SAP Modules & Solutions - The Complete Map

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 organized into whatever sets of ’solutions’ (essentially, modules) that speak the information demands of special regions of any corporation’s operations. Set on top of these already-integrated personalized modules is the Cross-Application layer, components of which farther see that these different result ‘talk’ to each other in a cohesive manner.

There is a saying, “If you fail to plan, you are actually planning to fail”. Consequently, a right start aim for interpreting SAP is it’s Project System which treats each activity within the company as part of numerous project. Placed on actual orders (or perceived demand), this module is practiced define projects that will fulfill these orders and start chasing them from then on. A typical project would include a combination of several manufacturing actions as well as whatever associated procurement (raw materials as well as bought-out items). Going After every such project right from inception, through to it’s completion and beyond (post-project analysis) is ably managed by this module.

For project actions that link to manufacturing, the Production Planning module treats the specifics of capacity planning, production scheduling down to the individual tasks on the store floor. This includes handling data on the availability 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 proceedings from queries, requests for proposals/ quotations and pricing to interfacing with the finished-goods inventory (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, holds the General Ledger and every defined sub-ledgers, consolidates all this into the final books of accounts (essentially, Profit & Loss account and the Balance Sheet), addresses tax-related transactions/adjustments and interfaces with book closure. Accidentally, most of this is of a statutory nature and has accomplished 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, actually overlaps all another functions and interfaces with each one of them throughout the lifetime of the corporation. Quality, they say is never by chance; it is always by design. That is why this module is used to facilitate all activities that build quality into the organisation’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), fulfilling these quality programs and leading periodic inspections to determine deviations, if several. Important to the company’s image and credibility in the outside universe, are actions that leave to the several applicable certifications acquiring which is also managed in effect by this module

This was a simplex point of a very large application called SAP.

About the Author:

Last 5 posts by Zach Johnson

StumbleUpon It!

Related posts


Like this post? Publish It On Your Own Blog

International Handbook of Virtual Learning Environments (Springer International Handbooks of Education) (Vol. 1) (Hardcover) newly tagged "computers and technology"
International Handbook of Virtual Learning Environments (Springer International Handbooks of Education) (Vol. 1)
International Handbook of Virtual Learning Environments (Springer International Handbooks of Education) (Vol. 1) (Hardcover)
By Joel Weiss

 

NEW Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology,...
US $87.50
End Date: Friday Jan-16-2009 16:00:58 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $87.50
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Diebold, John. MAN AND THE COMPUTER : Technology 1st
US $95.00
End Date: Tuesday Jan-20-2009 16:33:20 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $95.00
Buy it now | Add to watch list

NEW Control Technology and Personal Computers - Mich...
US $270.00
End Date: Saturday Jan-24-2009 18:15:52 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $270.00
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Leave a Reply