AHP's understanding of the role of iQ-Basis in the SAP world can be described as cooperative system. It provides features that are not available within the strategical ERP system. (Although this cannot be claimed as a fact because R/3 is a dynamic system and knowledge of it cannot be up-to-date continuously.)
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Purchased parts and supplier assessment
iQ-Basis modules take care of the following features of the R/3 QM module for supplier quality:
- Inspection planning
- Dynamic handling of the deliveries that require inspection
- Event-driven incoming goods inspection
- Minimization of efforts/expenses caused by inspections
- Integrated connection of complex measuring and test equipment
- Integrated quality history including any abnormalities of a suppler (inspections, quality messages and so on)
These features can be integrated in the R/3 environment so that any procedures can take place automatically.
During an incoming goods booking of parts requiring inspection an ABAP is started from a user exit that sends any required information for a complete incoming goods inspection and an assessment to iQ-Basis. There a check is performed if the supplement is waiting for inspection at all and - if so - which sample lot has to be taken for inspection. The result is directly sent back to MM. This enables R/3 to print the required documents (e. g. the inspection sample stock requisition).
After the inspection the result of the use decision is also sent back to R/3.
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Inspection in production
- Released inspection orders that should be complemented with data in iQ-Basis are taken over from R/3 PP.
- The recorded characteristical data is statistically compacted and reported back to the corresponding inspection lot. If in R/3 QM there is not any matching inspection lot this would be created in advance.
- At the same time a BDE message is prepared containing the production order, working procedure, produced quantity, scrap and so on.
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Gauge management
- Even the best gauge management system will only survive if it works as a sub system highly integrated with a leading ERP system.
- While on the one side the worker of the gauge laboratory may concentrate on using the AHP PMx modules (management, calibration, capability analysis, complaints, interface to measuring devices, etc.) the production planner on the other side can still operate using the SAP system e.g. to perform availability checks and reservations.
- Any operational functions belonging to the field of gauge management are provided by the AHP modules. Management tasks such as purchasing and service take place in SAP R/3 MM, availability checks and reservations in R/3 PM.
- In iQ-PMV (gauge management) we make a distinction between the gauge type and the single gauge. The gauge type corresponds to a material in the MM module of R/3, wheareas the gauge's counterpart in PM is an equipment.
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Customer field work
The iQ-QM/Mobil module supports collecting customer complaints in the field. It is similar to R/3 QM in user interface and kind of usage when collecting and maintaining quality messages. There are several interfaces between R/3 and iQ-QM/Mobil so that new entries and changes on both sides will be sent to the other system completely automatically.
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Maintenance
The maintenance module knows two interfaces one for sending back time information and one for logistical communication.
When sending back maintenance processes collecting associated times is part of the program. For billing purposes these times are communicated to R/3 accounting on a daily basis.
The logistical aspects of maintenance imply additional requirements regarding material management:
- Withdrawal of spare parts can occur without any planning in case of a suddenly required maintenance. Then the problem must be solved immediately. When withdrawing the material only the affacted machine needs to be specified. From this information a maintenance order can be generated automatically.
- For planned maintenance activities certain spare parts must be kept in stock.iQ-LOGISTIK automatically detects the requirement of spare parts and reserves them for the specified maintenance time frame.
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Inspection planning
There are several reasons to exchange inspection plans between SAP QM and iQ-PLAN:
- Transfer of inspection plans that have been generated in iQ-Basis directly from drawings
- More detailed assignment of the gauges to the generated inspection plans
- Migration from R/3 to iQ-Basis
- Usage of iQ-Basis plans in R/3 QM
Usually plans belong to master data tables that need to be transferred, too. Because of the great similarity between the table structures of both systems data exchange can be accomplished easily.
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