Performing Product Data Replication

Up to now, you have distributed your master data between engineering and production systems directly or using a batch job. You always had to make sure that all related master data is distributed.

Now you are looking for a tool that you can use to distribute dependent master data directly in one step. For example a material and its dependent BOM and documents should be directly distributed.

Therefore you plan to use Product Data Replication. With Product Data Replication you are able to distribute all relevant master data in one single step.

The main object for Product Data Replication is the Replication Workbench.

This Workbench uses components of the Configuration Management like the Configuration folder or the Baseline.

When you start the Replication Workbench and you want to create a new replication scenario, the first thing you have to define, is a configuration definition. With this definition you set-up a life-cycle profile and the first configuration folder.

The life-cycle profile defines different life-cycle phases, which are connected to the configuration folders. Every life-cycle phase stands for a special product development step.

For every phase of product development you are now able to define a configuration folder.

After you have created the first configuration folder and manually entered the product data, you now want to use a technique that automatically compiles the dependent product data. Therefore, you use the baseline. This resolves the dependencies of the controlled object, usually a material, and automatically compiles the data.

Using a baseline, you first have to define a controlled object inside your configuration folder, most of the time a material.

After releasing the configuration folder, you are allowed to create a baseline. The material is used and all dependent objects are collected. These objects could be then material BOMs, linked documents, classes, characteristics or the object classification. The level of object resolutions is defined in the baseline profile.

The baseline is then used for the creation of the distribution order and the distribution package. The distribution takes place.

The main steps in the product replication process are as follows:

• Create a configuration folder and select the controlled object.
• Use a baseline to collect the data to be distributed, name the target systems, and inform the recipients.
• Create a distribution order based on the collected objects.
• Convert the distribution order to a distribution package. This package contains distribution units.
• Send the distribution units to the target system.
• Monitor the distribution in the cockpit for the distribution units.

Master Data Specialist Anna has so far distributed master data directly or via batch job from an engineering to the production systems. In this case Andrea has always distributed the individual master data.

Now she is looking for a solution that allows her to send the master data in a package.

Therefore, she decides to use Product Data Replication.

Product Data Replication uses parts of Configuration Management to compile the data.

Therefore, as a first step Andrea has to define a Configuration Definition. Within this definition she decides on the right life-cycle profile and the first Configuration Folder.

The following video shows the necessary steps to create a Configuration Folder.

Master Data Specialist Andrea has created the first Configuration Folder. This folder is now used to collect manually necessary master data.

The following video now shows how to create a Configuration Folder and manually add the initial master data.

After Master Data Specialist Andrea has created the first configuration folder, she now wants to create another folder that is ultimately to be used for distributing the master data. However, this folder is to be created in another phase. Andrea does not collect the data manually. Instead she uses the baseline technology.

The following video shows the creation of a baseline and the collection of data.

Andrea has compiled the master data in a baseline. Now she is going to start the distribution. A distribution order and a distribution package is to be created.

The following video shows all necessary distribution steps.

Andrea has now logged on to the target system. There she controls the imported data with the UPS Cockpit. Some data were directly imported, some not.

The following video shows the necessary steps inside the UPS Cockpit.