Exploring SAP Applications for Batch Management (BLF)

• Manage Batches (F2462)
• Change Batch (MSC2N)
• Batch Information Cockpit (BMBC)

With this app you can display and edit existing and create new batches. Using one point of entry, this provides quick and easy access to batch-relevant information and activities. To enable flexible teamwork, new or changed records can be stored as draft versions in first place. All users having the corresponding authorization can find these draft versions using the search or the filter options and can either discard the draft changes or continue the work.

• Search for existing batches:
  • Search for single batches using SAP Fiori Enterprise Search
  • Search for certain ranges of batches using selection criteria and filter in this app
  • You can define a default filter for the following field: Material
• Edit existing batch or create new batch. You can edit batch-relevant information, for example:
  • Batch status, such as restricted opposed to unrestricted
  • Overview of all dates, such as shelf life or best-before date or date of manufacturing
  • Supplier batch information if available
  • Overview of the existing batch classifications
  • Inspection lots of the selected batch
  • Detailed information about the batch usage, such as shipments
• Use the draft concept for changed or new batches:
  • If you create a new batch or edit an existing batch, all changes are saved as a draft version as long as you don't select Save. For 20 minutes, the draft version is available. During this period, users who have the authorization can resume or discard this draft version. If you want to re-open a draft version after more than 20 minutes, the system forces you to discard the draft version. This is because the draft version locks all data used in the batch entry for all users, for example material data. To limit the time all data is locked, the draft version can only be resumed for 20 minutes.
  • Draft versions of a batch can be found using selection criteria and filter. If you open a draft version, the system displays a warning, asking if you want to resume or discard the draft version.
• Trigger follow-up activities. According to your permissions you can use the following apps, for example:
  • Transfer Stock - In Plant

    You can use this app to make the transfer postings for batches within a plant.

  • Stock - Single Material

    You can use this app to get an overview of your batch stocks. You can review your stock by the plants and storage locations for which you are responsible.

  • Batch Information Cockpit

    You can use this app for further analysis and control options such as calling up the batch master for changing and displaying master data, classification data, and the batch where-used list containing information about the lifecycle of a batch.

With this app you can make changes to batch information.

• Enter the material and batch number for the batch information that you wish to change. Enter plant and storage location if your batches are defined at these levels. The system validates your inputs and displays the current information for the batch you request.
• Batch information such as shelf life expiration date, best before date, trading data, status, classification, and freely useable fields are displayed. You can make changes to the fields and save new values to update the batch.
• When you save successfully, the system creates a timestamp record with details of the user, old and new values, and assigns a document number. You can view batch changes in the Display Batch Changes app.

With this app you can perform comprehensive analysis and batch control options.

• You can use the batch where-used list, for example, to monitor the creation and usage of a batch in production across several production steps.
• You can make a top-down or bottom-up analysis to trace batches depending on their level in a material structure:
  • At the top level starting from finished goods produced in-house.
  • At the bottom level starting from raw materials procured externally.
• Example: A materials manager can start a top-down analysis when a defect or complaints have been reported for a finished goods material batch sold to customers.
  • The materials manager can view the in-house process or production orders, and can trace down to review associated batches of raw materials, components, or semi-finished goods consumed during manufacture of the finished product.
  • Additional information such as the related supplier number, purchase order, and delivery details can be reviewed to identify the source of the defective batch and to plan remedial action.
  • Quality inspection results can also be traced, allowing the material manager to check whether quality control procedures were in place before a defective batch was approved for consumption or for delivery to customers.
• Bottom-up analysis allows you to track batches of raw materials purchased from suppliers, and to trace their usage upwards through semi-finished and finished goods levels.
• The Batch Information Cockpit (BIC) enables you to answer the following questions:
  • Which batches should be consumed if their shelf-life expires soon?
  • Which unrestricted batch stocks are there for a certain product group? With which attributes are the batches indicated?
  • Which batch stocks exist in the area of responsibility of a certain MRP controller?
  • How are the stocks divided across alternative units of measure (product or proportion units of measure)?
• You can use the BIC to:
  • Select batches
  • Display information relevant to batches
  • Call up detail functions
  • Trigger follow-up actions

• Selected batches can be stored in the Batch Worklist in a structured way (for example, according to the required work steps), and can then be "held" for further processing.
• You can directly call up the batch master for changing and displaying master data, classification data, and the batch where-used list containing information about the lifecycle of a batch.
• You can integrate and trigger follow-up actions for mass changes using Business Add-Ins (BAdIs).
• Several functions are integrated into the BIC:
  • Batch master
  • Batch where-used list
  • Stock overview with batch attributes
  • Shelf life list
  • Batch-specific availability overview
  • Batch worklist

• SAP Activate Roadmap Viewer

• SAP Signavio Process Navigator

• SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition

• SAP Fiori Apps Reference Library

Note

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