Sunday, November 30, 2008

A Complete Look At Different SAP Modules & Solutions

By Zach Johnson

An ERP system is a real-time business supporting system that provides to the data wants of the whole organization using a sole repository of data (a database) and a very high-tech set of highly-customizable software modules which, together, facilitate decision-making and the activities based on these decisions. This invariably consequences in extremely competent operations and a resultant competitive advantage. SAP, prepared by SAP AG, situated in Walldorf, Germany, is 1 such proprietary ERP system.

The SAP system is prepared into various sets of 'solutions' (essentially, modules) that comprehend the info demands of particular fields of any organization's operations. Set on top of these already-integrated individual modules is the Cross-Application layer, components of which further learn that these various result 'talk' to each other in a cohesive mode.

There is a saying, "If you fail to plan, you are actually planning to fail". Consequently, a good starting aim for understanding SAP is it's Project System which treats every action within the organisation as part of numerous project. Set on current orders (or perceived demand), this module is practiced specify projects that will implement these orders and set out tracking them from then on. A typical project would take on a mix of some manufacturing actions as well as whatsoever associated procurement (raw materials as well as bought-out items). Chasing After every such project right from inception, through to its completion and beyond (post-project analysis) is competently dealt by this module.

For project actions that refer to manufacturing, the Production Planning module deals the specifics of capacity planning, production scheduling down to the personalized chores on the shop floor. This includes handling data on the accessibility and deployment of human resources, machinery, tools and fixtures, consumables and energy requirements to name a few.

With streamlined production occurs Plant Maintenance which handles preventive maintenance, breakdown maintenance along with the linked down-time of equipment and lost hours of the work-force as well as the time, material and labor necessary for such maintenance.

The Materials Management module interfaces with Production Planning and Plant Maintenance to verify a) Timely delivery of stuffs and b) Reduced cost of inventory. Its scope goes with material requisitions (based on Bills of Material emanating from production programmes as well as for unplanned purchases) and tracks them from placing orders to receipt of commodities, their acquiring inspection (quality control), their being needed into stock and being subsequently published for production. This module also handles finished-goods inventory.

The Costing module interfaces with each entity that has a cash value linked with it. It requires into consideration the different cost-centers and each of the linked prices : equipment, material, labor and services. The comparable makes true for the profit centers. This costing module has a provision for product-based costing (which could fail to deal particular prepared costs accurately ) as well as activity-based costing which is advised more scientific and allows for cross-functional sharing of all the drivers of these costs.

The Sales and Distribution module tracks all transactions from inquiries, requests for proposals/ quotations and pricing to interfacing with the finished-goods stock (in factory and warehouses) to picking, packing, shipping and delivery.

The Financial Accounting module logs financial transactions in the electronic equivalent of essential books of accounts, keeps the General Ledger and every last defined sub-ledgers, consolidates all this into the ultimate books of accounts (essentially, Profit & Loss account and the Balance Sheet), addresses tax-related transactions/adjustments and interfaces with book closure. By The Way, most of this is of a statutory nature and has implemented with the country-specific options of SAP.

Asset Management is practiced for chasing after assets from the time they are purchased, right through their lifetime with regard to their depreciation (and, thus their current valuation) to the point they are either traded or written off.

The Quality Management module, along with the Project System, in reality overlaps all another procedures and interfaces with every 1 of them throughout the life of the corporation. Quality, they say is never by accident; it is always by design. That is why this module is practiced to facilitate all activities that build quality into the company's products/services (preventing defects/errors taking place in the first place). This is complete by preparation (essentially, incorporating preventive steps in the organisation's work-flow), playing these quality programmes and dealing periodic inspections to find out deviations, if any. Critical to the company's image and credibility in the outside world, are actions that lead to the varied applicable certifications getting which is likewise cared effectively by this module

This was a simplistic view of a very comprehensive application called SAP.

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