore.
If you do not respect these modeling rules, the checks of Configuration Control will raise fuzzy
results. The same is valid for object dependency.
In our example we use different quantities. But you can also use different material numbers or a
mixture of both.
But first of all we have to adjust the data of the configurable material we used in the top equipment.
To link a top equipment with the corresponding access node inside the MPL configurable material
has to be used (see Figure 18 and Table 3). Inside the master data of this configurable material the
indicator 'Assign effect. vals' in the 'general data' screen area of the material tabstrip 'basic data 1'
has to be activated to make the material ready to use parameter effectivity (see Figure 86). When a
material variant of the configurable material is used on the 'serial number'-tab strip of the top
equipment, the indicator 'Assign effect. vals' has to be active for this material, too.
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The configurable material has to be entered for the material number on the 'serial number'-
tabstrip (SerData) of the top equipment which is linked to the access node. This is an
essential step otherwise it wouldn’t be possible to assign the current parameter effectivity
value for this equipment (see Figure 87).
Figure 87 Configurable material at the serial number tab strip of the equipment
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Now we have to provide the filter criteria - the tail number ACSR06 – to the top equipment
of our technical structure. With this criterion the check of Configuration Control knows,
which variant is valid, when the variant has a corresponding change number. This has to be
done on the 'Configuration control'-tab strip (see Figure 88).
If you want to change the existing parameter effectivity value for this equipment you have to
delete it first with the functionality on the 'Configuration control'-tab strip of the equipment.
into the actual structure Configuration Control is accepting it (see Figure 90).
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Figure 90 Result of check of Configuration Control after the correction of the actual structure
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As we only have one single MPL in use this is not relevant at the moment but this fact is very
essential for coupled MPLs as we see later on.
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12.1 Motivation
Often big technical structures can split into subassemblies which can be checked on their own. The
split might be performed respecting
operational,
maintenance or
organizational
aspects. Thinking at an aircraft the split might refer to the landing gears, engines, flight electronic
and so one. The business background of this split is the expectation that departments responsible for
the maintenance of the aircraft engine might not be experienced in landing gears. Doing this the
check load can be split and the runtime can be reduced as only dedicated assemblies of a complex
and big structure needs to be checked.
Figure 91 is showing the usage of coupled MPLs for an aircraft with two engines and landing gears:
The department responsible for the engines is checking the two engines by using a complete
check for each of the engines (point ❷ in Figure 91)
The department responsible for the landing gears is checking the landing gears by using a
complete check for each of the landing gears (point ❸ in Figure 91)
The department responsible for the complete aircraft can perform
o a partial check of the aircraft up to the structure nodes of the engine and the landing
gear inside the aircraft MPL (point ❶ in Figure 91). This is more or less a global
check for the engines and the landing gears to answer the question: Are all engines
and landing gears installed and does the top equipment of these installed objects
contain the right material number
o a complete check of the whole aircraft with all parts of the engines and landing gears
which is very time consuming (point ❹ in the Figure 91).
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For our example, we concentrate now on the engines, which still are missing. The landing gears will
work the same way. Please keep in mind, that our example should serve to explain the basics of
coupled MPLs!
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Figure 93 is showing the actual structure of the short range aircraft with the tail number ACSR06
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Figure 93 Actual structure of the short range aircraft with the tail number ACSR06t
The setup of the MPL works as described in chapter 5.4 and 5.5.
It is highly recommended to that the product class of every subordinate MPL differs! We
make use of this later on in the implementation of BAdI BADI_CCM_EXPL_ALWD. The
implementation of this BAdI is essential to make partial check running.
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create the characteristic EN_POSITION (position at the wing at the aircraft) with the possible
values
o L Left wing
o R Right wing
create the product class EN for the engine with the class type 300 (variant) and assign the
characteristic EN_POSITION
create the configurable material EN_CB and assign within the configuration profile the
product class EN.
Finally we create the MPL for the engine (see Figure 95).
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In the next step we link the engine MPL to the aircraft MPL.
We need a material variant of the configurable material EN_CB. Therefore we create the material
EN01:
o As the material EN01 is also mentioned inside an access variant and is defined as
access in the access node AN_EN01 the linkage between the two MPLs was
performed. You can see the success of our action by exploding the structure node
SN_ENGINE. You will find the structure nodes EN_TURBINE, EN_PUMP and EN_BOLT
assigned (see Figure 98 and Figure 99)
o In our example we locate the structure node for the engine below the view node
VN_WING.
Usually subassemblies as the engine are a matter of installation and dismantling. Due to this it does
not make sense to model subassemblies with functional locations. This also means that view nodes
on the MLP side does not make senses for subordinate the MPL as well.
1. Perform a hard link to the MPL of the engine to be able to check the engine on its own.
Please refer to Table 3 and step 7 of Table 7 for the creation of a top equipment..
We provide this equipment on the Tab strip ‘Configuration Data’ with the number of the
configurable material EN_CB and perform a link to the corresponding access node of the MPL
(AN_EN01) on the tab strip ‘Configuration Control’.
2. Be check relevant part of the superior assembly to be able to check the whole technical
object with all its parts
Provide the FID on the tab strip ‘Configuration Control’ with the node name of structure node
of the superior MPL.
In our example we use the node SN_ENGINE as this node is part of the superior aircraft MPL.
As we want to differ between the engine on the left wing and the engine on the right wing –
the bolt to fix the engine at the wing is different for the left and right engine – we have to
configure the top equipment of the equipment structure for the engine. For our example we
use an individual configuration for these equipment. It is also possible to refer to a material
variant for this purpose, but we want to use an individual configuration now. We use ‘L’ =
Left wing for the left engine and R = Right wing for the right engine to get the correct set of
rule for the configuration check.
Finally the two new top equipment have to be installed into the actual structure of the aircraft. In or
example we use the functional locations
To sum it up, and this is very important to understand, the top equipment of subassemblies contains
both
Access data to the corresponding MPL. This information is relevant for the complete check of
the aircraft and the complete check of the engine.
Data relevant to be checked by Configuration Control when the superior assembly (the
aircraft) is checked by a complete check.
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The partial check of the aircraft up to the structure nodes of the engine and the landing gear inside
the aircraft MPL (point ❶ in Figure 91) is still not possible.
BADI_CCM_EXPLOSION and
BADI_CCM_EXPL_ALWD
Actual structure:
The BAdI BADI_CCM_EXPLOSION is able to influence the explosion of the actual structure and
offers an additional ‘Load’-button in the Configuration Control Workbench (transaction CCM2)
for the partial load of the actual structure.
To filter the data of the allowed structure for the partial check, we make use of the FID of the
equipment relevant for check (see Figure 94).The complete check is working without filtering via
the implementations of the BAdI BADI_CCM_EXPLOSION!
For our example we define the following criteria for partial check:
If we perform a partial check on the aircraft only the equipment with the FID-prefix SN_
are relevant
If we perform a partial check on an engine only the equipment with the FID-prefix EN_
are relevant
If we perform a partial check on a landing gear only the equipment with the FID-prefix
LG_ are relevant. The data for the landing gears are not maintained. But they work the
same way than the engines.
MPL:
The BAdI BADI_CCM_EXPL_ALWD is able to influence the explosion of theMPL and offers an
additional ‘Check’-button in Configuration Control Workbench (transaction CCM2) for the partial
load of the MPL and the partial check. The complete check is working without filtering via the
implementations of the BAdI BADI_CCM_EXPL_ALWD!
As indicator to stop the explosion on MPL side we use the product class of the MPL:
If we perform a partial check on the aircraft only the structure nodes with the product
class AC are relevant
If we perform a partial check on an engine only the structure nodes with product class
EN are relevant.
If we perform a partial check on a landing gear only the structure nodes with product
class LG are relevant. The data for the landing gears are not maintained. But they work
the same way than the engines.
The implementations below are made to serve the requirements of the example from above. If you
want to implement the partial check for your company and your business, your implementations will
look quite different and much more complex. Please don’t take over the implementations below
without analyzing your special business case, as they might not fit for it!
METHOD check_funcid.
***********************************************************************
* Remark:
* o Every new load of an actual structure create a new instance
* of the implementation class ZCL_IM_IMP_CCM_EXPLOSION!
* o This coding relies on the correct modelling of the
* actual structure!
***********************************************************************
* Local data definition:
DATA :
lv_funcid_pre TYPE ccc_funcid.
*----------------------------------------------------------------------
* Set:
ev_pre_funcid_identical = c_no. "Assume the negative case first
*----------------------------------------------------------------------
IF me->nv_funcid_pre IS INITIAL.
* Instance memory for prefix of FID is empty, set the instance memory.
* Remark:
* o Only an equipment without link to an access node
* is able to set the current prefix for the FID
* o Structure gaps and cBOM-items are not allowed to set
* prefix for the FID, they can only consume it.
IF iv_objtype = c_objtype_equi "Equipment
AND iv_ppeguid IS INITIAL "No equipment with link to acces node
AND NOT iv_funcid IS INITIAL. "FID available
* Set prefix for FID
* Remark:
* Separator of the prefix is the first '_'-sign.
me-nv_funcid_pre =
substring_before( val = iv_funcid sub = c_pre_separator ).
ev_pre_funcid_identical = c_yes.
ELSE.
* Reject any other case because of modeling issue.
ev_pre_funcid_identical = c_no.
ELSE.
* Check instance memory for prefix of FID.
* Remark:
* If nv_funcid_pre is set in the if-part before,
* there is no need for a check as the object in
* question set the prefix of the FID.
IF ( iv_objtype = c_objtype_equi "Equipment
ELSE.
* Prefix of current FID and instance memory identical
ev_pre_funcid_identical = c_yes.
ELSE.
* Reject any other case because of modeling issue.
ev_pre_funcid_identical = c_no.
ENDMETHOD.
METHOD if_ex_badi_ccm_explosion~equi_check.
DATA:
lv_pre_funcid_identical(1) TYPE c.
IF lv_pre_funcid_identical = c_no.
RAISE not_found.
ENDIF.
ENDMETHOD.
METHOD if_ex_badi_ccm_explosion~sgap_check.
DATA:
lv_ppeguid TYPE pvs_guid_ccc,
lv_pre_funcid_identical(1) TYPE c.
CLEAR lv_ppeguid.
ev_pre_funcid_identical = lv_pre_funcid_identical.
IF lv_pre_funcid_identical = c_no.
RAISE not_found.
ENDIF.
ENDMETHOD.
METHOD if_ex_badi_ccm_explosion~bitem_check.
DATA:
lv_ppeguid TYPE pvs_guid_ccc,
lv_pre_funcid_identical(1) TYPE c.
CLEAR lv_ppeguid.
IF lv_pre_funcid_identical = c_no.
RAISE not_found.
ENDIF.
ENDMETHOD.
This coding is taken over from the inactive implementation BADI_CCM_EXPL_ALWD (Impl.: Restrict
structure explosion of allowed configuration)
method IF_EX_BADI_CCM_EXPL_ALWD~MPL_NODE_CHECK.
* Method to stop an explosion depending on some parameters:
* IS_PNODID-CLINT: internal representaion of product class
* CT_STRUCT: table of relations which are exploded. This table
* can be modified: by deleting entries the new nodes indicated
* by PNGUID2 are not taken into account and are no further
* exploded
This coding is taken over from the inactive implementation BADI_CCM_EXPL_ALWD (Impl.: Restrict
structure explosion of allowed configuration)
method IF_EX_BADI_CCM_EXPL_ALWD~CONFIG_CHECK_FILTER_ELEMENTS.
************************************************************************
* !! DON'T replace this piece of coding in the new BADI implementation *
* It is used to distinguish between partial and complete configuration *
* check. In case of partial configuration check the configurations are *
* filtered out in this method. *
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
* !!! PUT YOUR OWN CODE HERE !!! *
************************************************************************
endmethod.
Figure 103 is showing the result of the complete check on aircraft level contains the aircraft and the
engines (starting point functional location FLAC01 or top equipment EAC01-01). All parts of the
aircraft and the engines are checked!
Figure 104 is showing the partial check of the aircraft. This check only takes care of the original parts
of the aircraft. The engines are only checked on top level. That means only the material number of
these installed equipment ELENGINE and ERENGINE representing the complete engines and the
quantity is checked. The parts of the engines themselves are out of scope in this check.
Figure 105 is showing the possible entry points of the technical objects for the check. The entry
points are the technical objects – functional locations or equipment - of the actual structure you
want to perform the check. Please keep in mind that the Configuration Control Workbench can’t
check a single equipment or cBOM-item. Starting with the entry point the workbench is to find the
top equipment using the rules shown in Figure 37. With the rules the corresponding top equipment is
determined to start the check with. When you start with a functional location the determination of
the top equipment is starting with the step ‘Read this functional location’ in Figure 37.
If you perform a complete check for the aircraft you may wonder on the fact, that inside the
exploded MPL the structure nodes for the engine are all duplicated (see Figure 107). This is not
because of the fact that the aircraft contains two engines! It is because of the different configuration
of the left and right engine inside the actual structure! The left engine is using for the bolt the
material with the material number BOLT01, the right engine is using for the bolt the material with
the material number BOLT02. That means we have got different set of rules for the left and for the
right engine. At the end we have got two major FID groups for the engine, one for the left engine,
one for the right engine.
Figure 108 is showing the details for the FID group relevant checks. The check routines of
configuration control checks whether the corresponding parts of the actual structure fulfills the rules
of this FID groups In Figure 109 you can find the equipment and BOM items assigned to the FID-
groups..
Figure 109 FID grouping of the actual structure for the individual objects
As we now have all basics Figure 110 is showing the way how configuration control determines the
valid materials from the MPL
This process chart is later on important to understand the way interchangeability and Set-
Relationship is working.
Anyhow it is allowed to assign a subordinate MPL to different superior MPLs. Precondition is that this
superior MLPs are not linked to each other anyhow!
Since EhP4 it is allowed to link the access node of a subordinate MPL to different structure nodes of
the same superior MPL. Now it is important - while creating the FID-groups - also to divide between
different Top-Assembly-FIDs (Top-FIDs) for the FID grouping. These are the node names of the
structure nodes of the superior MPL where the access nodes are linked to.
Let’s assume an aircraft is using an identical subassembly in different locations inside a MPL. E.g. an
air condition device which might be used inside the cockpit, galley, ....
In Figure 111 the structure node SN_DEV01 and SN_DEV02 represents the top nodes of complex
subordinate assemblies. These assemblies contain the same parts, so it seems quite logical use the
same subordinate MPL for checks. This subordinate MPL is starting with the access node AN_DEV in
the example shown in Figure 111.
For the FID-grouping the structure nodes names SN_DEV01 and SN_DEV02 are used for the grouping
purpose and are called Top Assembly FIDs (Top-FIDs). That means that two FID groups are build for
this example.
13.1 Motivation
Within this chapter we concentrate on the different methods of the quantity check (please see also
SAP note 1599891 [SAP N1599891]).
13.2 How does the quantity check in Configuration Control work from a
technical point of view?
The quantity check of Configuration Control is located inside the BAdI BADI_CCM_QTY_CHECK. This
BAdI is for single usage only and can be influenced by customer with own implementation.
CONFIG_CHECK_QUANTITY
QUANTITY_CHECK_FOR_FID
13.3 Example
13.3.1 Situation
Within our example we want to model an aircraft using the subordinate MPLs which is using a non-
symmetric approach concerning the quantity. The aircraft should have three engines:
Right engine
Left engine
Middle engine
Depending on the location of the engine at the aircraft, a different quantity of parts (material
number ENPART01) must be used for the engine (see Figure 112).
Figure 112 Aircraft with asymmetric usage of the quantity of the parts inside the engines
The MPL of the engine should be modeled as separate MPL. Apart of the quantity of the part
ENPART01 the three engines are identical. Within the data model of the engine we want to manage
the different quantity via object dependency.
The precondition for the following modelling approach is the usage of Ehp4.
Please note that the modelling of this example is not pretty realistic, but it should serve to explain
the quantity check best.
Figure 113 is showing the MPLs of our example. Figure 114 is showing the equipment structure.
Figure 115 is showing the result of the complete check of the aircraft starting with top equipment
EAC02-01.
Please remember chapter 0 which is also relevant for FID grouping here.
Before we start to discuss the results of the check shown in Figure 115 it is important to notify the
order of the variant explosion of the structure node EN02_PART01 below the structure node
SN_WENGINE:
First the data to check the left engine is exploded (2 parts of material ENPART01 necessary,
variant SV02 of structure node SN_WENGINE)
than the data to check the right engine is exploded (1 parts of material ENPART01 necessary,
variant SV01 of structure node SN_WENGINE). The order the program is exploding the
variants of a structure node is more or less accidental. This is important to understand the
results of the quantity check.
The error message CCMM052 for the complete check of the aircraft is misleading here. This behavior
can be explained by the design prerequisites of the implementation of the responsible method
QUANTITY_CHECK_FOR_FID of BAdI BADI_CCM_QTY_CHECK (see chapter 13.2).
How can the allowed quantity for the device with the FID EN02_PART01 below the superior device
SN_WENGINE can be explained for the complete check of the whole aircraft?
1. The allowed quantity for the device with the FID EN02_PART01 of the engine MPL, located
below the device with the FID SN_WENGINE, is determined the following way (see chapter
13.2):
4
1
) For the right and left engine the same path to the most top access node in the MPL
concerning the FID is valid (EN02_PART01 → SN_WEngine → EAC02_01). The configuration
for the right or left engine is not taken into account (one part of material ENPART01 for right
engine, two parts of material ENPART01 for left engine) for this quantity check. The quantity
of the first found, valid variant of the possible set of valid variants is used.
These valid variants are drawn by the MPL explosion beforehand. Although this explosion is
respecting the configuration of the equipment (left and right engine) the quantity check
inside method QUANTITY_CHECK_FOR_FID of BAdI BADI_CCM_QTY_CHECK relies on the FIDs
and the resulting FID-groups only. This means the right and left engine are within the same
FID group and are handled with the same quantity – here the quantity of the first valid
variant SV02 determined for the FID-group by the program. Keep in mind that the example is
build into EhP4. That means at least the FIDs of the superior objects are respected and the
quantity for the middle engine (three parts of material ENPART01) is out of scope.
2. As the example was made in an EhP4 system the FIDs of the superior objects are respected.
The allowed quantity for the device with the FID EN02_PART01 of the engine MPL, located
below the device with the FID SN_MENGINE, is determined the following way:
2) The valid variants are drawn by the MPL explosion beforehand. This explosion is
respecting the configuration and determines the variant SV03 of the structure node
EN02_PART01 as valid. But the quantity check inside method QUANTITY_CHECK_FOR_FID
of BAdI BADI_CCM_QTY_CHECK relies on the FIDs and the resulting FID-groups only. As
there is only one valid variant SV03 with quantity 3 drawn by the MPL explosion
beforehand the quantity 3 is used for checking purpose. The differentiation between
right/left engine and middle engine happens in EhP4 because the quantity check respects
the FIDs of the superior objects.
3. In addition 7 valid parts are determined. Performing the same test in a system below EhP4,
the amount of valid parts would be 2 as the possible different locations of the device with
the FID EN02_PART01 are not respected.
13.3.2 Recommendation
Whenever you plan to model such a non symmetric situation within Configuration Control it is
recommended to switch of the message CCMM 052 by customizing, to avoid confusing messages
coming up from method QUANTITY_CHECK_FOR_FID of BAdI BADI_CCM_QTY_CHECK. You can use
the customizing transaction OMPL1 for Configuration Control message customizing for that purpose
(see Figure 116).
After changing the customizing the result of the complete check looks as shown in Figure 116.
Figure 117 Complete check of the aircraft after changing the customizing
Figure 118 is showing the effect on the quantity check when the equipment EEN02-PART01-02 is
dismantled via transaction IE4N. Using IE4N a structure gap is created.
Figure 119 is showing the effect on the quantity check when the equipment EEN02-PART01-02 is
dismantled via transaction IE02. Using IE02 no structure gap is created.
14 Interchangeability
14.1 Motivation
In logistical processes it is often necessary to interchange parts. Within Discrete Industries and Mill
Products (DIMP), the following functions are provided [SAP Help, Parts Interchangeability].
Parts interchangeability comprises the following functions [SAP Help, Parts Interchangeability]:
Fully interchangeable parts
o Parts that are fully interchangeable with each other and are grouped in a common
class of interchangeable parts - a form-fit-function class (FFF class).
o You can group fully interchangeable parts of an FFF class in MPN-MRP sets subject to
plant and MRP area. The system treats these parts as fully interchangeable parts in
planning, inventory management, and the availability check.
o Inventory-managed manufacturer parts
Some parts from different manufacturers are interchangeable in the purchasing,
MRP and availability check functions due to having the same technical
characteristics. The system recognizes these as interchangeable and manages them
with their own individual stocks.
Restricted or one-way interchangeable parts
These parts cannot belong to the same FFF class. You use interchangeability codes to group
these parts. Restricted interchangeability is available for all processes that support MPN.
Material exchange functions are available in the following applications:
o Material Exchange Using SCM
o Material Exchange in Purchasing
o Material Exchange in MRP
o Material Exchange in Inventory Management
Goods movement using transaction code MIGO. You can interchange parts in the
following:
Goods issue for the stock transport order and reservation
Goods receipt for the purchase order
o Material Exchange in the Sales Order Product Selection
o Creation of subitems in stock transport orders. For more information, see Material
Exchange in Stock Transport Orders.
o Material Exchange in PM Orders, PP Orders, and Networks
Supersession
Changes to the design, form and function of parts require vendors and manufacturers to
replace obsolete parts with new versions of the same parts. If a new version of a part can
replace the old version, the system issues a new part number. The new number requires
changes to be made in stock, in procurement, in production, in material requirements
planning and in sales; that means in all core processes in the supply chain. You must also
determine replacement rules and validity dates for the new part.
The configuration check supports the following interchangeability functions [SAP Help, Additional
Features]:
Interchangeability using form-fit-function classes (FFF class). The system considers a part
suitable for interchangeability if it belongs to the same FFF class.
Example:
Part MATA is assigned to the structure node (function identifier) with only one valid
variant. Part MATA has been assigned to the same FFF class as part MATB. Therefore,
the configuration check for the function identifier also evaluates part MATB as valid.
Rules-based ATP check in SAP SCM.
Within this documentation only the classical approach with FFF classes is described. Within the
material interchangeability only fully interchangeability is supported by Configuration Control.
Pretty important for the usage of the interchangeable parts in Configuration Control is the
knowledge about the fact who is maintaining this data. The interchangeability data usually is
managed by the material management or logistic department. Whilst the materials inside the
structure nodes of the MPL for Configuration Control purpose are managed by the maintenance
department after being approved as valid material for the set of rules. Therefore often materials
being taken as valid interchangeable parts form logistic perspective are not allowed in the context of
configuration control.
For every found valid material inside a structure node variant the interchangeability functionality is
trigger to determine possible interchangeable materials. This is increasing the runtime (see chapter
14.5).
14.3 Modelling
The modelling should be demonstrated at a very small example, where the three materials
EXAMPL14_00017
EXAMPL14_00018
EXAMPL14_00019
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SAP Getting Started With Configuration Control
First we have to define a suitable Manufacturer Part Profile, that allows us to use the
interchangeability functionality within our business process. Figure 121 is the necessary settings in
customizing for the MPN profile EX14.
In the next step we define material master data for a so called Form-Fit-Function-Class (FFFC) which
we use later on to assign the material to be interchangeable (please see Figure 122). Within this
special type of material we have to enter the Manufacturer Part Profile. The material type FFFC has
to be used.
Inside the MPL we only maintain the single variant 1 for structure node EXAMPL14_00007 which
contains the material EXAMPL14_00017 as valid material (see Figure 123).
Via transaction PIC01 we define the interchangeable materials for the FFF-class FFFC_EXAMPL14_01
(see Figure 124).
The equipment 10033100 linked via the FID EXAMPL14_0007 of the actual structure contains the
material number EXAMPL14_00019.
Figure 125 is showing the result of the check of Configuration Control. Looking at the details for the
structure node EXAMPL14_00007 three valid materials can be found:
One with the structure node variant number 1 which is EXAMPL14_00017. This material is
coming form the MPL.
Two with no structure node variant number which are EXAMPL14_00018 and
EXAMPL14_00019. These materials are coming from the interchangeability information from
the FFF class FFFC_EXAMPL14_01.
14.5 Runtime
In general every approach of interchangeability (classical FFF classes or Rules-based ATP check) inside
Configuration Control is increasing the runtime of the check in a considerable way. Therefore it is
recommended to insert all valid materials inside the structure node variants and switch of the
interchangeability.
*-----ADPIC ERP2007
DATA: lr_adpic_services TYPE REF TO cl_adpic_services,
lt_picps_all TYPE adpic_t_material,
ls_picps_all TYPE adpic_s_material,
lt_return TYPE adpic_t_bapiret2,
lt_all_parts_for_node_buffer TYPE tab_mpl_materials_for_node,
l_materials_for_node_buffer TYPE mpl_materials_for_node.
BREAK-POINT ID adpic_rc_add_ic_mats_ccm2.
(…)
15 Set-Relationship
15.1 Motivation
In Configuration Control for SAP for Aerospace & Defense, you can create set relationships between
material variants in different structure nodes of a MPL. Set relationships indicate that a part
(material), which is MPL structure node variant, can be used only in combination with another part
(material) in a different MPL structure node of the same MPL. Parts that are related to each other
belong to the same set [SAP Help, Set Relationship].
Figure 126 is showing an example where Set Relationship approach is used to set up a rule between
the structure nodes SN01 and SN04 of a MPL. The set combination contains a list of set variants.
These set variants contains the information of the related structure nodes and the chosen structure
node variants.
In the next step we define a set combination for an existing MPL starting with the access node
EXAMPL15_00001. Figure 128 is showing the initial step to create a set combination. The application
has to be SET (SET Documentation) and the type has to be S_SET (Combination). The name of the set
combination is EXAMPL15_00001 and should create a relation between the structure nodes
EXAMPL15_00002 and EXAMPL00010 of this MPL. We just use the same name for the set
combination as used for the access node in this example.
In the next step we have to define the set variants and the structure nodes which should take part
into the set combination (see Figure 129).
Figure 129 Add set variants and structure nodes to the set combination
Save the definition of the set combination and start to maintain the set variants (see Figure 130).
In the next steps (see Figure 131, Figure 132, Figure 133 and Figure 134) you can find how to assign
the structure node variants to the set variant SV01. We have to do the same for the set variants SV02
and SV03. The result of the assignment can be found in Figure 135.
Figure 131 Maintain set variant SV01 (Set Variant 01) – Part 1
Figure 132 Maintain set variant SV01 (Set Variant 01) – Part 2
Figure 133 Maintain set variant SV01 (Set Variant 01) – Part 3
Figure 134 Maintain set variant SV01 (Set Variant 01) – Part 4
If we start the Configuration Control Check via transaction CCM2 for the related top equipment
10033101 we get the result as shown in Figure 136. So far we do not have any issue into the actual
structure.
Inside the log of the MPL explosion we can see the entries of the Set Relationship functionality (see
Figure 137)
With our example we create an additional rule which is checking the material combination in the
actual structure of
The combination of the material numbers of these equipment fulfils the rule of set variant SV03 (see
Figure 135).
In the next step we change for testing purpose manually (without any material-to-material
movement) the material number from equipment 10033110 from EXAMPL15_00028 to
EXAMPL15_00026. Without the defined set combination EXAMPL15_00001 this would be a valid
material number. But with this set combination the result is as expected (see Figure 138). The
combination of the material numbers of equipment 10033102 and 10033110 violates the rules of the
set combination EXAMPL15_00001. Due to this both equipment are mentioned as not valid inside
the check of Configuration Control.
Below you can find some important rules to define a set combination:
Create a set combination only within one and the same MPL! A Set Relationship between
different MPLs is not supported.
It is possible to define more than one set combination for a MPL
A set combination must contain at least two structure nodes. These structure nodes must be
part of the same MPL. It is allowed to have more than two structure nodes assigned to a set
combination.
If one structure node variant of a structure node is member of a Set Variant, every structure
node variant of this structure node must be part of a Set Variant of this set combination
anyhow!
A structure node (and its variants) can be part of more than one set combination. But this
depends on the customizing of the relations type of the used node type S_SET we used in our
example (Customizing path: Production → Basic Data → Integrated Product Engineering →
iPPE Object Administration → Define General iPPE Relationship Types)
Please also consider [SAP N1410845].
Method GET_TREE_HIERARCHY is exploding the MPL and is passing the found structure nodes to
method GET_VALID_PARTS_PER_LOC. The method GET_VALID_PARTS_PER_LOC determines the
valid structure node variants with their material number of this structure node respecting object
dependency and parameter effectivity. Every found variant is than passed to the method
CHECK_SET_DEPENDENCY to check the material against the rules of the Set Relationship.
Figure 139 is showing the integration of the Set Relationship functionality into Configuration Control.
If there does exist more than one equipment or BOM-item and one single part number does not fit,
Set Relationship marked the current structure node variant SNVar as invalid!
If an equipment or BOM item - which is identified as part of a Set combination via its FID - is
containing a wrong part number (material number), eventually all the found valid part
numbers of the other structure nodes which are part of the Set combination get invalid. This
leads to the fact, that there doesn’t exist any valid part numbers for the structure node for
the Configuration Control check at the end. For the Set Relationship check only the FID and
the material number of the equipment or BOM item is relevant.
The Set Relationship check does not respect any hierarchy of technical objects. The
installation location of an equipment and its hierarchy level is out of interest. All equipment
are equal form the perspective of the Set Relationship check. The check is only using the FID,
as the assignment to the set combination happens via the structure node name/FID.
If a combination of equipment/BOM items is wrong, only a statement can be made that
something with the equipment/BOM items grouped together via a set combination goes
wrong. This means that, the more equipment/BOM items with different FID taking part at a
set combination the more difficult is the finding of the cause of an error. Quantities greater
than one also making the finding of a possible issue complex. To find the single object which
is wrong inside the combination
The following examples (Figure 140, Figure 141, Figure 142, Table 8, Table 9 and Table 10 )should
demonstrate the behavior.
Example 1
Case Equi. EQ02 Equi. EQ03 Equi. EQ04 Equi. EQ05 Result of check in Configuration Control
FID SN01 FID SN02 FID SN01 FID SN02
1 MAT01 MAT03 MAT01 MAT03 No error.
2 MAT01 MAT04 MAT01 MAT03 Error on equipment EQ01, EQ03 and EQ04.
Only equipment EQ05 is passing the check. 1)
3 MAT02 MAT03 MAT01 MAT03 Error on equipment EQ01, EQ03 and EQ05.
Only equipment EQ04 is passing the check. 2)
4 MAT02 MAT04 MAT01 MAT03 Error on all equipment.
5 MAT02 MAT04 MAT02 MAT04 No error.
Remarks:
1) Checking the material MAT03 of structure node variant 01 of structure node SN02 it is
determined, that all the equipment with the FID SN01 contains the material number MAT01.
Because of this the material MAT03 of structure node variant 01 of structure node SN02 is
handled as valid part number for the further validity check in Configuration Control. Because
of this the set variant SV01 is fulfilled and because of this only equipment EQ05 is passing the
check in Configuration Control successfully, as for the structure node SN02 a valid part
number was find via the Set Relationship check.
2) Checking the material MAT01 of structure node variant 01 of structure node SN01 it is
determined, that all the equipment with the FID SN02 contains the material number MAT03.
Because of this the material MAT01 of structure node variant 01 of structure node SN01 is
handled as valid part number for the further validity check in Configuration Control. Because
of this the set variant SV01 is fulfilled and because of this only equipment EQ04 is passing the
check in Configuration Control successfully, as for the structure node SN01 a valid part
number was find via the Set Relationship check.
Table 8 Cases for different material numbers for the equipment of example 1
Example 2
Case Equi. EQ02 Equi. EQ03 Equi. EQ04 Equi. EQ05 Result of check in Configuration Control
FID SN01 FID SN02 FID SN01 FID SN02
1 MAT01 MAT03 MAT01 MAT03 No error.
2 MAT01 MAT04 MAT01 MAT03 Error on equipment EQ01, EQ03 and EQ04.
Only equipment EQ05 is passing the check. 1)
3 MAT02 MAT03 MAT01 MAT03 Error on equipment EQ01, EQ03 and EQ05.
Only equipment EQ04 is passing the check. 2)
4 MAT02 MAT04 MAT01 MAT03 Error on all equipment.
5 MAT02 MAT04 MAT02 MAT04 No error.
Remarks:
1) Checking the material MAT03 of structure node variant 01 of structure node SN02 it is
determined, that all the equipment with the FID SN01 contains the material number MAT01.
Because of this the material MAT03 of structure node variant 01 of structure node SN02 is
handled as valid part number for the further validity check in Configuration Control. Because
of this the set variant SV01 is fulfilled and because of this only equipment EQ05 is passing the
check in Configuration Control successfully, as for the structure node SN02 a valid part
number was find via the Set Relationship check.
2) Checking the material MAT01 of structure node variant 01 of structure node SN01 it is
determined, that all the equipment with the FID SN02 contains the material number MAT03.
Because of this the material MAT01 of structure node variant 01 of structure node SN01 is
handled as valid part number for the further validity check in Configuration Control. Because
of this the set variant SV01 is fulfilled and because of this only equipment EQ04 is passing the
check in Configuration Control successfully, as for the structure node SN01 a valid part
number was find via the Set Relationship check.
Table 9 Cases for different material numbers for the equipment of example 2
The result of the check for example 1 and 2 is the same as the installation location is of interest!
Example 3
Case Equi. EQ02 Equi. EQ03 Equi. EQ04 Result of check in Configuration Control
FID SN01 FID SN02 FID SN03
1 MAT01 MAT03 MAT05 No error.
2 MAT01 MAT04 MAT05 Error on all equipment.
3 MAT02 MAT04 MAT06 No error.
Table 10 Cases for different material numbers for the equipment of example 3
Recommendations:
From the runtime perspective the usage of the Set Relationship functionality does decrease
the runtime of the check of Configuration Control. This is because of the additional explosion
of the set combinations. If possible avoid the usage of Set Relationship and try to replace it
by using Object Dependency.
Because of the combinatorics and traceability you should avoid
o to use Set Relationship and Object Dependency within one structure node
o to use Set Relationship for structure nodes with quantities higher than one.
16 Cancel-Part Relationships
16.1 Motivation
The Cancel-Part Relationships functionality is used to build up an additional set of rules inside the
MPL, which is checking the order in which parts can replace each other at the same installation
location inside an actual structure depending on the material number. With this it is possible to
model a part regression: If an equipment with the material number A was dismantled form an
installation location it can only an equipment with the material number B can be installed again at
this installation location. You can find further information at [SAP Help, Cancel-Parts Relationship].
In the next step you’ve to activate the Cancel-Parts-Relationships functionality via customizing (see
Figure 144).
By design the Cancel-Part Relationships functionality only works by installing a serialized equipment
or cBOM-item(s) by transaction IE4N. This means that this check only works together with the local
check functionality of IE4N (see chapter 8.5.2).
The Cancel-Part Relationships check inside Configuration Control is making use of the material
number of the part dismantled before via IE4N. This information can be found inside the structure
gap as preceding material number (see chapter 8.3).
To explain the functionality we use the small MPL shown in Figure 145. The structure node
AIRCRAFT_00003 should contain the set of rules shown in Figure 146. Figure 147 is showing the
adoption using the classification for each structure node variant of structure node AIRCRAFT_00003
via the class AD_MPL_VARIANTS.
Figure 146 Cancel-Part Relationships for structure node AIRCRAFT_00003, set of rules
In Figure 148 you can find the actual structure we use. We want to use this set of rules to check the
installation of equipment into the installation location equipment 10000697 via transaction IE4N.
Figure 149 is showing the equipment which should replace the equipment 10000698. Both
equipment have got the FID AIRCRAFT_00003.
First we dismantle the equipment 10000698 from equipment 10000697 using transaction IE4N. Using
transaction IE4N is essential, as only this transaction is creating a structure gap which is important for
the Cancel-Part Relationships functionality (see Figure 150). Doing this a structure gap was created
with the following attributes:
Theoretically we can install the equipment 10000698 into 10000697 again. This step would be
successful as in Cancel-Part Relationships general it is allowed to install a part with the same material
number as the material number of the part dismantled before.
In the next step we install the equipment 10000700 (Figure 149). This installation fulfills the rules of
Cancel-Part Relationships (see Figure 151). With this installation the structure gap was deleted.
In the next step we dismantle 10000700 with the material number AIRCRAFT_00006 with transaction
IE4N. ). Doing this a structure gap was created with the following attributes:
If we now try to install the equipment 10000698 with the material number AIRCRAFT_00005 again
with IE4N we get an error message as this installation violates the Cancel-Part Relationships rule for
the structure node AIRCRAFT_00003 (see Figure 152):
A part with the material number AIRCRAFT_00005 can’t succeed a dismantled part with the
material number AIRCRAFT_00006 (see Figure 146).
with transaction IE4N is successful. The rules of Cancel-Part Relationships rule for structure node
AIRCRAFT_00003 are fulfilled (see Figure 153).
… There are assemblies in any industry with optional parts that are not required for normal
operation. For example a fighter aircraft can have various weapon systems, that can undergo validity
checks although they are not required and used for a flight. Normally, if a component is missing, the
configuration check will issue an error. However, if this component is optional, the check should not
issue an error because the component is intentionally not installed. The BAdI can be used to remove
allowed elements, if optional actual elements are missing. That way no error message will be issued
… [SAP BADI_CCM_CHECK_SCOPE].
Please understand that further remarks on this would go beyond the scope of this document. For
further questions on the implementation of this BAdI and the data model you should contact your
Configuration Control consultant.
Please understand that further remarks on this would go beyond the scope of this document. For
further questions you should contact your Configuration Control consultant.
CCMM033 <n> object(s) found below superior object 8.3.1, 8.5.3.1, 8.5.3.2, 11.7,
<object number>. Expected quantity is <m> 13.3.2
<unit>
CCMM035 Not all objects in FID group have the same 5.6.4
superordinate equipment
21 Table of figures
Figure 1 The world of Configuration Control .......................................................................................... 7
Figure 2 Structure of a technical device using technical objects functional locations and equipment .. 9
Figure 3 Overview Configuration Control................................................................................................ 9
Figure 4 Subassemblies at an aircraft.................................................................................................... 11
Figure 5 Operational tasks of a fighter aircraft ..................................................................................... 12
Figure 6 Aircraft models and types ....................................................................................................... 13
Figure 7 First example to model a MPL ................................................................................................. 16
Figure 8 Create characteristic via transaction CT04 .............................................................................. 18
Figure 9 Create variant class via transaction CL01 and assign characteristic ....................................... 19
Figure 10 Create configurable material via transaction MM01 ............................................................ 19
Figure 11 Assign the variant class via configuration profile to configurable material via transaction
CU41 ...................................................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 12 Create an access node inside the transaction PPE or PDN.................................................... 20
Figure 13 Access node, create an access variant .................................................................................. 21
Figure 14 Access node, access definition .............................................................................................. 21
Figure 15 Create and assign a structure node ....................................................................................... 23
Figure 16 The MPL defined by means of iPPE ...................................................................................... 23
Figure 17 Complete MPL for the example............................................................................................. 24
Figure 18 Inside the tab strip ‘Configuration data’ of the top equipment ............................................ 25
Figure 19 Create the assignment to the access node inside the tab strip ‘Configuration Control’ ...... 26
Figure 20 Equipment representing the fuel tank inside the technical object structure ....................... 28
Figure 21 Complete actual technical object structure for the aircraft 01............................................. 29
Figure 22 Start configuration check with transaction CCM2 ................................................................ 30
Figure 23 Result of the first check within transaction CCM2 ................................................................ 30
Figure 24 Multiple usage of one MPL.................................................................................................... 31
Figure 25 Three steps in the processing of Configuration Control Workbench .................................... 32
Figure 26 Interpretation of the equipment structure respecting the FID ............................................. 33
Figure 27 Parent FID and FID-grouping ................................................................................................. 33
Figure 28 Actual structure grouped by FID and Parent ......................................................................... 34
Figure 29 Structuring of the actual structure of aircraft 01 .................................................................. 36
Figure 30 Actual structure with functional locations ............................................................................ 38
Figure 31 Interpretation of the technical object structure respecting the FID, find parent FID ........... 39
Figure 32 Check results with functional locations within transaction CCM2 ........................................ 40
Figure 33 New functional location FLAC01 -CABIN -TR01SEAT; overview ......................................... 41
Figure 34 New functional location FLAC01 -CABIN -TR01SEAT; complete structure ......................... 41
Figure 35 Parent FID determination ...................................................................................................... 42
Figure 36 Result of check within transaction CCM2.............................................................................. 42
Figure 37 Determination of top equipment .......................................................................................... 43
Figure 38 Create a view node ................................................................................................................ 45
Figure 39 Determination of the parent node names ............................................................................ 46
Figure 40 Aircraft example with view nodes ......................................................................................... 48
Figure 41 New node type since EhP4 .................................................................................................... 50
Figure 42 Dismantling via IE4N .............................................................................................................. 53
Figure 43 Configuration Control check with transaction CCM2 after dismantling of equipment
ESEAT04 ................................................................................................................................................. 54
Figure 44 Configuration Control check with transaction CCM2 after dismantling of equipment EFT01
............................................................................................................................................................... 55
Figure 45 Local Check of Configuration Control in IE4N ....................................................................... 56
Figure 46 Message by structure gap evaluation of IE4N ....................................................................... 57
Figure 47 Log of IE4N after installation performed ............................................................................... 58
Figure 48 Configuration Control check with transaction CCM2 after installing equipment ESEAT04 .. 58
Figure 49 Configuration Control check with transaction CCM2 after dismantling equipment ESEAT04
again ...................................................................................................................................................... 59
Figure 50 Delete a structure gap ........................................................................................................... 60
Figure 51 Install a part with a wrong material number ........................................................................ 61
Figure 52 Messages when forced installation took place ..................................................................... 62
Figure 53 Indicator for forced installation............................................................................................. 62
Figure 54 Log of transaction CCM2 ....................................................................................................... 63
Figure 55 Log of transaction CCM2 after dismantling of a wrong part ................................................. 64
Figure 56 Log of transaction IE4N after the try to install a part with a wrong FID ............................... 65
Figure 57 Adjusted FID .......................................................................................................................... 65
Figure 58 Log of transaction CCM2 after dismantling of a wrong part ................................................. 66
Figure 59 Define new BOM usage ......................................................................................................... 68
Figure 60 Define order of priority of BOM usage .................................................................................. 69
Figure 61 Define the application ........................................................................................................... 69
Figure 62 Activate cBOM usage for Configuration Control ................................................................... 70
Figure 63 Creation of cBOM for equipment ETR01 ............................................................................... 71
Figure 64 Actual structure with cBOM .................................................................................................. 72
Figure 65 Result of transaction CCM2 for the aircraft under functional location FLAC01 .................... 72
Figure 66 IE4N actions on cBOM ........................................................................................................... 74
Figure 67 Concept of object dependency ............................................................................................. 76
Figure 68 Additional variants for the structure node SN_FT, switch on object dependency to maintain
validity, step 1 and 2 ............................................................................................................................. 77
Figure 69 Popup: Dependencies Change: Step 3 .................................................................................. 77
Figure 70 Popup: Dependencies Change: Step 4 and 5......................................................................... 78
Figure 71 Popup: Dependencies Change: Step 6 .................................................................................. 78
Figure 72 Structure node SN_FT: Result with maintained object dependency .................................... 79
Figure 73 Configure top equipment, Configuration Data tab strip: Step 1 ........................................... 79
Figure 74 Configure top equipment, Characteristic value assignment: Step 2 ..................................... 80
Figure 75 Configure top equipment: Result of individual configuration............................................... 80
Figure 76 Result of the check with Configuration Control .................................................................... 81
Figure 77 Result of the check with Configuration Control with the wrong part ................................... 81
Figure 78 SERNR as Effectivity Parameter to be used as tail number ................................................... 86
Figure 79 Define effectivity type for tail number .................................................................................. 87
Figure 80 Define a change number, part 1 ............................................................................................ 88
Figure 81 Define a change number, part 2 ............................................................................................ 89
Figure 82 Define a change number, part 3 ............................................................................................ 89
Figure 83 Define a change number, part 4 ............................................................................................ 90
Figure 129 Add set variants and structure nodes to the set combination.......................................... 143
Figure 130 Start to maintain the set variants...................................................................................... 144
Figure 131 Maintain set variant SV01 (Set Variant 01) – Part 1 .......................................................... 145
Figure 132 Maintain set variant SV01 (Set Variant 01) – Part 2 .......................................................... 146
Figure 133 Maintain set variant SV01 (Set Variant 01) – Part 3 .......................................................... 146
Figure 134 Maintain set variant SV01 (Set Variant 01) – Part 4 .......................................................... 147
Figure 135 Result of the definition ...................................................................................................... 148
Figure 136 Result of Configuration Control Check .............................................................................. 149
Figure 137 Log of MPL explosion......................................................................................................... 150
Figure 138 Rule violation ..................................................................................................................... 151
Figure 139 Integration of Set Relationship functionalityRule violation .............................................. 153
Figure 140 Example 1 .......................................................................................................................... 154
Figure 141 Example 2 .......................................................................................................................... 156
Figure 142 Example 3 .......................................................................................................................... 158
Figure 143 Class AD_MPL_VARIANTS .................................................................................................. 159
Figure 144 Activate Cancel-Part Relationships by customizing........................................................... 160
Figure 145 Cancel-Part Relationships for structure node AIRCRAFT_00003 ...................................... 161
Figure 146 Cancel-Part Relationships for structure node AIRCRAFT_00003, set of rules................... 161
Figure 147 Cancel-Part Relationships for structure node AIRCRAFT_00003, adoption ...................... 162
Figure 148 Actual structure for Cancel-Part Relationships ................................................................. 162
Figure 149 Possible replacement for equipment 10000698 ............................................................... 163
Figure 150 Dismantle equipment 10000698 via transaction IE4N ...................................................... 164
Figure 151 Install equipment 10000700 via transaction IE4N ............................................................ 165
Figure 152 Install equipment 10000698 via transaction IE4N again ................................................... 165
Figure 153 Install equipment 10000701 via transaction IE4N ............................................................ 166