9.

5 Batch Determination
The batch determination process isn’t unique to PP. The process is important in
sales
and distribution (SD), materials management (MM), and warehouse management
(WM) as well. Batch determination uses strategy types, search strategies, and
search
procedures for a batch to be identified in the relevant area.
In a real-world scenario, you’ll receive one material in a number of batches, and this
will be kept in storage location stock or in warehouse storage bins. When you want
to
issue the material to production, you need to have a strategy to choose different
batches. Defining the strategy in the system where the system determines and offers
up the right batch to pick is the process of batch determination. Batch determination
uses the condition technique. Strategy records of the respective application, such as
PP, MM, SD, or WM, determine batch determination. Different strategy records in the
system have to be created for different purposes, such as goods issue (GI) to
production, GI to customer, GI to cost center, and so on. Batch determination can be
used in production, production order, goods movement, sales order/delivery, cost
centre and transfer order functions.
Customizations for each application, such as production, inventory, sales, and stock
transfers, are stored in search procedures, which run the batch determination. After
the batch determination procedure is set up, the system automatically accesses the
corresponding entry of the application, which further refers to the relevant entries in
Customizing.
Figure 9.13 shows how the system searches the batch number using the batch
determination
procedure. In any transaction, the system will first determine the application
area—PP (production planning) and production planning for process industries
(PP-PI), MM, WM, or SD—and then determine the search procedures, which are
assigned based on different combinations (Figure 9.13, 1, 2). In the case of PP or
PPPI, the system will determine the order type and plant from the transaction and
then find a search procedure (3, 4). For MM, the system will find a search procedure
based on movement type. And, in case of SD, the search procedure will be based on
sales organization, distribution channel, division, and sales document type.
The search procedure helps the system determine the search type 5. The search
type helps to identify the condition types and condition tables 6. The system will find
the appropriate batch number based on the access sequence system.

1)Search Procedures are assigned in OPL8 for production orders and REM in REM
profile control tab 2.COR4 for PPPI.
Expanding the above i.e F1 on search procedure

Another entry below

Note Usage and Application fields.
Expand control data for CO00001 procedure, linkage to condition type are observed.
2)Search Combinationstcode for each module
The main transaction codes for maintaining batch search determination
combinations in SAP are VCH1 (for Sales & Distribution), MBC1 (for Inventory
Management), and COB1 (for Production Orders) Used to create, change, and
display batch search condition records for Production and Process Orders.
Strategy types include Condition types. That are derived from above batch search
procedures.
Expanding the same(Multiple condition types can be assigned to same procedure).
Condition types are derived from Strategy types tcode for the application. For
example, tcode COB1.on expansion has order type, plant and material fields.
Entered Order type RM01 for REM scenario and Material. Plant was prepopulated.

Select material and click on tab to get below screen.

Enter class and press.

Click on in the previous page after going back.
Sort rule tcodes CU70, CU71, and CU72.
The characteristic created refers to MCH1 table and CHARG field.
After saving above screen, following info is displayed.

After carrying out MFBF with component backflush for bicycle1234 material,following
error is displayed.
Probably the component could not be determined as batch is automatically derived
for 261 movement type from inventory management.

Check with MBC1.

On saving,

Difference being condition type is Co01 in PP and ME01 in MM

Let us carry out MFBF again for bicycle 1234.

Did not work.

Ans: In repetitive manufacturing , you have to maintain the batch search

procedure in control data2 of REM profile, this is to be done in customization.

After maintaiing batch search procedure, tried MFBF again.

Works automatically to get the batch to be consumed
…Whoa..
In the following section, we start out with the necessary configuration steps required
to set up automatic batch determination in the production process of PP for discrete
manufacturing (production order). However, you can also use the same logic and
process steps we cover here to set up automatic batch determination in other
applications,such as PP-PI (process manufacturing), MM, SD, and WM. These
configuration
steps are then followed by covering the necessary master data required for batch
determination. Finally, we’ll also show how the configuration and the master data
setup eventually are reflected in the batch determination business process.

9.5.1 Define Condition Tables

The batch determination condition table includes a number of fields for selection
and to record and assign values to those fields.
There are five options for condition table creation, depending on which business
process
you want to use batch determination for:
_ Production order (Transaction OPLB)
_ Process order (Transaction OPLB)
_ Inventory management (IM) (Transaction OMA1)
_ SD (Transaction V/C7)
_ WM (Transaction OMK4)

To define the condition table of a production order, follow the menu path, SAP IMG _
Logistic – General _ Batch Management _ Batch Determination and Check _
Condition
tables _ Define Production Order Condition Tables, or use Transaction OPLB.
You’ll find options to define condition tables for each application area, that is,
production
order, process order, IM, SD, and WM separately.
In Figure 9.14, and for our example, we created a new Table 550 by copying from
the
standard condition table 030. Copying a table allows us to use the batch
determination
procedure specific to the Order Type/Plant/Component combination.
In Figure 9.14, and for our example, we created a new Table 550 by copying from
the
standard condition table 030. Copying a table allows us to use the batch
determination
procedure specific to the Order Type/Plant/Component combination.

Figure 9.15 shows the newly created condition table 550 in which the three selected
fields are Order type, Plant, and Material (which is basically the component), as
shown
on the left-hand side of the figure. You can choose additional fields from the Catalog
on the right-hand side of the same figure so they too are available for selection
during the batch determination procedure. For example, if you place the cursor on
the Valuation Type from the field Catalog and click the Select field button, then
during the batch determination, the system will only suggest batches of materials
available with specific valuation types.

Figure 9.15 Creating a New Condition Table

Click the Generate button, and the system will create the condition table as shown in
Figure 9.16.
Figure 9.16 shows the log generated on the successful creation of the new condition
table 550.

9.5.2 Define the Access Sequence

For each batch strategy type, there is a batch determination access sequence. This
allows the batch strategy type to access the condition tables in the correct sequence.
To define an access sequence for PP, follow the menu path, SAP IMG _ Logistics –
General _ Batch Management _ Batch Determination and Batch Check _
Access
Sequences _ Define Production Order Access Sequences.
Figure 9.17 shows the access sequence for a production order. Select the access
sequence, and click the Edit button. You can define the sequence of tables you want
the system to follow. For example, in Figure 9.17, the system will first search the
Order
Type/Plant/Material combination, then the Order Type/Plant/Component
combination and so on.

Figure 9.17 Access Sequence in Batch Determination

In the standard system for production orders, access sequences CO01 and CO02
are
defined, just as in the standard SAP system for IM, access sequences ME01 and
ME02
are defined. And, in the standard system for SD, access sequences SD01, SD02,
and
SD03 are defined. It’s recommended to make a copy of the standard access
sequences
available and then make changes in the condition table sequences to meet your
unique requirements.
Here, we select the standard access sequence CO01 and make a copy of it by
choosing
Copy As. In the screen that appears, we define the new access sequence as
“ZPPO”
while confirming to copy all dependent entries from access sequence CO01 to
ZPPO.
In the screen that appears, the newly created access sequence ZPPO is assigned to
the
previously created condition Table 550 (see Figure 9.18). The access sequence
ZPPO
has three fields that the system will consider during batch determination: Order
Type, Plant, and Material.
9.5.3 Define Strategy Types
The batch strategy type is the specification that tells the system what type of criteria
to use during the batch determination process. A batch strategy can be defined in
the
five areas already mentioned. Define the strategy types for each application area by
following the menu path, SAP IMG _ Logistics – General _ Batch Management _
Batch
Determination and Batch Check _ Strategy Types _ Define Production Order
Strategy
Types. Click the New button, or copy the standard strategy type provided by SAP.
It’s
recommended to copy the standard strategy type, then make the required changes,
and save the new strategy type. In our example, we created a new strategy “CO03”
and also assigned the previously configured access sequence “ZPPO”, as shown in
Figure
9.19.
In Figure 9.19, we also assigned Class Type 023 (Batch) and the previously
created
associated Class ZTGDEMOPP. This is the same class we created in the previous
section
for the batch determination processes, and we are now assigning it in the newly
created strategy type “CO03”.
In the Selection area, there is an option to define the values of certain
characteristics
within a Class. The values can be maintained by clicking on the Maint. button.
Additionally,
you’ll need the following information:

 Selection type
This field allows the user to determine how the batches are selected at the
commencement
of the batch selection. If the Selection type field is left blank, then the
system will display the batches that meet the selection criteria.
  Sort sequence
This field allows the user to choose a sort that will define how the batches are sorted
if they are selected. Sort sequence can be maintained on this screen if desired.
Later
in this section, we’ll also cover how to create a sort sequence and assign it to a
condition record.

 Batch split
This area contains the No. of splits field that defines the number of batch splits
that are allowed during the batch determination.

Figure 9.19 Strategy Type

9.5.4 Batch Search Procedure Definition

In this IMG activity, you define search procedures for batch determination in a
production
order. Follow the menu path, SAP IMG _ Logistics – General _ Batch
Management
_ Batch Determination and Batch Check _ Batch Search Procedure Definition _
Define Production Order Search Procedure, or use Transaction OPLG (see
Figure 9.20).

Figure 9.20 Defining the Batch Search Procedure.

The previously created condition type (CTyp) CO03 is now assigned to the newly
created
batch search procedure ZC0001, as shown in Figure 9.21.

Figure 9.21 Assigning the Condition Type to the Batch Search Procedure

9.5.5 Batch Search Procedure Allocation and Check Activation

In this step, you need to assign the batch search procedure to specific movement
types
as shown in Figure 9.22. So for a particular movement type, such as 261 (GI against
a
production order), this search strategy will help to search the relevant batches during
the batch determination process.
Follow the menu path, SAP IMG _ Logistics – General _ Batch Management _
Batch
Determination and Batch Check _ Batch Search Procedure Allocation and
Check Activation
_ Allocate IM Search Procedure/Activate Check, or use Transaction OMCG.

In Figure 9.22, we assigned the previously configured batch search procedure

Z00001
to movement type 261. Be sure to select the Check Batch checkbox for the relevant
movement type so that the system will trigger automatic batch determination
while issuing out material against the production order and against movement
type 261.

Figure 9.22 Assigning the Batch Search Procedure to Movement Type 261

9.5.6 Batch Search Procedure for Production Orders

In this final configuration step, the previously configured batch search procedure
ZC0001 is assigned to the plant–order type combination. Follow the menu path, SAP
IMG _ Logistics – General _ Batch Management _ Batch Determination and
Batch Check _
Batch Search Procedure Allocation and Check Activation _ Assign Search
Procedures
to Production and Activate Check _ Assign Search Procedure to Production
Order and
Activate Check, or use Transaction OPL8.
Figure 9.23 shows that Plant “1000” and Order Type “ZPP3” are assigned the batch
Search Procedure “ZC0001”. The Check Batch checkbox is also selected so that
the
system uses this assigned batch search procedure during production order creation.
Figure 9.23 Assigning the Batch Search Procedure to the Plant-Order Type
Combination
With these steps performed, the necessary configuration required for batch
determination is complete. The next two are the required master data management
steps required to set up automatic batch determination.

9.5.7 Creating Sort Rules

A Sort sequence enables the system to choose batches that meet the user-defined
sort
criteria of characteristics. For example, batches of a material expiring first are prime
candidates to be sorted in ascending order so they can be consumed at the earliest
possible date. This Sort strategy is known as first expiration first out (FEFO). Other
sort strategies can be first in first out (FIFO) and last in first out (LIFO). Any other
type
of sort sequence is also possible, which we’ll soon show with an example.
Access Figure 9.24 by following the menu path, Logistics _ Central Functions _
Batch Management _ Batch Determination _ Selection and Sort _ Sort Rule _
Create or by using Transaction CU70.
Create a new Sort sequence “ZPP”, assign the previously created Characteristic
MM01,
and select the Ascending checkbox. Doing so will lead to the system suggesting
batches of material with values in ascending order during the batch determination
process. For example, there are four batches of a material with a thicknesses
(characteristic,MM01) as 0.6 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.9 mm, and 0.35 mm. The system will
first suggest batches of material with a thickness of 0.35 mm followed by batches
with a thickness of 0.5 mm, and so on, to adhere to the ascending order of thickness
during the batch determination procedure.

Figure 9.24 Creating the Sort Sequence in Batch Determination

9.5.8 Maintaining Condition Records

As a last step to automatic batch determination, you need to maintain condition
records. These condition records are then picked by the system. To maintain a
condition
record, follow the menu path, SAP Menu _ Logistics _ Central Functions _ Batch
Management _ Batch Determination _ Batch Search Strategy _ For Production
Order _
Create, or use Transaction COB1.
Select the strategy that you’ve defined in the earlier configuration steps (in this case,
CO03), and select the Order Type (ZPP3) and the Plant (1000) combination. Enter
the
Material “30000063”, as shown in Figure 9.25. Select the first line item, and then
choose the Sort button to open the screen shown in Figure 9.26
Figure 9.25 Batch Search Strategy

Figure 9.26 shows the complete details of the condition record. We’ve assigned the
previously created Sort rule “ZPP” and marked Characteristic MM01 (Thickness)
in
ascending order (ASC checkbox)

Figure 9.26 Assigning Sort Sequence in the Batch Search Strategy

The configuration and master data setup required for the batch determination
procedure is complete. Let’s now run the business process that entails creating a
production order of order type ZPP3 for plant 1000 for a finished good in which the
component is material 30000063 undergoing the batch determination process.