This video provides an in-depth explanation of the controls in procurement within the SAP S/4HANA Quality Management (QM) module. Here are the key points:
- Controls in Procurement: Controls in procurement allow the quality department to influence or control activities when materials are procured from external suppliers. These activities include selecting suitable vendors, processing their request for quotations, processing purchase orders, and processing goods receipt inspections.
- Inspection Process Flow: The inspection process includes the creation of an inspection lot, data in the inspection lot, inspection lot structure, sample determination, results recording, defect recording (optional), usage decision, and stock posting.
- Inspection Lot: An inspection lot is created when goods are received for materials procured from suppliers. It contains several operations, each reflecting different inspection stages for the product. Each operation can contain several inspection characteristics.
- Results Recording and Usage Decision: After the sample quantity calculation, the next step is results recording. This can be done manually or automatically. After results recording and inspection completion, a usage decision (UD) is made for the inspected goods. The UD specifies whether the goods in the inspection lot have been accepted or rejected.
- Stock Posting: After the UD, if the lot has been created because of any goods, stock posting can be done. The video demonstrates how to post stock from quality inspection to unrestricted use or blocked stock, depending on the UD.
- QM in Procurement: To have these controls in procurement, the “QM in Procurement” checkbox needs to be activated in the Material Master in the QM view. A suitable control key with the required controls should also be assigned.
- Supplier Release: The supplier release becomes mandatory once the settings are made in the Material Master. If a supplier is not released for procurement, the system will not allow the creation of a purchase order.
- Quality Info Record: A Quality Info Record is maintained for a material and vendor combination. If it is maintained, the system will allow the creation of a purchase order, meaning the supplier is released to supply the material to the plant.