Our Planning Division endeavors to enhance our knowledge of equipment repair history, but the lack of information retrievable from SAP poses a challenge. I find myself regularly quizzing our IT staff for data analysis, only to be told that customizing ABAP is necessary for generating the required reports. This process can be time-consuming. Why isn't the PMIS system able to efficiently support maintenance analysis?
Greetings! I am new to this forum and may have jumped into the middle of a discussion. It appears that your technicians log their tasks in Excel. Have you considered incorporating this process into completion confirmation feedback? I look forward to engaging in insightful conversations about SAP.
Doug's statement is absolutely accurate. The repair history in SAP can be easily monitored by reviewing the Notification history tabs. This feature allows users to track the maintenance and repair records associated with SAP systems efficiently.
I work in the heavy metal fabrication sector and I'm looking to determine key performance indicators (KPIs) specific to this industry. Can anyone provide insights on benchmarks for measuring success in heavy metal fabrication? Thank you, Ali.
I echo Doug's sentiments about our successful testing of the QAS system. Additionally, we have implemented a feature that allows the catalog (Break down codes) to specifically display equipment class-related codes. For example, if the item is a pump, only codes pertaining to pumps will be showcased. This customization enhances the efficiency and accuracy of our system.
Bryan Weir stated that quality CMM Systems can easily generate activity history reports with just a few key strokes. Could you share a specific example of this efficient reporting process? I'd be impressed to see it in action.
In order to make work history in SAP more meaningful for users, one approach is to utilize PMIS if it is already operational. Another method is to extract order or notification data for analysis using a spreadsheet or specialized program. A third, recently explored option involves automating data transfer to the SAP Business Information Warehouse and developing a custom program to generate user-defined KPIs. While these strategies require time and effort to implement, they have the potential to enhance performance management within SAP. I am interested in learning how others are utilizing SAP to effectively manage and measure performance. Ultimately, the goal is to leverage SAP for the benefit of the users, avoiding any potential issues. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Recently, I have been analyzing SAP data from multiple clients, with one client standing out for the large amount of data they provide, such as "List of Notification" reports, material lists, and order costs. To work with this data effectively, I have been conducting extensive data transformation and validation processes, essentially reverse engineering a maintenance history database. This particular client adopted SAP within the last three years, resulting in a steep learning curve for everyone, including the IT team. As a result, the data we receive can be quite varied. I am seeking recommendations on specific reports to request and would greatly appreciate any guidance on this matter. Are there any online resources that can assist in gaining a better understanding of SAP? Thank you.
In order to better assist with SAP data analysis, it is important to clarify your specific goals. Are you utilizing Create (special) or Create (general) for notifications and orders within your company's system? What job priorities are currently assigned? Have equipment classes, criticality levels, catalog profiles, manufacturers, etc. been designated? Are work centers, maintenance planning, and task lists being utilized? Providing this information will greatly aid in offering tailored solutions to maximize efficiency. Thank you.
If you're experiencing issues with SAP dumping your List of Notifications, it may be due to overly broad selection criteria resulting in large data volume. Consider narrowing down the period and/or plant to refine your search. Alternatively, you can utilize user-defined programs to mass-download notification data for more in-depth analysis. IT professionals specializing in SAP PM module can assist with this process. Order data, which can also be mass-downloaded, may provide more valuable insights. Additionally, make use of SAP PMIS for standard and user-defined analyses if it's available. Excel integration with SAP eliminates the need for manual downloads. Thank you.
Hello Peter, as you may already know, SAP utilizes notifications and work orders to track work. Both of these objects are essential for tracking the information you need. Work orders are used for planning, scheduling, and tracking work costs back to equipment or functional locations. They also interact with modules such as Materials, purchasing, HR, and finance. On the other hand, notifications are used to track problems and repair history for analyzing failures, such as mean time between failures and component repair history.
For reporting, you can use PMIS reports, BW, IW64 Activities report, and custom reports like ZPMEH Equipment history report. These tools can provide information from past notifications written against equipment numbers. Additionally, PMIS cost reports, Order List Editing, WBS, and cost center reports can help determine maintenance spend against equipment, functional locations, or cost centers.
If you're looking for more information, you can visit the SAP Help Portal site for resources on this topic. Simply do a search on the internet for "SAP Help Portal." Regarding your technicians recording daily activities, consider having them record these activities against the relevant SAP Work Order in SAP instead of on an Excel spreadsheet. You can place this information in the Work Order text box, although retrieving this information in a report may be a challenge. Others may have found creative solutions to this problem.
Doug, you are absolutely correct - in our Project Management Information System (PMIS) and/or Business Warehouse (BW), we require both notifications and orders for our analyses. Based on your expertise in SAP, I have a few questions for you:
1) Does SAP offer standard activity codes, repair types, catalog profiles, equipment classes and types, equipment criticality, and construction types that align with international standards like ISO 14224 (OREDA)? Having these features in SAP would greatly enhance its utility, but we must assess their relevance to our specific needs.
2) Are the standard analyses in the PMIS pre-configured or do they need to be set up by users?
3) When calculating Mean Time To Repair (MTTR), should planned maintenance downtimes such as gas turbine overhauls be included alongside unplanned repairs?
4) What is the difference between SAP's "Create Special" and "Create General" functions? Are there standard notification and order types provided by SAP for general creations?
5) When calculating the cost of work orders, how do we input the unit cost of manhours for internal operations using KP26 in Accounting? Thank you.
- 06-10-2024
- Quentin Foster
I may not be an expert, but I have been using the SAP system since 1998 and am a strong advocate for it when properly configured for user-friendliness. One common mistake that many companies make is implementing SAP without considering seamless process integration throughout the organization. Instead, they tend to recreate standalone legacy system processes for each SAP module, which hinders the full potential of SAP as an enterprise system. The key is to map out business processes across the organization for integration points before working with programmers to set it up accordingly. SAP is highly customizable on top of its base functionality, with master data being crucial for successful use in areas such as functional locations, equipment records, and material master info. In response to questions about standard activity codes, repair types, and more, it's important to break down codes by equipment type and primary failures that are actually useful for tracking. Configuring the PMIS standard analyses is necessary for use, with standard reporting being basic functionality if the correct fields are configured and utilized. For calculating MTTR and work order cost calculation, the approach may vary depending on the specific tracking needs and benefits. It's recommended to use create general over create special for notifications and orders, as it offers more flexibility. When entering unit costs for manhours in internal operations, setting up activity codes with assigned rates based on labor types can be more effective.
It's great that we're on the same page! How can we access labor rates in SAP? Do we input them in the work center or can we retrieve them from the human resources division? Typically, a standard labor rate is entered in the Accounting division with KP26. It is crucial to optimize cross-application features between Logistics, Accounting, and Human Resources divisions to fully leverage SAP's capabilities. This integration ensures smooth operation and efficiency across the entire enterprise. Thank you.
I have included some screenshots to illustrate the specific aspects of our work orders that I am referencing. While I may not have access to KP26, I do have access to KP27 Display, which is a crucial functionality. We do not utilize the Work Center for this purpose. In response to Josh's query about labor rates, we typically input standard/average labor rates in the Accounting division through KP26 in SAP. It is important to note that SAP, being a comprehensive enterprise integration software, is sometimes underutilized due to fragmented implementation and a lack of proper utilization of cross-application features across Logistics, Accounting, and Human Resource divisions. Thank you.
Could you please inform me of the version of your SAP backend system? My backend is running on version 4.0B, while my frontend is on version 6.2. Doug, I believe you are on version 6.0. Have you had experience using the planning board for work scheduling and capacity planning, as discussed in my previous posts? Feel free to respond in those threads as this one has grown quite lengthy. Thank you.
- 06-10-2024
- Vanessa Carter
A record of maintenance can be easily recorded in the TECHNICAL FINDING system. As you complete the work order, be sure to include any comments and findings for future reference. This streamlined process ensures all maintenance activities are properly documented for record-keeping and analysis.
- 06-10-2024
- Jasmine Howard
To enhance the engagement on SAP PM forums, please consider responding to other users' posts within the lengthy work history thread. Thank you.
After browsing through various discussions about tracking maintenance jobs, I strongly believe that recording the technical details in the Notification and the cost information in the work order is crucial. To easily access historical data for equipment, IW29 and IW39 provide valuable reports. While only the short text is initially displayed, it still serves as a sufficient preview to determine whether viewing the full order or notification is necessary. Our team has developed a user-friendly report that lists notifications, including detailed descriptions, in a clear format, replacing traditional handwritten shift reports. This tool is particularly helpful for day team leaders reviewing overnight activities. Despite some criticism, I find it surprising as I personally have had a positive experience using SAP-PM for maintenance tasks over the past 7 years with no major issues. It raises the question of whether critics have actually used SAP-PM extensively or have a diverse understanding of multiple maintenance systems for a fair comparison.
It is important to note that work history is always captured in notifications within the SAP system. By setting up catalogs and code groups, users can easily collect the necessary data. Proper utilization of SAP's work history feature allows for quick and efficient retrieval of information in the PMIS system.
Establishing catalogs and code groups can be a lengthy process that requires collaboration across multiple departments or operating units within a large corporation, especially when starting from square one. Is there a resource within SAP that offers pre-established standard catalogs and code groups, possibly aligned with international standards, for industries like oil and gas?
Standard catalogs are available in SAP for managing records efficiently. Setting up and managing these catalogs can be time-consuming, but it is essential if the goal is to leverage SAP for comprehensive record management. Caution is advised when creating catalogs, as there is a limit to the number that can be generated. Thoughtful consideration is necessary when creating codes to ensure that codegroups can be easily added to equipment and accurately reported on notifications.
- 06-10-2024
- Shawn Thompson
Quote by George Kratzschmar: "I'm unfamiliar with SAP, can someone tell me what it stands for?" SAP, a German software company (SAP AG), is known for its ERP software. The acronym is believed to stand for Systems, Applications, and possibly another word starting with P. Their flagship product, SAP R/3, offers modules for accounting, human resources, logistics, warehouse management, and Plant Maintenance, among others. Financial and accounting professionals often regard SAP as a leader in enterprise resource planning software. Many top executives are drawn to the idea of a comprehensive solution that meets the needs of multiple departments, eliminating the need for additional software like CMMS. While companies like Maintenance Engineering might prefer a system like Maximo, the cost and complexities of integrating multiple systems often make it impractical. In the end, it's essential to address the weakest link in the chain to ensure success, which may not always be in the accounting department.
- 06-10-2024
- Rebecca Murphy