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Process 205

Figure 6-24: Elements of the order release step

Tasks

A production order can be released at either the header level or the operations
level. This decision is also determined by the system’s confi guration. When the
order is released at the header level, all operations are also released. When release
occurs at the operations level, however, only certain operations are affected. These
operations have the released status, and the order itself has a partially released
status. The remaining operations can be released either manually as needed or
automatically, based on trigger points. In our GBI example, the order is released
at the header level, meaning that all operations can proceed.
Recall that the BOM and routing data are not automatically reentered
into the production order if they are changed after the order is created. Instead,
the system must be manually instructed to reenter these data. However, if the
BOM or routing data are reentered into the production order after the order
has been released, then the order status reverts to created, and the order must
be re-released.
Production orders can be released individually or collectively. Several
orders with similar characteristics, such as material, location (plant), and dates,
can be selected and released together.

Outcomes

When a production order is released for production, subsequent steps identi-
fi ed in Figure 6-16 can be executed. In addition, shop fl oor papers that are
needed to execute the steps in the work center can be printed. Examples of
shop fl oor papers are material withdrawal slips, which are used to obtain the
materials needed for production; time tickets, used to record the amount of
time required to complete various operations; and operations lists, which spec-
ify the operations required to produce the material. Printing shop papers is
another task that can be automated. In addition, the SAP ERP system can
directly communicate with external shop fl oor control systems or PDC systems
that automate the exchange of data between the SAP ERP system and other
systems that control physical activity on the production fl oor and work centers.

GOODS ISSUE
The next step in the process is goods issue, in which materials or components
are issued to the production order from storage. Figure 6-25 illustrates the ele-
ments of the goods issue step. The trigger is the release of the production order.
The data, tasks, and outcomes of the goods issue step are the focus of this section.

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