Question:
Hi !
So far we've only been inspection using Material spec. in QM.
Thus life has been pretty simple.
We've created a class for a group of materials with quite similar properties, entered some characteristics, created MIC's referencing the class characteristics (normally even without maintaining control indicators, just putting it to released ) and maintained QS61. The individual material spec's have been maintained in the classification view on the material.
This way we've been using one MIC for each kind of analysis, like Purity, even though different materials might have had different spec's.
Now, we'll start using Insp. plans in one plant since we'll need the free Insp.point. I've done this as a self study, based on a SAP-QM book, SAP help and some brilliant answers to some of my 'newbie' questions in this forum. (Thanks a lot guys )
It seems to me that using Insp.plans eliminates the possibility of maintaining the Spec in the material master, and that the spec has to be maintained in the MIC. This will actually force me to have several MIC's, and thus several class characteristics for each kind of analysis, virtually forcing me to create a separate class for almost every material.
Before I start putting up everything, I just want to make sure that I've got it right, since it'll be quite a lot of extra master data compared to what I'm used to.
Do I have to make individual class characteristics and MIC's (and class) every time I get a new material with a slightly different spec on an analysis (like i.e. purity) ?
I'm in version 4.7.
Answer:
Absolutely not. You can maintain the specs either at the class level or within the classification view of the material master. As long at the characterisitcs in the inspection plan are still locked, (i.e. reference characteristics and not copy), then your slightly different spec should pass through to the inspection lot.
Those specs at the class level will apply to all materials assigned to the class. Those specs maintained in the materials classification view will replace the class spec in the inspection lot. You do not need to maintain ALL the characteristics in the classification view, only those that differ from the 'normal' class spec.
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Available for spot consulting, troubleshooting, remote configuration/consulting and teaching. 10+ yrs in QM. Primary focus on Pharma and Chemicals.
Answer:
Thanks !
That'll take a load of my shoulders if I get it working, which I don't.
I'm not sure what you mean by maintaining on class level. What I did on my test characteristic was that I :
- created the Class characteristic (CT04) entering the value 5 - 27 %.
- added it to my 023 Class (CL02). Couldn't find any place to maintain any spec.
- created the MIC, by referencing the clas char. (QS21) Lower/Upper spec 5 / 27 % (Required)
- maintained the Classification view in mat.master (MM02) 9 - 14 %
- maintained the Material spec. QS61. Lower/Upper limits displayed 9 / 14 %
- maintained the Insp plan. Spec 5 - 27 % defaulted, can't be changed. If I try to enter something else it's overwritten. The characteristics in the plan is referenced.
In result recording it shows with spec 5 - 27 % which is in the MIC and Insp.plan, not what's in the Mat.master. Changing the value in the Class characteristic or Material master doesn't effect the spec in the insp.lot.
What have I missed ?
Answer:
- created the Class characteristic (CT04) entering the value 5 - 27 %.
When I create General characteristics I always give it the broadest value allowed for the test. So for a percentage this is usually 0 - 100%.
- added it to my 023 Class (CL02). Couldn't find any place to maintain any spec.
When you create your class, after adding the characteristics, select a characteristic and then click on the button (near bottom), "Over write" values. In here, enter the spec for this class. in your case.. 5 - 27.
- created the MIC, by referencing the clas char. (QS21) Lower/Upper spec 5 / 27 % (Required)
I always create the MIC immediately after creating the general characteristic. By linking the general characteristic and MIC, the values of 0 - 100% should copy into your MIC immediatly upon creation.
- maintained the Classification view in mat.master (MM02) 9 - 14 %
This is fine. Again you would only have to do this for materials that differ from the 5 - 27 range. If 5 -27 was really a plausibility range, then in the classs, use 9 - 14. Then you don't have to edit the classfication view of the material master.
- maintained the Material spec. QS61. Lower/Upper limits displayed 9 / 14 %
Which is of course is not done until after the class and material master is edited as needed.
- maintained the Insp plan. Spec 5 - 27 % defaulted, can't be changed. If I try to enter something else it's overwritten. The characteristics in the plan is referenced.
This is because you enterred 5-27 as the value for the characteristic. If you do it as I've indicated, you should see 0 - 100%. instead. But when you actually create the inspection lot, the spec range of 5-27 or 9-14 should be displayed depending on where you've entered these values. You do not want to make changes to the spec in the plan.
_________________
Available for spot consulting, troubleshooting, remote configuration/consulting and teaching. 10+ yrs in QM. Primary focus on Pharma and Chemicals.
Answer:
Thanks again !
I've tried to do things in the order you mentioned, creating everything from scratch and the values should now be :
Gen Char 0 - 100 %
MIC 0 - 100 %
Class 5 - 27 %
Material 9- 14 %
QS61 9 - 14 %
Insp. Plan 0-100 %
but when I get to the result recording the spec shown i still 0 - 100 %.
I suppose I've missed some setting somewhere, but I can't figure out where.
Answer:
Wow... weird..
And you doubled checked both indicators in the 04 inspection type, (or 89,01, etc.) are set up to inspect with task list AND material spec?
And after adding the characteristic into the task list, it is locked, (greyed out), and you made no changes to it in the plan?
When your in results recording and request from the drop down menus to view the material specification, do you see the 9-14 as the spec? Or 0-100?
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Available for spot consulting, troubleshooting, remote configuration/consulting and teaching. 10+ yrs in QM. Primary focus on Pharma and Chemicals.
Answer:
Hi !
The problem was that I'd removed the 'Insp. with task list'. When I removed that the spec's went through. Thanks a lot !!
But that gave me another challenge.
We're going to run 'In process' inspection as well, and there we do quite different analysis.
To simplify :
In process (03) requires Char 1
Goods receipt (04) Requires Char 2
In both cases I need to limit my MIC's, for the material thus I need to activate 'Insp.with task list' to get the material spec's, but then I suddenly get both Char 1 and Char 2 for both 03 and 04 Inspection lots, and that isn't what I want.
How do I handle that ?
Answer:
I would create a dynamic modification rule that makes the characteristic a skip characteristic. In the 03 task list you asign the rule to Char 2, while in the 04 task list, you assign it to Char 1. (In the example you gave).
I would also probably place these 'skipped' characteristics at the bottom of the list.
They should should appear as greyed out in the results recording screen and a tech would have to select it and then use "set for processing" to record a value. A pretty big 'mistake' to make. It can be done by mistake if they use the "select all" button and then hit the "unlock" padlock instead of the "lock" padlock icon. To correct, exit result recording without saving. Otherwise it will become a required chara and will either need to be forced closed or a value entered.
It is also somewhat nice as if for some reason you decide you DO want to test that characteristic, say in the 04 lot, it is there and can be used.
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Available for spot consulting, troubleshooting, remote configuration/consulting and teaching. 10+ yrs in QM. Primary focus on Pharma and Chemicals.
Answer:
Hi !
I really appreciate that you've taken the time to answer me.
Your suggestion seems like a good way of solving my problem, but I'm still struggling.
I've :
- created a DynModRule with only one stage, which is 'Skip.'
- created stage changes to loop it to stage 1 no matter what.
- changed the MIC to be required. (It's still referenced)
- maintained Insp.plan header : Dyn mod at Char. level
- entered the DynModRule for the MIC in the Insp.plan. (MIC is the version which is required)
- checked that 'Skip lot' is allowed for the material,
but
In the Result Recording the status is still 0. (Not 1, required or 4, Skip), and nothing is grayed out.
Answer:
Have you looked at the quality levels before & after creating the lots? See what it says for each characteristic. It seems like you have the right settings. I might try creating a new, required, characteristic, (MIC & general) from scratch and try with that. It sounds like for soem reason your still getting the old non-required characteristic in your lot.
Make sure your key dates in the inspection plans are ok and your not picking an old plan.
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Available for spot consulting, troubleshooting, remote configuration/consulting and teaching. 10+ yrs in QM. Primary focus on Pharma and Chemicals.
Answer:
I found the error. The insp.plan was updated, but the Material spec was still running with the old version of the MIC. Maintaining that solved the problem.
Thanks a million Craig !!
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Answer:
Great to hear you got it solved!!!! One of these days I intend to visit Norway... my wife's mother is from Norway... makes a great seafood strata!
My wife would like to visit her 'roots' someday.
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Available for spot consulting, troubleshooting, remote configuration/consulting and teaching. 10+ yrs in QM. Primary focus on Pharma and Chemicals.