Characteristic-Based Process Instruction 
Definition
Structure that is used to transfer data or instructions from the SAP system (PP-PI) to production control.
In contrast to XSteps, you must edit characteristic-based process instructions using characteristics in the process instruction overview of the master recipe or process order manually.
See also: XSteps (Execution Steps)
Use
See: Process Instructions
Structure
Characteristic-based process instructions consist of the following elements:
A header
Characteristics
Characteristic values
Example: Structure Overview of a Process Instruction
Header
The header of a process instruction contains general information about the process instruction, such as the process instruction type and process instruction category.
Characteristics
Characteristics can have two functions in process instructions. They can be used to specify:
The type of information transferred or requested,
for example, "process order number", "control recipe status" or "control instruction"
How the requested data should be processed,
for example, that a specific value should be provided by process control, or which message category should be used to report this value
You define process instruction characteristics and assign them to the process instruction categories in Customizing for Process Management . In the instruction category, you also specify the sequence for the characteristics.
When you create a process instruction in a master recipe or a process order, the system copies the characteristics that are assigned to the relevant process instruction category into the process instruction. You can then assign further characteristics or delete existing assignments in the process instruction. You can assign as many characteristics to a process instruction as you like. You can assign a characteristic to the same process instruction more than once.
The type of characteristic structure that you define for the process instructions depends on the process instruction type that you want to use. For more information on the structure of process instructions, see Characteristic-Based Process Instruction Structure and Characteristic-Based Process Instructions for PI Sheets .
Characteristic Values
You can assign values to process instruction characteristics in Customizing for Process Instruction Categories , in the master recipe, or in the process order.
In Customizing you can assign values to characteristics that contain general information. This may include, for example, information about the message category of unsent messages. If a process instruction of this category is created in the recipe or order, these values are copied into the process instruction.
In the master recipe, you can assign values to characteristics that contain process-specific information, such as the material quantity required for the process or a specific validation rule.
In the process order, you can assign values to characteristics that are only valid for the individual production run, such as the name of the device from which a measured value is to be obtained.
In the process order, you must assign a value to every characteristic in a process instruction. Otherwise, you cannot create a control recipe.
You can define a certain format and value range for a characteristic in Customizing. You may only use single-value characteristics in process messages. Intervals are not allowed. The value of a process instruction characteristic can be a numeric or alphanumeric key, a short text or a long text, or the name of a message characteristic that is to be processed in a specific way. When the characteristic values are assigned in the recipe or order, the values entered must comply with the defined format and value range.
If a value assignment function or table field has been assigned to a characteristic, the value of this process instruction characteristic can be assigned automatically in the process order or when you create a control recipe.
For more information, see Automatic Value Assignment to Process Instruction Characteristics .
Integration
When you release the process order or certain phases, the system combines the process instructions into control recipes . It creates one control recipe for each control recipe destination of a process order. The system then transfers the control recipes to the control recipe destinations, which need the information to control and regulate the production process.