External Agent Processing 
Use
With this function, you create or receive documents in the SAP System for processing scheduling agreements involving external agents.
Integration
The following
document types have been designed for processing with external agents:
Document Type |
Description |
LK |
Scheduling agreement with delivery schedules |
ED |
Delivery by external agent (consignment issue) |
EDKO |
Correction |
KAZU |
Consignment pick-up |
KRZU |
Consignment returns |
The related
item categories are:
Item Category |
Used for: |
LKN |
scheduling agreement type LK |
KEN |
document type ED |
EDK |
positive corrections (or the manual alternative EDK1 for negative corrections) for document type EDKO |
KAN |
document type KAZU |
KRN |
document type KRZU |
The related
schedule line categories in the SAP System are E4, E0, E5, and BN for item category LKN.The following graphic illustrates how the document types are used in external agent processing:
Features
When
creating scheduling agreements, note the following:- Use scheduling agreement type LK.
- Choose Goto ®
Header
®
Partners to enter the external agent as forwarding agent and special stock partner on the partner function screen (if this has not already been defined in the customer master).
You can create forecast and just-in-time (JIT) delivery schedules in scheduling agreements for external agents. Note that you can only maintain the JIT delivery schedule horizon in the JIT delivery schedule header screen. When working with JIT delivery schedules, make sure that the MRP indicator in the header sales screen is not set to "E" (no JIT delivery schedules). The system proposes this indicator from the sales document type when you create a scheduling agreement.
When transferring materials to the external agent, note the following:
- Shipping is carried out for scheduling agreements of type LK in the same way as for consignment fill-ups (document type KB).When you create a standard delivery (document type LF) and post goods issue, the quantity to be delivered to the customer is transferred to the external agent as special stock. You do not bill this transaction.
- You create a delivery by external agent, document type ED, on the basis of the external agent delivery note. You do this in the same way as creating a
sales order with reference to the scheduling agreement. Documents of this type are handled in the same way as consignment issues (document type KE).
- When you save the delivery by external agent document, the system automatically creates an immediate delivery. Post goods issue for this delivery to reduce the consignment stock on record and increase the cumulative quantity issued by the external agent.
- To ensure that the prices you are working with are valid at the time of goods issue, the system redetermines the pricing date (depending on Customizing settings, this could be the current or the requested delivery date). It then carries out new pricing for this date.
When correcting cumulative quantities, note the following:
- To correct cumulative delivered quantities (deliveries to the external agent), create a
correction delivery (document type LFKO).
- To correct cumulative quantities issued by the external agent, use document type EDKO. Create with reference to the scheduling agreement. When you save the document, the system automatically creates a delivery. No changes are made to stock.
- For positive corrections, use item category EDK (proposed as default for materials with item category group NORM). Use item category EDK1 for negative corrections.
- In the case of returns, cumulative quantities are not updated automatically!
To transfer returns
- from the customer to the external agent, use document type KRZU (consignment returns). Create returns with reference to the scheduling agreement.
If the system should adjust the cumulative delivered quantity, you will need to create a correction delivery (document type LFKO).
- from the external agent (if, for example, you have delivered too much) use document type KAZU (consignment pick-up).
If the system should adjust the cumulative quantity issued by the external agent, you will need to create an external agent correction (document type EDKO).
- directly from the customer, use document type RZ (scheduling agreement returns).
If the system should adjust the cumulative delivered quantity and the cumulative quantity issued by the external agent, you will need to create a correction delivery (document type LFKO) and an external agent correction (document type EDKO).
The following graphic illustrates how the document types are used when transferring returns in external agent processing, and how these document types affect the cumulative quantities:
