Use of Operations and Sub-Operations (SAP Library

Use of Operations and Sub-Operations

Use of Operations

You use operations to describe the individual steps in an order.

You can plan an order at different levels of detail, depending on the type of order involved and the extent of the work being planned:

Short orders containing only one operation (fast entry)

For these orders, you can enter data for a single operation in the lowest section of the header data screen, without having to use any further screens. The operation can involve internal or external processing. You use the operation detail screens for this operation.

Long orders without detailed planning

For these orders, you use the operation overview function. You can use this to enter as many operations as required.

Short or long orders with detailed planning

For these orders, you use the operation overview and the operation detail screens.

If you initially created and saved an order with header data only and no operation, the system automatically creates the first operation for the order header when saving. This is necessary because you need at least one operation to be able to plan, schedule and confirm the order.

The operation created automatically contains the same data as the order header. You can change it as required.

Use of Sub-Operations

If several work centers are to execute an operation, you can divide the operation into sub-operations. You can thereby schedule a different work center for each sub-operation. The operation itself may contain a work center that, for example, coordinates the work centers in the sub-operations.

You create sub-operations in the same way as operations in the Operation Overview. In addition, you specify the number of the operation, to which they are assigned.

Features

The following options are available for detailed planning of an order at operation level:

Describing work steps to be executed

Assigning work centers

Specifying where the work should be executed (for example, an assembly of the reference object)

Specifying a control key

Assigning required material

Assigning required utilities

Assigning personnel

Specifying detail data for internal processing

Specifying detail data for external processing

Specifying scheduling data

Entering qualifications

For more information, see Use of Performing Work Centers in the Operation.

Entering company-specific user data

Deleting operations

If the order has not yet been released, the operations are physically deleted. These operations can no longer be displayed.

If the order has already been released, deletion indicators are assigned to the operations. These operations can still be displayed.

Activities

Based on the control key, which you enter in the operation, the system automatically determines which operation detail screen must be completed. To select this detail screen, double click on the operation number.