Best Practices for Tagging and Flagging Different Orders in SAP

Question:

How can I correctly designate a notification or order with tags such as Safety, PSM, Environmental, Production, USDA, and more in SAP? Is there a specific feature in SAP that is intended for flagging such orders? I want to avoid using PMActType as it only allows for one type designation. Is it appropriate to utilize user status for multiple tags? Would adding codes to the order description, such as PSM_, be a searchable solution? What is the recommended best practice for this scenario?

Top Replies

If you previously held the role of Beef PdM Manager and experienced challenges with deleted posts affecting the clarity of your questions, there are ways to organize your work types for smoother operations. Utilizing the notif/order type can assist in categorizing tasks such as breakdown maintenance (BM), corrective maintenance (CM), preventive maintenance (PM), inspection (IN), plant change (PC), modification (MO), and non-core maintenance (NC). It is important to consider the diverse reasons for performing these tasks and avoid solely defining them based on work requirements. The use of PMActType, or Plant Maintenance Activity Type, allows for further sub-categorization of work types, including breakdown maintenance into unintentional breakdowns and intentional run-to-failure (RTF), corrective maintenance into repair, refurbishment, fine-tuning, and calibration options, preventive maintenance into timed-based or condition-based overhaul/discard, inspections into visual or non-destructive testing methods, plant changes into modification or upgrades, and non-core maintenance for tasks requested by other departments.

What are the fields in SAP used to categorize work orders? Our maintenance department handles all work orders, but they may be initiated by various departments such as safety, PSM, ergonomics, operations, and environmental. Some work orders may have multiple designations like PSM & Safety or Ergo & Safety. I am looking to create a tracking system using custom user statuses to allow department managers to easily search for relevant notifications/orders in SAP. By incorporating a custom code into the short text description, managers can utilize IW39 to search for specific codes like "PSM." I am also exploring other fields in SAP that can be utilized for search purposes. Can anyone provide insight into the specific field names in SAP intended for this purpose?

When it comes to order types, we primarily utilize two categories: PM01 for work orders and PM02 for planned maintenance activities. PM01 work orders involve completing tasks on a one-time basis, while PM02 maintenance plans are scheduled regularly, such as daily, weekly, or monthly, based on specific counters.

I believe I addressed your question, however, it seems there may be a disagreement with my response. It's important to note that segregating work types into different departments may not be the most effective approach. I recommend utilizing the work types listed above, as this is the standard method for achieving your goals. If you plan to customize the process to your specific preferences, consider how you will track maintenance KPIs such as corrective and preventive measures, and how they compare with other facilities in the long run.

Your CMMS may seem limited with only two work types, but this is not a reflection of the software's capabilities. Your own decision to restrict work order types is what limits your system. Consider expanding your work order types to unlock the full potential of your CMMS. The Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP) has outlined these work types for reference.

You've touched on several potential solutions, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. User statuses can indeed be used for multiple tags or categories but might lead to confusion if not clearly defined. Injection of codes like 'PSM_' into your order description could be an easy workaround, but this could clutter your order descriptions and might not be as efficient when it comes to searching. You may want to consider the Classification system in SAP. By maintaining Characteristics like 'Safety' or 'USDA', you can assign multiple of these to a single order. This also supports a robust search functionality. Be sure to consult with your SAP system admin before setting this up, and as with any changes, try it in a test environment first. There may be impacts you haven't yet considered.

When it comes to tagging notifications or orders in SAP, using user status can be a great alternative, especially since it allows for multiple designations. You might consider creating a custom status that encompasses your various categories like Safety, Environmental, and so on, allowing for more flexible tagging. Additionally, incorporating codes in the order description, like PSM_, can enhance searchability and make it easier for users to filter through orders based on their needs. Just be mindful to keep the descriptions consistent to avoid confusion. Another option is to leverage SAP’s classification system, which allows you to define and categorize orders further, but user status combined with clear coding can often provide the flexibility you’re looking for.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQ: 1. How can I designate multiple tags like Safety, PSM, Environmental, Production, USDA, etc., to notifications or orders in SAP?

Answer: - You can utilize user status in SAP to assign multiple tags to notifications or orders instead of using PMActType, which only allows for one type designation.

FAQ: 2. Is it appropriate to use user status for assigning multiple tags to notifications or orders in SAP?

Answer: - Yes, it is appropriate to use user status in SAP for assigning multiple tags to notifications or orders, as it allows for flexibility in tagging different categories.

FAQ: 3. Would adding codes to the order description, such as PSM_, be a searchable solution for tagging orders in SAP?

Answer: - While adding codes to the order description can be a searchable solution, using user status for tagging multiple categories is a recommended best practice for efficiently managing orders in SAP.

FAQ: 4. What is the recommended best practice for tagging and flagging different orders in SAP?

Answer: - The recommended best practice for tagging and flagging different orders in SAP is to utilize user status for assigning multiple tags, as it offers flexibility and efficient categorization of orders based on different criteria.

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