Define change types for objects

In this step, you define how changes to objects allocated to the change master record (such as BOM, routing, document) are to be controlled.
To define a change type, you can complete the following two steps.

1. In the first step, you enter an identifying numeric key for the change type (change type and description).

When you enter a change type for a change object allocated to the change master, the system automatically creates a status object. The status network ( system status) for change objects is already defined internally in the system and is allocated to this status object (change object). The processing sequence is controlled by the system status and cannot be changed by the user.
If you do not enter any further data for the change type, the processing sequence is controlled entirely by the system status.

2. In a second step, you can enter data for adapting the processing sequence to your company's requirements.

a) You can use business transactions from workflow in the processing sequence. To do this, you must enter the data for the workflow task, which is allocated to a workflow definition (object type and object ID).

You can define workflow tasks for engineering change management in the workflow workbench. These tasks are carried out when certain events occur. Events are defined in the workflow object type directory and describe changes to object statuses.

To find the object type for the change object (ECO) in the workflow object type directory, choose "Logistics - General".
To define a workflow task for the object type "workflow task" (WF), enter an object ID which you allocate to the change type in this step.

b) You can supplement the system status with the company-specific user statuses that you have defined as a status profile in an earlier step.

You must allocate the status profile for the change type (change object) to the object type "Engineering Change Management - Change Objects".
You can allocate business transactions to the user statuses. You can define follow-up actions to determine how the status is affected when a specific business transaction is carried out. For example, the transaction can trigger the setting or deletion of a status.

In the

Signature network for object management record field, you define which approval process takes place when each individual system status is set.

Preconditions

• If you want to define specific workflow tasks for a processing sequence, first define the tasks in the workflow workbench.

• If you want to use a status profile to control a processing sequence, first complete the step Define status profile.

Activities

Define change types for the change object according to your requirements.

• If you want the processing flow to be controlled only by the system status, enter only a numeric key and a descriptive text.

• If you want the system to perform a workflow task, enter the data that identifies the workflow task. To do this, make an entry in the fields Object type and Object ID.

• If you want to supplement the system status with a user status, enter the key for the status profile.

Further notes