Exploring POD Templates

Manage POD 2.0 is the app for configuring Production Operator Dashboards (PODs) for your shop floor. PODs are dynamic, interactive visual representations of production processes that enable operators to record production work and view real‑time manufacturing data.

When you create a new POD in Manage POD 2.0, you can start from preconfigured POD Templates. These templates are intelligent starting points that replace rigid traditional POD types and include relevant plugins, default layouts, and sample production data tailored to common manufacturing scenarios. Templates are extensible, allowing you to add, remove, and rearrange plugins and adjust layouts, so you can quickly configure customized dashboards without extensive development effort.

Benefits include faster implementation, simpler configuration, more flexible and adaptable solutions, and a consistent operator experience across the shop floor.

The Blank POD Template provides a completely customizable starting point for specialized manufacturing scenarios that don't fit standard templates. It supplies a minimal base structure without predefined plugins or workflows, enabling maximum flexibility for custom configurations. Use it when you need to design PODs with unique requirements or develop new POD functionality that extends beyond the standard capabilities.

The Work Center POD Template supports execution of production and service orders for assemblies that remain at a single work center for extended periods, enabling multiple operators to work simultaneously on manufacturing processes. This template provides preconfigured pages and dialogs specifically designed for scenarios, where products undergo multiple operation activities while remaining at a single work center. For example, an assembly station, where the operator performs assembly, visual inspection and final packaging for one product.

The Operation Activity POD Template enables production operators to execute orders and queue SFCs at specific operation activities, making it ideal for discrete manufacturing scenarios with single-operation workflows. This template provides preconfigured pages and dialogs specifically designed for operation-specific SFC management, including multiple SFC processing capabilities that allow operators to work efficiently on several units simultaneously. Choose this template when there is a one‑to‑one mapping between operations and physical locations, and operators focus on a single activity while managing queued SFCs. For example, a labeling work center, where the operator applies adhesive labels to several products simultaneously.

The Order POD Template supports execution of process and production orders transferred from integrated ERP systems (for example SAP S/4HANA), making it ideal for complex manufacturing scenarios where operators perform multiple operations across different work centers for single orders. This template provides preconfigured pages and dialogs specifically designed for ERP-integrated order execution, including harmonized plugins between work center and Order PODs that enable end-to-end order management from release to confirmation. Use this template when orders need multi‑operation processing, batch/lot handling, flexible material consumption, and comprehensive traceability across extended production cycles.

An Electronic Batch Record (EBR) is a digital version of a traditional paper batch record that captures, manages, and tracks data related to the production process. The EBR POD Template enables regulated industries to support the composition of audit-ready EBRs for process and production orders directly on the shop floor. This template provides preconfigured pages and dialogs including the ability to attach SAP DM documents and third-party files.

The template helps organizations ensure regulatory compliance, enhancing traceability, improving data accuracy and product quality, and streamlining workflows in regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing and chemical manufacturing where strict documentation and regulatory compliance are mandatory. The template supports structured batch documentation with role-based authorization, version control, and a comprehensive audit trail.

Once an order has been released and a corresponding goods receipt has been posted, you can create an EBR via the public EBR API in the SAP Business Accelerator Hub. Ensure that all users are assigned the appropriate role. For example, within the POD, production operators should be able to attach process documents to the EBR and initiate the review process, while production supervisors should be authorized to review, approve or reject the EBR and perform the final release. For more details on the prerequisites for using the EBR POD template, please refer to this link.

For example, this template can be used for a currently produced batch of chocolate yogurt in the food industry to ensure full traceability, product quality and compliance with legal regulations.