Action Handler

Purpose

The Action Handler is a component of SAP APO and is used for the automatic or manual execution of functions before and during production. It links the planning system SAP APO with an external system, which is responsible for controlling the production ( production control system = PCS ).

You usually work with the Action Handler in repetitive and flow manufacturing , but it is also possible to use it in shop floor production . It is possible to combine the use of the Action Handler with iPPE ("New Manufacturing") in both scenarios. You can also use the Action Handler without using iPPE .

The automated Action Handler is used during production , and the manual Action Handler is used before the actual production process .

  • You use the automated Action Handler for recurrent production steps, that is, the system carries out the same actions several times (for example, printing of documents, production tracking, backflushing).

  • You should work with the manual Action Handler whenever you want to carry out processing steps for single APO orders in an easy-to-use environment in SAP APO in order to prepare the production process (for example, carrying out ATP check for components, releasing orders). You can only work with the manual Action Handler when using iPPE as well.

In general, you do not use the automated and the manual Action Handler separately but optimize your processes using a combination of both.

Implementation Considerations

A prerequisite for using the automated Action Handler is that the production control system is connected to the SAP APO planning system so that actual data can be transferred from production to planning.

Integration

The action points of the automated Action Handler can be the same as the ones in iPPE (integrated Product and Process Engineering) so that it is possible to use them as reporting points for backflushing.

The manual Action Handler is integrated into planned order management and the sequence schedule of model mix planning .

Production tracking is integrated into planned order management .

Features

  • The automated Action Handler is used during production . In this phase, the system automatically carries out one or several actions with all planned orders , as soon as the production control system reports that the planned orders have reached a certain action point .

    You can increase the amount of actions that can be processed any time by installing the necessary hardware.

    A special action in the automated Action Handler is production tracking , which means saving certain order-specific information at specific action points during production.

  • You mainly use the manual Action Handler during the production preparation process. In this phase, you can select individual planned orders and do the following:

    • manually carry out standalone actions at any point of the planning process (for example, send messages, print documents)

    • manually carry out actions within defined multi-dimensional action networks

SAP delivers several standard actions which you can change according to your needs. You can also define/program your own actions .

In order to view the complete technical information on the Action Handler, see Transaction Codes and Further Technical Information .

Restrictions

You can only work with the manual Action Handler when using iPPE as well.