Definition

The process batch is a batch that you create for the production order so that you can document the properties of a material during the production process (for example, after the individual process steps). It also establishes a connection between the input batch and goods receipt batch.

Use

In production, you can use the process batch not just to document the progress made in production on a quantity basis (confirmations) but also to record the current properties of the material that is to be produced.

In addition, the process batch ensures end-to-end batch tracking, because with this function, the system can automatically record n:m relationships between input and goods receipt batches.

As a rule, no stock exists for a process batch. However, the process batch may have stock for a short time if you want to remove the relevant material from stock temporarily during the production process (see Prerequisites for Process Batch Management in the “Settings in the Material Master” section).

Prerequisites

For information about the required settings for process batch management, see Prerequisites for Process Batch Management .

Structure

You can only create a process batch for a production order in the Enter time ticket for production order transaction (CO11N; abbreviated below to Time ticket/confirmation transaction ).

You can only create a process batch at order level; as a result, it is available for all production order operations. You can only use a process batch in the production order for which you created the process batch.

You can create a process batch for the header material of the production order, the material of a co-product item, or the original batch reference material (OB reference material), if you have defined an original batch reference material for the material in question.

When you edit (copy, split, or merge) a process batch, new process batches are created at the next process batch level up. Process batches that contain the current properties of the material to be produced and are at the highest process batch level are described as highest-level process batches. As a rule, only these process batches can then be edited further using the process batch management functions.

If you want to document the material properties for every operation, you must create new process batches for each operation. Alternatively, you can adapt the characteristic values of the process batches in line with the current properties.

Once production is complete for a material, you must assign the highest-level process batch to an order item. These assigned process batches are also referred to as item process batches (IPBs).

You can also define any process batch of a production order as the original batch.

Integration

In the Enter time ticket for production order transaction (CO11N), you can create and edit process batches for production orders.

Batches that were created outside the time ticket/confirmation transaction cannot be used as process batches.

You can only create process batches for production orders. However, you can also use process batch management for original batches and combined orders from the order combination function.

Neither automatic goods receipt nor backflushnor milestone confirmation is possible for production orders that use process batch management.

If you have activated the documentary batch function in your system, you cannot use process batch management.

Process batches are not displayed in the batch where-used list in batch management (transaction MB56) or in the Batch Information Cockpit, and you cannot generate a quality certificate for process batches. A special where-used list for process batches and a target/actual comparison for process batches are available in the time ticket/confirmation transaction and in the production order.

If you archive a production order for which you generated process batches, and set a deletion flag, the system also sets a deletion flag for the process batches. Exceptions to this are the original batches that were created in process batch management.

Once the production order has been archived, all process batches for which a deletion flag has been set are physically deleted from the system the next time a batch reorganization is run. These cannot be retrieved.

Example

Two bales of green fabric are to be produced with production order 1000185. Production consists of three operations: weaving, dyeing, and cutting. After each operation, the current properties of the fabric are documented in process batches:

In operation 10, one bale of undyed fabric is produced. Its properties (length, width, and color) are recorded in process batch (PB) 185_01.

In operation 20, this bale of fabric is dyed green. The new properties of the bale are documented in process batch 185_02. (You can also record the new properties in process batch 185_01.)

In operation 30, the bale of fabric is split into two bales of 100 m. The process batch 185_02 is therefore split into two process batches: 185_03_1 and 185_03_2.The properties of the final product are recorded in these two process batches.

The following graphic illustrates the production order with its operations and the process batches that were generated for the individual operations: