Digital Signature in QM 

Use

The SAP System provides the digital signature tool to identify and approve digital data. The digital signature ensures that certain tasks are only performed by specially authorized users and documented in a signed document together with the name of the undersigned person, and the date and time. You need the digital signature to meet the GMP guidelines (Good Manufacturing Practices) for the approval of quality-related processes and documentation.

The Quality Management (QM) application component uses the simple signature. This means, that a document is signed or approved by the signature of a single authorized person. You can use the digital signature for the following functions:

• During results recording
• At the usage decision
• When confirming the physical-sample drawing. This means, when releasing the first physical sample in a physical-sample drawing.

Approval Using Digital Signatures

In the SAP System, the digital signature is supported by the Basis component Secure Store and Forward (SSF). This provides you with various signature methods. If you use the user signature as the signature method, you require an external security product that is linked to your SAP System using SSF.

• You have made the general settings for a digital signature (see Approval with Digital Signatures).
• You have activated the digital signature for QM. For this, you must:

• Define the necessity of a digital signature in the QM-Material Authorization for inspection processing (see Customizing for Quality Management, Environment ® Central Functions ® Authorization Management ® Define Authorization Groups)
• Enter the QM material authorization for the relevant material in the Quality Management view of the material master