SAP C_TS422_2022 SAP Certified Application Associate - SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Exam Practice Test

 In reorder point planning, the system compares the available stock with the reorder point to determine the net requirements. If the available stock falls below the reorder point, the system triggers a procurement proposal for the material. The quantity of the procurement proposal depends on the lot size procedure that is defined in the material master. The lot size procedure determines how the system calculates the order quantity based on factors such as demand, costs, and storage space. There are different types of lot size procedures, such as static, periodic, or optimum lot size. References: [Production Planning with SAP S/4HANA], page 156; [SAP Help Portal: Lot Size Calculation].

 A line hierarchy in repetitive manufacturing represents the structure of a production line that consists of multiple work centers. A line hierarchy is a master data object that defines the sequence and the relationship of the work centers that are involved in producing a material. A line hierarchy can be split into different levels, such as line segments, processing stations, or takt areas, to reflect the complexity and the variability of the production line. A line hierarchy can be used for planning and scheduling operations, controlling material flow, and monitoring production performance12.

The other options are not correct for the following reasons:

• A production line with prioritized work centers (B): This is not correct. A line hierarchy does not define the priority of the work centers, but the order and the dependency of the work centers. The priority of the work centers can be determined by other factors, such as the capacity availability, the production rate, or the scheduling parameters.
• A production line with a parallel sequence in the routing ©: This is not correct. A line hierarchy does not represent the parallel sequence in the routing, but the linear sequence of the work centers. A parallel sequence in the routing means that two or more operations can be performed simultaneously on different work centers for the same material. A parallel sequence in the routing can be modeled by using alternative sequences or parallel sequences in the line hierarchy3.
• A production line with an alternative sequence in the routing (D): This is not correct. A line hierarchy does not represent the alternative sequence in the routing, but the main sequence of the work centers. An alternative sequence in the routing means that there are different options for performing an operation on different work centers for the samematerial. An alternative sequence in the routing can be modeled by using alternative sequences or parallel sequences in the line hierarchy3.

References:https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_S4HANA_ON-PREMISE/48b24fbadbee4e0b9dae0e2b72762e68/db8151ba8ca14106bf037a1546cde6a9.html

https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_S4HANA_ON-PREMISE/f899ce30af9044299d573ea30b533f1c/9231f9504a62eb5ee10000000a44538d.html

 When you save a confirmation for a finished product in repetitive manufacturing, the system performs the following actions by default12:

• Posting of production costs to the production cost collector: The system calculates the actual costs for the confirmed quantity and posts them to the production cost collector assigned to the product. The production cost collector is a cost object that collects the costs for all confirmations of a product in a plant for a period.
• Posting of goods receipt for the product: The system posts the confirmed quantity as a goods receipt to the warehouse. The product is valuated at the standard price defined in the material master record. The difference between the standard price and the actual costs is posted to a price difference account.
• Reduction of associated capacity requirements: The system reduces the capacity requirements for the work center where the confirmation was made. The capacity requirements are calculated based on the confirmed quantity and the standard values for setup, machine, and labor time in the routing. References: 1: Repetitive Manufacturing Confirmation | SAP Help Portal(https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_S4HANA_ON-PREMISE/ee6ff9b281d8448f96b4fe6c89f2bdc8/66dd7fc2d4ac4a53b51f300a04ae24ac.html)2: Confirming Production in Repetitive Manufacturing | SAP Help Portal(https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_S4HANA_ON-PREMISE/f899ce30af9044299d573ea30b533f1c/9231f9504a62eb5ee10000000a44538d.html).

Backward scheduling is a method of determining the order dates for components from dependent requirements by starting from the requirement date of the finished product and working backwards through the production structure. Backward scheduling considers the following time elements:

• Operation duration: This is the time required to perform an operation on a resource, such as a work center or a machine. Operation duration is influenced by various factors, such as the quantity, the lot size, the setup time, the processing time, the teardown time, and the operation scrap. Operation duration is subtracted from the requirement date of the finished product to determine the start date of the operation.
• In-house production time: This is the time required to produce a material in-house, from the start of the first operation to the end of the last operation. In-house production time is influenced by various factors, such as the routing, the work center, the production version,and the scheduling margin key. In-house production time is subtracted from the start date of the first operation to determine the order start date of the material.

Backward scheduling does not consider the following time elements:

• Total replenishment lead time: This is the time required to procure a material externally, from the creation of the purchase requisition to the receipt of the goods. Total replenishment lead time is influenced by various factors, such as the planned delivery time, the goods receipt processing time, the release time, and the scheduling margin key. Total replenishment lead time is used in forward scheduling, not backward scheduling, to determine the order dates for externally procured materials.
• Planned delivery time: This is the time required to deliver a material from the vendor to the receiving plant. Planned delivery time is maintained in the purchasing info record or the material master record. Planned delivery time is a component of the total replenishment lead time, which is used in forward scheduling, not backward scheduling, to determine the order dates for externally procured materials. References: Backward Scheduling | SAP Help Portal, Scheduling | SAP Help Portal, SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide, page 77-78.

The difference between order-related and product-related COC is mainly in the level of cost object that is used to collect and analyze the costs of production. In order-related COC, each production order is a cost object that carries its own plan, target, and actual costs. In product-related COC, a product cost collector is a cost object that aggregates the costs of multiple production orders for the same product or product variant. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach depend on the production scenario and the reporting requirements. Some of the factors to consider are:

• In product-related COC, all costs are debited and credited to a product cost collector. This means that the production orders linked to the product cost collector do not have any cost segments and do not show any variances. The product cost collector is used for variance calculation and settlement. This simplifies the cost accounting process and reduces the number of cost objects to be managed. However, this also means that the cost details of individual production orders are not available for analysis. Product-related COC is suitable for mass production of standard products with low variance and high volume12.
• Order-related COC is beneficial in a flexible production environment where each production order has different characteristics, such as lot size, routing, material components, or quality specifications. Order-related COC allows for a detailed analysis of the cost and performance of each production order and enables a more accurate allocation of overhead costs. However, order-related COC also requires more effort and resources to maintain and process the cost segments and variances of each production order. Order-related COC is suitable for make-to-order or engineer-to-order scenarios where each production order is unique and customized12.
• Product-related COC is used in manufacturing for co-products, which are products that are produced simultaneously from the same production process and have a relatively high sales value. Co-products share the joint costs of the production process based on a predefined apportionment structure. Product-related COC allows for a consistent and transparent allocation of the joint costs to the co-products and avoids the problem of negative variances that may occur in order-related COC. Product-related COC is suitable for process industries where co-products are common, such as chemical, pharmaceutical, or food industries34.

References:

• 1: SAP Help Portal: Production Orders in Cost Object Controlling
• 2: SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide, Chapter 6: Product Cost by Order
• 3: SAP Help Portal: Product Cost by Period
• 4: SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide, Chapter 7: Product Cost by Period

The Advanced Planning flag is a field that indicates whether a data object is relevant for planning with Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS) in SAP S/4HANA. PP/DS is a component of Advanced Planning that provides more precise and flexible planning capabilities for critical products and resources. You can set the Advanced Planning flag for the following data objects:

• Work Center: This is a master data object that represents a location where operations are performed. A work center can have different capacities, such as machine, labor, or power, that are used for scheduling and capacity planning. You can set the Advanced Planning flag for a work center to enable it for PP/DS planning. This means that the work center can be used as a resource in PP/DS and its capacity can be optimized by PP/DS heuristics or optimization tools.
• Material: This is a master data object that represents a product or a component that is produced, procured, or consumed in a business process. A material can have different views, such as basic data, MRP, sales, or production, that contain different attributes and parameters for planning and execution. You can set the Advanced Planning flag for a material to enable it for PP/DS planning. This means that the material can be planned with exact times and quantities in PP/DS and its availability can be checked by PP/DS pegging.

The production version (B) and the plant (D) are not data objects that can have the Advanced Planning flag. The production version is a master data object that defines the combination of a bill of material (BOM) and a routing or a production process model (PPM) for a material. The production version does not have a separate flag for PP/DS, but it inherits the flag from the material and the work center. The plant is an organizational unit that represents a physical location where materials are produced or stored. The plant does not have a flag for PP/DS, but it is assigned to a location in PP/DS that represents the geographical or logical grouping of plants for planning purposes. References:https://blogs.sap.com/2018/02/12/ppds-for-sap-s4hana-advanced-planning-a-powerful-planning-and-scheduling-tool/

https://learning.sap.com/learning-journeys/explore-integrated-business-processes-in-sap-s-4hana-/advanced-planning_ae824eb6-4bf8-4720-a48f-ba86929a14de

 Planned independent requirements (PIRs) are demand elements that represent the sales or production program for a material. They are used to plan the production or procurement of finished products or assemblies in advance, based on the expected demand from customers or internal sources. Some benefits of planning with PIRs are:

• Reduced delivery times: By planning with PIRs, you can ensure that the required materials and capacities are available when the actual sales orders arrive. This reduces the lead time for fulfilling the customer orders and improves the delivery performance.
• Option to forecast planning for production resources: By planning with PIRs, you can use forecasting methods to estimate the future demand for a material based on historical data and trends. This allows you to adjust the production or procurement plan accordingly and optimize the utilization of production resources, such as machines, labor, and materials. References: [Production Planning with SAP S/4HANA], page 144; [SAP Help Portal: Planned Independent Requirements].

 A work center hierarchy is a business object in PP/DS that defines the structure and sequence of resources that are used for a production process. You use this object to represent the logical and physical dependencies of the resources and to control the scheduling and sequencing of the operations or orders. A work center hierarchy allows you to modelthe production flow and capacity more realistically and ensure the technical feasibility of the production plan1

A work center hierarchy can also be used to cumulate the available capacity and capacity requirements of the resources in capacity planning. You can cumulate the available capacities from subordinate work centers to a superior work center level in order to determine the total available capacity for the superior work center. This way, you can use a work center hierarchy as a group of alternative work centers that provide a cumulative available capacity for production23

References:

• Work center hierarchy | SAP Help Portal
• Work Center Hierarchy - SAP Help Portal
• Highlights for Manufacturing in SAP S/4HANA 2021 – Part 2: Production Planning, Engineering, Operations | SAP Blogs

 A production version is a master data object that links a bill of material (BOM) and a routing or a production process model (PPM) for a material. A production version is required for creating a production order in SAP S/4HANA, as it determines the components, operations, and resources that are needed for producing the material. You can create a production version manually or automatically using the CS_BOM_PRODVER_MIGRATION02 report1.

If you are trying to create a production order and no valid production version can be selected, it could be because of the following reasons:

• No bills of material (BOMs) are assigned to the production versions (A): A BOM is a master data object that defines the components and the quantities that are required for producing a material. A production version must have a valid BOM assigned to it, otherwise it cannot be used for creating a production order. You can assign a BOM to a production version on the MRP 4 tab page of the material master2.
• The order lot size is not within the validity range of a production version ©: A production version has a validity range that defines the period and the lot size interval in which it can be used for production planning. The validity range is maintained on the MRP 4 tab page of the material master2. If the order lot size (the quantity of the material to be produced) is not within the lot size interval of any production version, then no valid production version can be selected for creating a production order.

The other options are not valid reasons for not being able to select a production version for creating a production order:

• All production versions for the material are locked (B): A production version can have a status that indicates whether it is active or locked. A locked production version cannot be used for production planning, but it can still be selected for creating a production order. However, the system will issue a warning message that the production version is locked and ask for confirmation before proceeding with the order creation3.
• No production lines are assigned to the production versions (D): A production line is an organizational unit that represents a group of resources that are used for producing a material. A production line can be assigned to a production version on the MRP 4 tab page of the material master2. However, this assignment is optional and not mandatory for creating a production order. A production line can be used for grouping production versions for reporting or analysis purposes, but it does not affect the selection of a production version for creating a production order4.

References:

The order-type-dependent parameters are configuration settings that control various aspects of production order processing, such as number range, scheduling type, availability check, costing variant, confirmation parameters, and so on. These parameters are assigned to a production order type, which is a key that defines the characteristics and business rules of a production order. The order-type-dependent parameters affect the following business processes:

• Check material availability: The availability check determines whether the required materials and capacities are available for the production order. The availability check is controlled by the checking rule and the checking group, which are defined in the order-type-dependent parameters. The checking rule specifies which stocks, receipts, and issues are considered in the availability check. The checking group determines how the system responds to the availability situation, such as issuing a warning or an error message, or rescheduling the order.
• Schedule production orders: The scheduling of production orders calculates the planned dates and times for the operations and the order. The scheduling is controlled by thescheduling type and the scheduling parameters, which are defined in the order-type-dependent parameters. The scheduling type determines whether the system performs forward or backward scheduling, and whether it considers the basic dates or the production dates. The scheduling parameters determine how the system calculates the operation durations, interoperation times, and floats. References: [SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide], page 123; [SAP Help Portal: Order-Type-Dependent Parameters].

You can model goods receipt processing time in detailed scheduling by using one or more of the following options:

• Model a handling resource in the location master: A handling resource is a special type of resource that represents the capacity required for goods movements within a location, such as loading, unloading, or staging. You can assign a handling resource to a location and define its availability and utilization. You can also specify the handling time per unit of material for each handling resource. The system will then calculate the goods receipt processing time based on the handling time and the quantity of the material.
• Model a transportation lane and carrier selection in the location master: A transportation lane is a master data object that defines the relationship between two locations in terms of transportation modes, means of transport, transit times, and costs. You can assign a transportation lane to a location and define the transportation mode, such as truck, rail, or air. You can also specify the carrier selection, which is a rule that determines the preferred carrier for each transportation mode. The system will then calculate the goods receipt processing time based on the transit time and the carrier selection.
• Model a goods receipt time in the material master: A goods receipt time is a parameter that defines the time required to post the goods receipt for a material after it arrives at the location. You can specify the goods receipt time in the material master record for each material and location combination. The system will then add the goods receipt time to the goods receipt processing time.

You cannot model goods receipt processing time in detailed scheduling by using the following options:

• Model a separate resource in the production data structure: A resource is a master data object that represents the capacity required for production activities, such as machines, labor, or tools. You can assign a resource to a production data structure, such as a bill of material, a routing, or a production version. However, a resource cannot be used to model goods receipt processing time, as it is not related to goods movements.
• Model a separate inbound resource in the location master: An inbound resource is a parameter that defines the maximum number of inbound deliveries that can be processed at a location at the same time. You can specify the inbound resource in the location master record for each location. However, an inbound resource cannot be used to model goods receipt processing time, as it is only a constraint for the number of deliveries, not the duration of the processing.

References: [SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide], pages 103-104; [SAP Help Portal: Goods Receipt Processing Time].

The material type is a key attribute that classifies materials according to their characteristics and determines how they are processed in the system. The material type influences the following aspects of material management:

• Which material master screens appear and in which sequence: The material type controls which fields are required, optional, or hidden in the material master record. It also determines the order in which the screens are displayed when creating or changing a material master record. Different material types may have different views and fields depending on the business requirements. For example, a raw material may have a purchasing view, while a finished product may have a sales view.
• Whether the material is produced in-house, procured externally, or both: The material type defines the procurement type of the material, which indicates how the material is procured. The procurement type can be in-house production, external procurement, or both. The procurement type affects the planning and execution of the material requirements. For example, a material with in-house production procurement type will generate planned orders, while a material with external procurement type will generate purchase requisitions or schedule lines.

The material type does not influence the following aspects of material management:

• Which document types and class categories are allowed: The document type is a key attribute that classifies documents according to their business purpose and determines how they are processed in the system. The document type controls the number range, field selection, and status profile of the document. The document type is independent of the material type and can be used for any material type. For example, a purchase order document type can be used for any material type that is procured externally. The class category is a key attribute that classifies classes according to their application area and determines how they are processed in the system. The class category controls the characteristics, object types, and inheritance rules of the class. The class category is independent of the material type and can be used for any material type. For example, a material class category can be used for any material type that has characteristics.
• Which plant-specific and plant-independent statuses are allowed: The status is an attribute that indicates the current condition of an object in the system. The status can be plant-specific or plant-independent, depending on whether it applies to a specific plant or to all plants. The status is independent of the material type and can be used for any material type. For example, a material can have a plant-specific status of blocked for quality reasons, or a plant-independent status of discontinued. References: Material Type | SAP Help Portal, Material Master (LO-MD-MM) | SAP Help Portal, Document Types | SAP Help Portal, [Class Category | SAP Help Portal], [Status Management | SAP Help Portal]

When you create a product master in SAP S/4HANA, you need to enter values for mandatory fields such as product number, product type, base unit of measure, and description. The product type determines the category of the product, such as material, service, or article. The base unit of measure defines the unit in which you manage the product in all business transactions. The selection screen for views and plants are optional fields that allow you to choose which views and plants you want to maintain for the product master. References: Creating Products, Understanding the Concept of Master Data

• One-off events: These are special events that affect the demand for a product, such as promotions, holidays, or product launches. You can use the one-off events function in SAP S/4HANA to create and maintain events and assign them to products. The system considers the events when generating the forecast and adjusts the demand accordingly.
• Past sales order quantities: These are the historical data of the actual sales orders for a product. You can use the past sales order quantities as the basis for forecasting the future demand. The system applies statistical methods and algorithms to analyze the past sales order quantities and identify the trends, patterns, and seasonality of the demand.
• Market intelligence: This is the external information that influences the demand for a product, such as market research, competitor analysis, or customer feedback. You can use the market intelligence function in SAP S/4HANA to import and integrate market data from various sources into the forecast. The system adjusts the demand based on the market intelligence data and the weighting factors that you define. References: Exploring the Steps of Supply Chain Planning; SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing II, Unit 2: Demand Management; [SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide], page 76.

Pegging is a term used in Advanced Planning to describe the relationship between the receipt and the issue elements of a product within a location. Receipt elements are planning elements that increase the stock of a product, such as production orders, purchase orders, or stock transfers. Issue elements are planning elements that reduce thestock of a product, such as sales orders, planned independent requirements, or reservations. Pegging links the receipt and issue elements according to the bill-of-material structure of all related products and represents the material flow through all levels of production. Pegging enables the system to identify and display quantity and date/time problems, such as shortages or delays, and to forward scheduling changes to other dependent elements. Pegging also forms the basis for the availability check and the capacity check in Advanced Planning12.

References:

• 1: SAP Help Portal: Pegging
• 2: SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide, Chapter 4: Advanced Planning

The MRP planning file is a list of all materials relevant to the planning run. The system sets an entry in the planning file for a material when there is a change that affects the material requirements planning, such as changes to stock, requirements, receipts, or MRP data in the material master. The following processes lead to an entry in the MRP planning file:

• Changing the procurement type in the product master, which determines how the material is procured (internally or externally) and affects the MRP procedure and lot-sizing procedure.
• Changing the stock in inventory management, which changes the stock/requirements situation of the material and triggers a net requirements calculation.
• Changing the purchasing contract in materials management, which creates a purchase requisition as a receipt element and affects the availability of the material. References: Planning File, Planning File Entries for MRP Areas, SAP Exam C_TS422_1909 Topic 10 Question 10 Discussion

You can create a production order using the following methods:

• Create by order release: You can create a production order by releasing a planned order in the material requirements planning (MRP) run. The system converts the planned order into a production order and assigns a production order number. You can use the Manage Production Orders app or the transaction CO40 to create production orders by order release.
• Create in Kanban process: You can create a production order in the Kanban process, which is a lean manufacturing method that uses pull signals to trigger production. The system creates a production order when a Kanban status changes from EMPTY to WAITING. You can use the Kanban Board app or the transaction PK13N to create production orders in the Kanban process. References: SAP Help Portal, Manage Production Orders in SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing

A scheduling agreement is a long-term agreement with a vendor for the supply of materials or services at predefined dates and quantities. To enable classic MRP to automatically create schedule lines in case of material shortage, you must do the following:

• Add the agreement to the source list and mark it for MRP relevance. The source list is a list of possible sources of supply for a material, such as vendors, contracts, or scheduling agreements. By adding the agreement to the source list and setting the MRP indicator, you specify that the agreement is a valid and preferred source of supply for the material.
• Set the creation indicator for delivery schedule lines on the initial screen of the MRP run. The creation indicator determines whether the MRP run creates procurement proposals, such as purchase requisitions, planned orders, or delivery schedule lines. By setting the creation indicator for delivery schedule lines, you instruct the MRP run to create schedule lines for the scheduling agreement, based on the material requirements and the agreement conditions.

Adding the agreement to the quota arrangement and marking it for MRP relevance is not necessary, as the quota arrangement is used to distribute the total requirements of a material among several sources of supply. Setting the creation indicator for purchase requisition on the initial screen of the MRP run is not correct, as the purchase requisition is a different type of procurement proposal than the delivery schedule line. References: Scheduling Agreement | SAP Help Portal, Source List | SAP Help Portal, MRP Run | SAP Help Portal.

Phantom assemblies are assemblies that have their own product structure, but whose assembly does not actually physically exist. The components of the phantom assembly are incorporated directly in the superordinate product. The product structure of the superordinate product contains a reference to the phantom assembly. You can use phantom assemblies for the following purposes:

• To simplify the structure of bills of material: Phantom assemblies allow you to group components that belong together logically or functionally, without creating an additional level in the product structure. This can make the product structure easier to maintain and understand.
• To reduce the number of material masters: Phantom assemblies do not require a material master record in SAP S/4HANA, as they are not physically produced or stored. This can save storage space and reduce the effort of creating and updating material masters.
• To reduce the number of changes required in bills of material: Phantom assemblies can be used to represent common subassemblies that are used in multiple products. This way, you only need to maintain the product structure of the phantom assembly once, and any changes will be reflected in all the products that reference it.

Phantom assemblies do not increase the number of planning levels, as they are not considered as separate planning objects. They also do not make the assignment of components easier, as the components are assigned to the superordinate product, not to the phantom assembly. References: Phantom Assembly | SAP Help Portal, Phantom Assembly | SAP Help Portal, Planning Phantom Assemblies | SAP Help Portal.

• Run PP/DS heuristic for repetitive manufacturing: PP/DS (Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling) is a component of SAP S/4HANA that provides advanced planning and scheduling functions for complex production scenarios. You can run the PP/DS heuristic for repetitive manufacturing to automatically assign planned orders to production lines based on the available capacity, material, and sequence constraints. The PP/DS heuristic also optimizes the line utilization and minimizes the setup times and costs.
• Assign planned orders manually in the planning table: The planning table is a graphical tool that allows you to view and manipulate the production plan for repetitive manufacturing. You can assign planned orders manually to production lines by dragging and dropping them in the planning table. You can also adjust the start and finish dates, quantities, and sequences of the planned orders. The planning table shows the capacity situation and the material availability for each production line.

You cannot plan both quantities and capacities during line loading in repetitive manufacturing by using the following options:

• Run MRP with quota arrangement: MRP (Material Requirements Planning) is a process that calculates the quantity and timing of material requirements based on the demand and supply situation. You can run MRP with quota arrangement to distribute the total requirements for a material among multiple sources of supply, such as vendors, plants, or production lines. However, MRP does not consider the capacity constraints or the sequence dependencies of the production lines, and therefore cannot plan the capacities during line loading.
• Assign planned orders manually in the planning table: This option is identical to option C and therefore cannot be a correct answer.

References: [SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide], pages 105-106; [SAP Help Portal: Line Loading in Repetitive Manufacturing].

The difference between co-products and by-products is mainly in how they are accounted for in the production process. Co-products are products that have a relatively high salesvalue and are produced simultaneously from the same production process. By-products are products that have a relatively low sales value and are produced as a side effect of the main product. The following points explain the difference between them:

• Only co-products are identified by a special item category in the bill of material (BOM). This item category is L (Co-product) and it indicates that the component is a co-product that shares the joint costs of the production process with the main product and other co-products. By-products do not have a special item category in the BOM. They are usually entered with a negative quantity and a negative item category, such as N (By-product)12.
• Only co-products can be manufactured in isolation from the main product. This means that co-products can be produced independently from the main product if there is a demand for them. By-products cannot be manufactured in isolation from the main product. They are always produced as a result of the main product3 .
• Only co-products have a zero inventory valuation. This means that co-products do not have a price in the material master and their inventory value is calculated based on the apportionment of the joint costs of the production process. By-products have a fixed inventory valuation based on the price specified by the price control in the material master. Their inventory value does not depend on the production process12.
• Only co-products appear in the process or production order settlement rule. This means that co-products are settled to different receivers, such as sales orders, cost centers, or profitability segments, based on the apportionment structure defined in the material master of the leading co-product. By-products do not appear in the settlement rule. They are credited to the production order and reduce the total costs of the process12.

References:

• 1: SAP Help Portal: Co- and By-Products
• 2: SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide, Chapter 8: Product Compliance
• 3: SAP Co-Products and By-Products Tutorial - Free SAP PP Training - ERProof3
• : Co-Product and By-product in Production order | SAP Blogs2

A reduction strategy is a method of shortening the lead time of an order by reducingcertain time elements in the order scheduling1. The time elements that can be reduced by a reduction strategy are move time, wait time, and queue time2. Move time is the time required to move a material from one operation to another. Wait time is the time between the end of an operation and the start of the next operation. Queue time is the time before an operation can start at a work center due to the work center’s capacity utilization3. These time elements can be reduced by a percentage or a fixed value in the reduction strategy. References: 1: Reduction Strategy | SAP Help Portal(https://blog.sap-press.com/4-strategies-for-make-to-stock-production-with-sap-s4hana) 2: 4 Strategies for Make-to-Stock Production with SAP S/4HANA(https://blogs.sap.com/2022/03/22/highlights-for-manufacturing-in-sap-s-4hana-2021-part-2-production-planning-engineering-operations/) 3: Scheduling | SAP Help Portal(https://blogs.sap.com/2022/04/26/manufacturing-in-sap-s-4hana-cloud-planning-strategies/).

Forecasting is the process of predicting future demand for products or services based on historical data, market trends, and other factors. Forecasting is an essential component of supply chain planning, which aims to optimize the flow of materials, information, andmoney across the supply chain network. SAP offers various applications that can be used for forecasting in supply chain planning, such as:

• Integration Business Planning (IBP): IBP is a cloud-based solution that provides end-to-end visibility and integration of planning processes across different business functions, such as sales, finance, operations, and logistics. IBP enables collaborative and real-time forecasting, scenario analysis, and decision making based on advanced analytics and machine learning. IBP supports various forecasting methods, such as statistical, causal, and demand sensing, and allows users to adjust and refine forecasts based on changing market conditions and business priorities12.
• Supply Chain Management (SCM): SCM is an on-premise solution that covers the entire supply chain process, from demand planning to delivery and invoicing. SCM includes various modules, such as Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO), Extended Warehouse Management (EWM), and Transportation Management ™, that enable efficient and flexible planning and execution of supply chain activities. SCM supports various forecasting techniques, such as exponential smoothing, trend analysis, and seasonal adjustment, and allows users to monitor and control forecast accuracy and performance34.

The other two options are not SAP applications, but rather concepts or processes related to supply chain planning:

• Capacity Requirement Planning (CRP): CRP is the process of determining the available and required capacity of resources, such as machines, labor, and materials, to meet the production plan. CRP helps to identify and resolve capacity bottlenecks, optimize resource utilization, and balance supply and demand. CRP can be performed using various SAP applications, such as MRP, Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS), or IBP5 .
• Material Requirement Planning (MRP): MRP is the process of calculating the quantity and timing of materials needed to fulfill the production plan. MRP helps to optimize inventory levels, reduce costs, and improve customer service. MRP can be performed using various SAP applications, such as ERP, SCM, or IBP . References: SAP Integrated Business Planning | SAP, Forecasting | SAP Help Portal, SAP Supply Chain Management | SAP, Forecasting | SAP Help Portal, Capacity Requirements Planning (PP-CRP) | SAP Help Portal, [Capacity Planning | SAP Help Portal], [Material Requirements Planning (PP-MRP) | SAP Help Portal], [Material Requirements Planning | SAP Help Portal]

Make-to-stock production (10) is a planning strategy that supports the production of a finished good based on a forecast and without any reference to sales orders. This strategy is used when the finished good has a stable and predictable demand, and the company wants to maintain a certain level of safety stock to meet customer orders. If customers order more than the forecasted quantity, this does not affect the production program, as the system does not generate any additional planned orders or purchase requisitions for the finished good. Instead, the system reduces the planned independent requirements by the sales order quantity, and the excess demand is covered by the safety stock or the available stock. This strategy allows for a smooth and continuous production process, and avoids frequent changes in the production plan. References: Make-to-Stock Production | SAP Help Portal, Planning Strategies | SAP Help Portal, SAP S/4HANA Production Planning and Manufacturing Certification Guide, page 52.