Discrete Manufacturing 
Purpose
This scenario describes the manufacture of a product based on production orders. Discrete manufacturing is characterized by requirements that occur on an irregular basis and a workshop-oriented process.
The Discrete Manufacturing scenario can be used in different variants, production by lot size, make-to-order production and assembly processing. The variants differ mainly in the type of planning conducted before-hand and in the relation to the sales order.
- Production by lot size
is identified by the grouping of requirements into lots during requirements planning, and by planning with existing basic data. Production by lot size is independent of a particular sales order.
- Make-to-order production
describes the production of a material with reference to a particular sales order. The manufactured quantities are managed, in terms of stock, directly for the individual sales order. They cannot be exchanged with the stock of other sales orders. Starting from the sales order, single-item planning can be allowed as far down the bill of material (BOM) structure as you like. Assemblies and components can also be procured for the sales order that generates the requirements, and managed in stock for this sales order. If the product is a configurable product, the system chooses a variant for the customer based on the characteristics that he or she selects. A sales order BOM can then be generated for the sales order. This BOM is used to produce the product.
- Assembly processing
is a form of make-to-order production, in which the production order (assembly order) is created together with the sales order. In assembly processing the components for the product have, in general, already been produced. They only need to be assembled. The advantage of assembly processing is that an availability check is carried out for the components when you create the sales order. This increases the reliability with which dates can be confirmed considerably. Changes to the sales order are automatically also made in the production order and vice-versa.
Process Flow
Creating a Production Order
Discrete manufacturing starts with the creation and processing of a production order. You can create a production order either manually or by converting a planned order that was created in production planning and procurement planning.
When you create a production order, reservations are automatically generated for the necessary material components. In the case of externally procurred material components or services, the system generates purchase requisistions. Capacity requirements are generated in the work centers that are to process the production order.
You can also carry out preliminary costing to determine the planned costs.
When the release date is reached and the relevant materials and capacities are avaialble, you release the production order. To prepare for production, you print the relevant shop floor papers.
Capacity Planning
You can evaluate the capacity situation, and if necessary level capacities at any stage in production order processing. In general, you do this before production starts.
Production
The components that are requiured to produce the product are withdrawn from stock for the production order and the goods issue is posted. The required product is produced according to the production order. The quantities produced and the times needed to do so are confirmed for the production order. The products are placed into stock and the goods receipt is posted.
Quality Inspection During Production
The Quality Management procedures relevant to this scenario are explained in a separate scenario
QM in Production.