Network: Changes in Release 3.0 (SAP Library - Release Notes for Release 3.0A)

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Network: Changes in Release 3.0

Description

In Release 3.0, the following changes were made in the network:

Networks can be created by copying a network. By using the function key More on the initial screen, you can choose which objects are to be copied when creating, for example, relationships, components and milestones.

You can store a strategy to determine the settlement rule in the network.

For each strategy, you store in which sequence the settlement rule is determined:

Copying settlement rule for the WBS element

Copying settlement rule for the project definition

Generating a settlement rule for the WBS element

Generating a settlement rule by default rule (predefined by the system)

Manually maintaining the settlement rule

You maintain the strategy in Customizing and set up the network parameters for each network type. If you do not maintain a strategy for a network type, then the system generates a settlement rule from the default rule or you must maintain the settlement rule manually.

You can plan services for externally processed activities.

Precondition: You must maintain the Service indicator in the control key.

Execution factor for internally and externally processed activities and activity elements.

You specify the number of times the activity or activity element should be carried out. The execution factor refers to the work, the activity duration, the activity quantity and the material quantity. If you specify an execution factor for an activity, it applies to the activity elements of that activity as well.

If you enter an execution factor in a standard network, it serves as a default value and will be copied into a network when you create one using the standard network. The calculation of quantities, durations and work is only performed for the network.

If you change the execution factor, the previously calculated quantities will be recalculated.

You can create and directly assign documents to individual activities in the network.

Classification: You can use the characteristics from class type 14 (projects) to summarize activities and activity elements of activity-assigned networks.

You can transfer costs from network/activity to network/activity.

You can record statistical key figures, for example, the number of participating employees, for a network/activity in planned and actual data.

When creating an activity-assigned network for WBS elements, the system copies the priority from the WBS element as a default value into the network header, the activities and the activity elements.

If dates and quantities in the network change for material components for which a purchase order was already created, then the system automatically initializes a workflow.

You determine whether a workflow is initialized by specifying the parameters for the network type in Customizing.

The purchasing group responsible for processing purchase orders receives a work item by mail and can display the network from there and change the purchase order.

You can set up various qualification requirements for the activity or copy qualification requirements from Personnel Planning and Development (PD) into the activity.

You can use qualifications in resource planning to determine the persons suitable for carrying out a task. When capacity assignment takes place, these qualifications are taken into account and assigned accordingly.

You can split the capacity requirements of individual activities:

With capacity category "labor", you can assign capacity requirements to individual employees.

With capacity category "machine", you can split the activity's capacity requirements among individual capacities, such as machines.

You no longer access loop analysis from the same menu. Now you can only access it in a network graphic using the menu options Edit -> Functions.

In Customizing you can specify for the network type that the network should be released immediately after creation. If the system cannot release the network, it sets the status "release rejected" and writes an entry in the error log.

You can view the log by selecting the menu options Extras -> Log -> For release.

New fields in the network

By using the indicator No Reservation/PReq., you can determine in the network that no purchase requisitions are created and that reservations are not applicable to MRP.

Planned costs for purchase requisitions and reservations are still calculated and updated.

You can activate reservations and purchase requisitions:

for individual activities

for a network

for a WBS element

You set up the indicator as a default value in the network profile and the system copies it into the network header when you create activities and activity elements.

The Subnetwork exists indicator shows whether the activity or the activity element was replaced by a subnetwork.

The Service package exists indicator shows whether a service package exists for the externally processed activity or the external element.

The PS text indicator shows whether a PS text was copied into the purchase requisition for the externally processed activity and components not kept in stock.

In the network header:

Automatic scheduling

Automatic costing

Reservations/purchase requisitions

Capacity requirements

In the network header supplement:

Jurisdiction code

Controlling area

Internal processing -> Basic data 1

The Classified activity indicator shows whether the activity is classified.

Only use this indicator for activities and activity elements in activity-assigned networks. When this indicator is set, you can analyze costs using project summarization.

Internal processing -> Basic data 2

Confirmation number

The "Qualification" field was renamed Suitability.

External processing overview

Indicator for service Serv

If you maintain the indicator, the activity becomes a service and uses the control key for service as a default value.

Changes and new functions in the menus

The network menu was revised and restructured.

All the menu options under the path Additional functions - > Details were moved out from menu Additional functions and introduced as a separate menu option Details.

In the English version, the menu option Additional functions was renamed Extras .

Menu option Network

All functions for cost calculation and costs display, and the functions for the status and availability check were moved into the menu Edit.

You can use Include standard network to insert a standard network into the activity overviews.

Menu option Edit

The following actions are new using Functions:

Depending on the No reservation/PReq indicator, the activated PReq/reservation creates purchase requisitions and reservations for all corresponding objects in the network.

With Copy PS text, you can copy PS texts for externally processed activities and material components with item category "non-stock item" into the purchase requisition.

With Replace standard WBS, you can replace standard WBS elements if you have inserted a standard network where standard WBS elements are assigned.

With Transfer dates you can transfer basic dates to forecast dates and vice versa.

With Status, you set statuses for the various business transactions in the network.

With Project version, you can create versions and display a list of the existing project versions.

Menu option Goto

The option Constraints was removed from the menu Additional functions -> Details and introduced under Goto. On the new screen, you can enter contraints for all the activities in the network as well as create new activities.

You can use the function Subnetwork to call up the superior network and get an overview of all subnetworks.

Select WBS assignment activity to see the WBS elements assigned to all the activities in the network.

This screen was also revised. You can now use it to quickly enter new activities and to make new WBS element assignments.

Under the menu option Graphic the "Gantt chart" was replaced by the "project planning board".

Menu option Activity

With Document overview, you can see all documents that are assigned to an activity, and can also display the original document or search for other documents.

Select WBS assign.-element to see the WBS elements assigned to all activity elements in the network.

This screen was also revised. You can now quickly enter new activity elements and make WBS element assignments.

Menu Details

The following functions under Activity/Element are new:

Assignments shows the organizational assignments for an activity, for example, WBS element, company code, CO area, and jurisdiction code.

With Qualifications, you can either enter activity requirements or enter the qualification requirements from the Human Resources System (HR).

You can use qualifications in resource planning to find suitable people to carry out the activity.

You can use Capacity splits to divide up the capacity requirements of the activities among several resources:

With capacity category "labor", you can assign capacity requirements to individual persons.

With capacity category "machine", you can split the activity's capacity requirements.

With Service, you can process the service packages available for the externally processed activity.

With Earned value analysis, you can enter data for the earned value analysis.

With Milestone, you can call the basic data, functions and administrative data for the individual milestones from the milestone overview.

With PRT, you can also display the original documents if the PRT is a document.

Menu option Extras

Under the Logs menu, you can call up logs for the following: locked WBS, WBS activity, configuration.

In the Classification menu

Summarization char. shows the summarization characteristics for the activity, if the activity is assigned to class type 14 (projects).

Configuration

If you created the network from a standard network that is configurable, you can display and change the data for the configuration.

If you created the network from sales order, you can only display the data for the configuration.

With Capacity leveling, you can call up resource planning.

With Create document, you can create documents for the activities using document management.

Component overview for the activity

Component -> Explode BOM gives a single-level breakdown of the bill of material.

With Component -> Address maintenance, you can maintain addresses for third-party orders.

Change system parameters in customizing

If necessary, maintain the following parameters for the network in Customizing:

1. Maintain new parameters in the network profile.

Additional information

2. If necessary, create a new control key for services in the network or change an existing control key.

Assign the control key to the network profile.

Control key in the network:

Additional information

Network profile: Additional information

3. Maintain the new parameters for network type: Additional information

4. If necessary, maintain a strategy for the determining a settlement rule and assign it to the parameters for the network.

Strategy for determining a settlement rule: Additional information

Parameters for the network type: Additional information

5. Maintain the parameters for the subnetworks:

Additional information

Further notes

Please refer to the Project System guide for a detailed description of new functions and changes to the network.