SAP R/3 business blueprint : understanding enterprise supply chain management / Thomas A. Curran, Andrew Ladd.

By:

Curran, Thomas

Contributor(s):

Ladd, A

Material type: Text

TextPublication details: Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Prentice Hall ; c2000. Edition: 2nd edDescription: xxxvi, 372 p. : ill. ; 24 cmISBN:

0130853402

Subject(s):

DDC classification:

650.0285 CUR

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Copy number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Standard Loan	Moylish Library Main Collection	650.0285 CUR (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available		39002100309476

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The complete business and implementation guide to SAP R/3 In order to gain the maximum value from SAP R/3, you need to understand the rich business framework embedded in R/3 and know how to implement it within your unique organization. The revision of this best-selling classic does both: documenting the deep process knowledge built into R/3, helping decision-makers understand its benefits and offering start-to-finish guidance for R/3 implementers organization-wide. Newly updated to reflect R/3 Release 4.5, this book delivers: * Detailed coverage of finance, human resources, production, purchasing, sales, and service management with SAP R/3 * Key business-process scenarios, presented in common business terms * An overview of the IT infrastructure provided by SAP for e-commerce and supply chain management * Analysis of R/3 middleware transaction management and application distribution * Practical coverage of the R/3 Repository, SAP Business Framework, and R/3 Business Objecs * Updates on the latest methodologies for R/3 evaluation and the tools for R/3 implementation * A view of SAP R/3 beyond Y2K and the challenges for the next generation enterprise using the Internet You wont find

Includes index.

Excerpt provided by Syndetics

Introduction "Business engineering is the rethinking of business processes to improve and accelerate the output of processes, materials or services." (Philip Morris, Lausanne, Switzerland) "It's the search for an optimal flow in a company." (Messerli AF, Switzerland) "It's the streamlining of business processes to have maximum effect with minimum resources in supporting company goals." (Ernst & Young, South Africa) "Generally, it's a customer focus. It's also the designing of new processes using new information technology to create an efficient business network that involves creative staff in the process redesign." (Fahrzeugausrustung Berlin GmbH, Germany) Companies from around the world are taking advantage of information technology (IT) to radically alter how they conduct business. In the past, IT was used simply to automate existing business functions, but now IT can improve or completely change how businesses operate. This approach is called Business Engineering, which has been the logical next step in the business-process reengineering revolution. Unlike business-process reengineering (BPR), which used IT mainly to automate certain functions performed in individual organizations -- such as manufacturing, finance, or production -- Business Engineering (BE) utilizes IT for designing or redesigning processes, the set of connected steps or "chains" performed in a business. In this way, BE takes advantage of information technology to support the redesign of organizations. By using BE to engineer entire process chains that span functional or organizational boundaries, companies can integrate all their critical business activities. Moreover, they can do so much earlier in an IT implementation than if using the older, function-centric approach of early BPR strategies. Completing process chains rapidly and efficiently is of great added value to both the company and its customers. It makes such core processes as production and finance more efficient and can bring competitive advantages through reduced costs, faster time-to-market, and improved responsiveness to customers. Business engineering arose out of the need created by BPR for software systems that could adequately support changing business processes. Although companies have gained a great deal from improving their business processes, many also have encountered problems with their business-process reengineering. After examining existing business processes, many companies completely dispensed with them, creating new process designs instead. Too often they miscalculated the risks and costs not only of reinventing new processes but of finding a software solution to match the new process design. After various trials and tribulations with poor software tools and systems, many companies have had to do away with their process design work simply because their information system software could not support the new design. In Business Engineering, IT is used both to create and support new process designs. Software can describe, simulate, or model organizations. It can also show how changes made to the organizations will affect processes. BE is not limited to describing processes, however. A model or business-process diagram illustrates not only a company's tasks and organizational structure but also how the company gets things done. A company's information model usually includes descriptions of aspects such as data, function, organization, information, and communication flow. A well-integrated information system not only improves overall business operation but makes it easier for the company to identify areas for further improvement. With prefabricated models of business applications, companies can reduce their risks while taking advantage of best-business procedures for business process engineering. As is the case in all engineering efforts, a good blueprint will map out the best strategies for implementing new designs. This book centers on a specific blueprint designed by the international software vendor SAP TM , a company that has successfully integrated IT with business engineering. In support of its R/3 TM system, SAP TM provides sample business objects and business processes that reflect the best-business practices in successful companies and that can either be used either "as is" or extended and customized by a company to suit its needs. These predefined processes are supplied in a comprehensive business blueprint called the R/3 TM Reference Model, which is actively linked with the R/3 TM running system. SAP TM R/3 TM Business Blueprint: Understanding Enterprise Supply Chain Management is designed to function as a map of this system. Our aim is to guide the reader through the most important aspects of SAP TM 's Reference Model. All business professionals who are considering implementing or are currently using SAP TM software may benefit from this book. From the theory behind the applications to real-life business examples, this book guides the reader through the key areas of the R/3 TM system. In order to help the reader better navigate through this book, the remainder of this Introduction will answer general questions about the book's subject matter as well as direct readers to places where more in-depth treatments of key terms and issues may be found. I.1 What Is SAP TM ? Founded in 1972 in Walldorf, Germany, SAP TM (Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing) commands a significant share of the worldwide client/server enterprise application software market. SAP TM is the number one vendor of standard business application software and is the fourth largest independent software supplier in the world. More than 10,000 companies in over 90 countries use SAP TM software. Current SAP TM company facts include: Leading client/server business software company Leading vendor of standard business application software Worldwide market share of 33% Fourth-largest independent software supplier in the world Availability in 14 languages 34% of customer base under $200 million 10 out of the top 10 U.S. companies with highest market value 8 of the top 10 largest U.S. corporations 8 of the top 10 highest profit U.S. companies More than 10,000 customers in over 90 countries For a more detailed examination of SAP TM and its history, see Chapter 1, SAP TM and Client/Server Technology. I.2 What Is R/3 TM ? Initially, SAP TM made the move from mainframes to open systems in the late 1980s with R/2 TM , a monolithic, mainframe legacy solution. As early as 1988, however, SAP TM chose to move toward client/server technology and began developing R/3 TM . In 1992, SAP TM unveiled R/3 TM just as client/server and its potential were beginning to be fully realized in the business world. R/3 TM 's success is largely due to its ability to provide a highly integrated environment that can fully exploit the potential of client/server computing. A full description of R/3 TM 's product architecture can be found in Part 3, Architecture, Framework, and Tools, but here we define R/3 TM simply as SAP TM 's enterprise application for open-system platforms. More specifically, R/3 TM is an integrated enterprise software system that runs in open-system environments. The R/3 TM architecture is essentially a three-tier client/server consisting of a database server, application server, and presentation server (see Chapter 1). These dedicated, task-oriented servers are linked in communication networks, which allow them to integrate data and processes within the system. The applications are developed using SAP TM 's fourth-generation language ABAP/4 and the ABAP/4 Development Workbench (see Chapter 15). R/3 TM 's advantages lie in its flexibility, scalability, and expandability. R/3 TM can be used in client/server architectures with 30 seats as in installations with 3,000 end users. This scalability ensures that R/3 TM can provide support for current business operations and allows flexible adaptation to change and progress. Designed as a total system, but also suitable for modular use, R/3 TM is expandable in stages, making it adaptable to the specific requirements of individual businesses. R/3 TM can run on hardware platforms of leading international manufacturers and can integrate with customers' in-house applications. It is also open to allow interoperability with third-party solutions and services; it can be installed quickly and efficiently. R/3 TM is so designed that such experts in scalable software as Microsoft, IBM, and Apple have all deployed SAP TM as their enterprise solution. In the age of Internet computing, SAP TM R/3 TM has emerged as a platform for electronic commerce, supply chain management, and data warehouse applications. I.3 What Is the R/3 TM Reference Model? SAP TM has packaged 25 years of best-business practices in many different industries in the form of a "blueprint" called the R/3 TM Reference Model. The Reference Model, also known as SAP TM 's Business Blueprint, guides companies from the beginning phases of engineering, including evaluation and analysis, to the final stages of implementation. It is the definitive description of R/3 TM , providing a comprehensive view of all the processes and business solutions available in the system. Technical details, however, are "hidden" so that the business user can focus solely on business-process issues. Thus, the Business Blueprint is written in the language of the business user. The Business Blueprint can be the starting point for business engineering efforts. Documenting processes in R/3 TM is a critical part of the "understanding equation" at customer sites. To date, few companies have been able to provide a comprehensive, process-oriented description of a business that fits into almost any industry. The Business Blueprint is a means of streamlining processes and implementing R/3 TM without a business having to start from scratch. The Business Blueprint concentrates on four key areas necessary for understanding business: events, tasks or functions, organization, and communication. These areas define who must do what, when, and how. Events are the driving force behind a business process, prompting one or more activities to take place. This model is the essence of SAP TM 's Event-Driven Process Chain (EPC) Methodology, which is discussed in Chapter 2. In Releases 4.0, SAP TM offered more than 1,000 predefined business processes, with variants, that generally correspond to different industries and corporations -- a milestone in the evolution of process management and enterprise software. These business processes are illustrated with the EPC graphical method. By connecting events and tasks, the method models and analyzes even very complex business processes. An EPC model can show where breaks in the chain of tasks and responsibilities hurt the ability of a company to optimize its processes. Graphical models help users select and understand the software, visualizing how data flow through business areas and showing how various functions interact with each other. The EPC model is the central, process-oriented view. Other models show function, process, information flow, and organization views. The Business Blueprint can be viewed and analyzed with the help of the R/3 TM Business Engineer, which is discussed in full in Chapter 16. A set of integrated tools for configuring R/3 TM , the Business Engineer has graphical browsing facilities for displaying the Business Blueprint directly from the R/3 TM Repository, which contains all the data definitions and structures required by ABAP/4 programs. The Business Engineer also includes customizing components that allow a user to adapt or modify the system to meet the user's own specific needs. Benefits of the R/3 TM Reference Model during R/3 TM implementation include quick overviews, business engineering support, and better communication among different departments (see Chapter 3 for implementation issues). A majority of R/3 TM Reference Model customers use the blueprint for business-process modeling. Some organizations, however, use modeling tools and methods in different ways to suit their specific needs. In many organizations, process modeling is used for documentation, visualization of processes, better comprehension, training, and process optimization. I.4 Who Uses R/3 TM ? R/3 TM is the accepted standard in key industries such as software, oil, chemicals, consumer packaged goods, and high-tech electronics. Other industries include automotive, building and heavy construction, communication services, consulting (software), financial services, furniture, healthcare and hospitals, pharmaceuticals, public sector, raw materials, retail, services, steel, tourism, transportation, and utilities. Table I-1 is a partial list of R/3 TM users. TableI-1 R/3 TM Users Industry Company Automotive ITT Automotive Europe Yamaha Audi General Motors Chrysler BMW Subaru Toyota Volkswagen Building and Heavy Construction ABB Industrietechnik AG Gebauer Kawasaki Heavy Industries ADtranz ABB Daimler-Benz Babcock Prozess Automation GmbH CEGELEC AEG Anlagen und GESOBAU GAG Dover Elevator International, Inc. Dürkopp Adler AG E. Heitkamp GmbH Eldim B.V. Frequentis Chemicals Bayer Procter & Gamble CCPL Degussa Henkel Kemira Lever Europe Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A Reichhold Sasol Alpha Olefins Schülke & Mayr Wintershall, Wingas, Kali und Salz Zeneca Communication Services, Media Random House Simon & Schuster, Inc. IPSOA Editore S.R.L. Optus Vision Ringier AG Seattle Times SFR Telecom PTT Computer Software Apple 3com Corporation Autodesk Inc. Fujitsu Microelectronics Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. Hewlett-Packard IBM Samsung Wang Intersolv Legend QDI Ltd. Logistix Micrografx Microsoft Micro Software Group Visio Consumer Products: Food Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG Anheuser-Busch Companies Boston Beer Cameo, S.P.A. Guinness Heinecken Italia S.P.A. Imperial Tobacco Nestlé Keebler Company Consumer Products: Non-Food Braun AG Colgate-Palmolive Hans Schwarzkopf GmbH Heissner Unilever Italia S.P.A.-Divisione Lever Financial Services, Banks, Insurance ABB Holding Ltd. (CN) Allied Irish Banks plc (IE) BMW Bank GmbH (DE) BMW Finance Ltd (GB) Banca D'Italia (IT) Banco De Portugal Det Dep. Emissão E Tesouraria (PT) Banco Itau S.A. (BR) Bank of Canada (CA) Bank of Slovenia (SI) Bayerische Landesbank (DE) Bayerische Vereinsbank (DE) Commerzbank AG (DE) Countrywide Banking Corporation Limited (NZ) Credit Suisse (CH) Deutsche Bank AG (DE) First Chicago NBD Corporation (US) First National Building Society (IE) Jyske Bank A/S (DK) LGT Bank in Liechtenstein (LI) Lloyds TSB Group plc (GB) Mercedes Benz Finance Ltd (GB) National Westminster Bank plc (GB) PARIBAS BANQUE France PT Bank Bali (ID) PT Bank Bali (ID) Putnam Company (US) The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Ltd. (BM) The Government Savings Bank (TH) The Nomura Securities Company (JP) Toyota Finance (AU) UBS Schweiz. Bankgesellschaft (CH) Volkswagen Financial Services (DE) Volkswagen Leasing Polska SP. Z (PL) WestLB Westdeutsche Landesbank (DE) Zürcher Kantonalbank (CH) Bruderhilfe LBS Bayerische Landesbausparkasse Mercedes-Benz Lease Finanz Sega Victoria Industrial and Commercial Machinery Fiat Avio Gurtec GmbH Kapp Mann & Hummel Metabo Sulzer Electronics Oil and Gas British Gas Chevron Conoco Shell Exxon Mobil Petromidia Pharmaceuticals Boehringer Mannheim Italia S.P.A. Ciba-Geigy Degussa AG FRESENIUS AG Warner Lambert Merck Weimer Pharma Zeneca Plc. Primary Metal, Metal Products, Steel Carnaud Metalbox Degussa AG EBG/Thyssen Retail Diethelm Holdings Grofa GmbH Prisma-Aspri STANDA S.P.A. CompUSA Fleming Florsheim Home Depot Kerr Drugs Maxim Group Office Max PetsMart Reebok Shoe Show Woolworth Transportation Services, Tourism Condor Flugdienst GmbH Copenhagen Airport A/S Utilities British Gas GEA AG Industrielle Betriebe Aarau New York Power Authority Pacific Gas and Electric STEWEAG Energie Westcoast Energy Wood and Paper Gizen GmbH Papierfabrik August K SCP I.5 How Do Customers View R/3 TM ? In a 1995 survey, TCM contacted over 500 SAP TM customers in an extensive effort to evaluate the technical and customer requirements of SAP TM 's R/3 TM , and R/3 TM Reference Model, as well as associated methodologies and software products related to R/3 TM implementation. The goal of the study was to ascertain how R/3 TM customers, consultants, prospects, and complementary software vendors deal with models and model-driven software configuration and implementation. This study revealed a number of novel approaches for using R/3 TM , the Reference Model, and other SAP TM tools. Reasons for Using R/3 TM Integration, price, SAP TM 's reputation, standard software, client/server technology, business engineering, and migration from R/2 TM were some of the reasons companies chose R/3 TM . "The key factors were demand of the company's strategy (PDM integration) and the methodology for implementation." (ABB Turbo Systems Ltd., Baden, Switzerland "Standard techniques support C&L R/3 TM implementation methodology." (Coopers & Lybrand, Brussels, Belgium) "We were in the process of a R/2 TM implementation and felt R/3 TM had a longer future. Our company chose SAP TM because of its integration." (Rapistan Demag Corp., Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA) "R/3 TM was decided upon to replace the self-created software, which is in use up to now, and to improve economic performance. At the same time, it's seen as a chance to reengineer processes." (Rheinbraun AG, Cologne, Germany) Approaches to Using the R/3 TM Reference Model The Reference Model can be a good starting point for customer BE projects. Customers who begin engineering projects with other modeling tools often switch to the Reference Model in later phases, finding the models and analysis techniques more helpful during R/3 TM implementation. "In a high abstraction level, we modeled the overall business. In manufacturing and sales, the Reference Model was very helpful." (ABB Turbo Systems Ltd., Baden, Switzerland) "We began with the R/3 TM Reference Model and proceeded to create a specific model from there; we always tried to stay to the standard processes wherever possible." (Hewlett-Packard Austria) "We used the Reference Model as a starting point for business engineering projects. It has been extremely successful." (Fahrzeugausrüstung Berlin GmbH, Berlin, Germany) Perceived Benefits of the R/3 TM Reference Model Stabilization, easier implementation, and better communication were some of the benefits customers found when using the Reference Model during R/3 TM implementation. The following statements characterize how each customer uses the Reference Model during implementation. "Implementation of R/3 TM gains stabilization. Also it provides helpful support in identifying which process elements in R/3 TM will be useful." (ABB Turbo Systems, Baden, Switzerland) "We don't have to start from scratch when we are modeling." (Ascom Hagier AG, Solothum, Switzerland) "It provides a quick overview and very good introduction to application architecture." (Berufsakademie Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany) "The benefits lie in the visualization of processes, resulting in improvement of communication and higher transparency." (LUHNS GmbH, Germany) "It offers a better view of what SAP TM is able to cover and examples of 'best practices.'" (ICS lnternational Consulting Solutions GmbH, Bottmingen, Switzerland) "It will allow us to arrive at a proposed solution faster and more completely than otherwise." (Pilkington, St. Helens, Great Britain) Business Engineering with R/3 TM Most R/3 TM Reference Model customers are engaged in BE, although uses and methods often vary significantly from customer to customer. "We use the R/3 TM Reference Model as visual help to discuss our processes, and we modify models of the Reference Model according to our needs; furthermore, we create new models to describe interfaces between the SAP TM system and other non-SAP TM applications, using terminology and symbols of the Reference Model." (Miele & Cie GmbH & Co., Gatersloh, Germany) "We have essentially modeled our entire enterprise to help determine 'fits' and 'gaps' between our desired state and what R/3 TM can provide." (Mentor Graphics, USA) "The function and process diagrams are used to identify business activities that are deemed applicable. These are then reviewed and adapted for our company's business practices. Process modeling insures a standard methodology and allows the activity to be identified and refined based on process data flow." (Rapistan Demag Corp., Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA) Documentation of Business Processes Documenting processes in R/3 TM improves an overall understanding of the system. The Reference Model not only provides a good overview of the R/3 TM system, it also can be used to define current business processes. "It plays a major role as a documenting tool, as well as feedback to clients to show understanding and point out conflicts and omissions." (Ernst & Young CSI, Johannesburg, South Africa) "The R/3 TM Reference Model has been the basic model. Our teams have designed in the first project phase of R/3 TM the new business processes. All new processes are stored, including documentation, in a user model (company model)." (Fahrzeugausrusting Berlin GmbH, Berlin, Germany) "We used the Reference Model as a starting point -- detailed processes were described using the EPC methodology." (Philip Morris, Switzerland) Approaches to Business Modeling As standard software, R/3 TM offers standard business solutions. R/3 TM is also flexible enough, however, to be customized or extended to meet special customer demands. Some companies create customized models for sales and distribution, procurement, financing, and project management. Using the EPC methodology, these customers created the models listed in Table I-2. I.6 Conclusion As we have seen, R/3 TM and the R/3 TM Reference Model are highly flexible means of assisting BE. Throughout SAP TM R/3 TM Business Blueprint, we will continue to draw from real business experiences and practices to illustrate basic principles of the R/3 TM system. Furthermore, we have attempted to provide examples from a wide variety of industries so that the reader can intuit the many possibilities inherent in the R/3 TM system. Table I-2 Modeling Strategies of R/3 TM Customers Model Customer Order processing inside and outside of R/3 TM Ascom AG, Switzerland Order fulfillment; sales and quotations Bühler AG, Switzerland Package distribution Ernst & Young CSI, South Africa Branch-oriented models for the chemical industry ICM Unternehmensberatung GmbH, Germany Entire enterprise model to determine "fits" and "gaps" between the company's desired state and R/3 TM Mentor Graphics, USA Order processing model with customized scenarios for invoicing, order, and distribution Miele & Cie GmbH & Co., Germany Manufacturing process and organizational responsibility; material process flow for factory; generic process control systems Nestlé, Great Britain Concurrent engineering; global logistics Nokia Mobile Phones, Finland Flow charts showing process flows divided into system steps, information used, manual steps, and external steps Pilkington P/C, Great Britain Handling of new contracts; installation of equipment at customer site; scheduling workers for reading meters at customer site Raab Karcher Energieservice, Germany Project-related order processing; manufacturing order and requirement processing Rapistan Demag Corp., USA Process of acquisition of land for mining purposes Rheinbraun AG, Germany Process of creation of a sales order for export; goods receipt and recycling of equipment STG-Coopers & Lybrand, Switzerland Presales process; consulting process Systime AG, Switzerland Operating funds administration; freight data management ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Germany While our main focus is BE with R/3 TM , we have tried to explain as much of the R/3 TM system and its variants as possible. We understand that different parts of this book will interest different readers, and for that reason we have tried to steer the reader toward his or her areas of interest in this Introduction. Generally speaking, the best strategy for readers with specific areas of interest is to follow these option paths: Readers who are most interested in business engineering and implementing R/3 TM with the Reference Model should begin with Part 1, Business Engineering. Readers who would like to examine specific business-process scenarios and business objects available in R/3 TM should begin with Part 2, Process Design. Readers interested in learning about the sophisticated platform for supporting business-process design and configuration for enterprise application software systems should examine Part 3, Architecture, Framework, and Tools. Excerpted from SAP R/3 Business Blueprint: Understanding Enterprise Supply Chain Management by Thomas Curran, Andrew Ladd All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Thomas Curran is President of Component Software (Cambridge, MA), which produces desktop ERP applications. He worked for five years as technology strategist for SAP AG.

Andrew Ladd is Director of Communications for Component Software, Inc., for whom he was written numerous white papers and technical documents.