SAP

SAP is an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software package and stands for Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing. SAP is based on Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Enterprise-Service Oriented Architecture (E-SOA) moves the ERP landscape toward software-based and web services based business activities. This move increases adaptability, flexibility, openness, and efficiency. The move towards E-SOA helps companies reuse software components and not rely as much on in-house ERP hardware technologies, which makes ERP adoption more attractive to small and mid-sized companies.

SAP’s is main product is SAP ERP. The current version is SAP ERP 6.0 and is one of five enterprise applications in SAP’s Business Suite. The other four applications are:

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – helps companies acquire and retain customers, gain marketing and customer insight
• Product Life Cycle Management (PLM) – helps manufacturers with product-related information
• Supply Chain Management (SCM) – helps companies with the process of resourcing its manufacturing and service processes
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) – enables companies to procure from suppliers

SAP ERP is a tightly integrated ERP package which delivers best business practices across many business solutions such as Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Banking, Chemicals, Consumer Products, Defense & Security, Engineering Construction & Operations, Healthcare, High Tech., Higher Education & Research, Insurance, Life Sciences, Media, Mill Products, Oil & gas, Mining, Professional Services, Public Sector, Retail, Telecommunications, Transportation and Logistics, Utilities & Wholesale Distribution.

SAP ERP helps to get various lines of business working together – aligning processes, gaining efficiencies, and sharing information across the organization for better decision making. It takes collaboration to a new level both within and outside the business network – relying on a single platform, leading services, and integrated solutions, delivered on premise, on demand, and on device.

SAP ERP comprises of various business process modules such as Materials Management, Sales & Distribution, Financial Accounting, Financial Supply Chain Management, Controlling, Production Planning, Logistics Execution, Quality Management, Plant Maintenance, Project System, Human Resources.

SAP ERP Materials Management module caters to the procurement process & inventory management. Procurement process comprises of purchase requisitions, request for quotation, quotations, purchase orders, contracts, scheduling agreements. Purchasing scenario can be a various types such as Direct Procurement, Third Party procurement, Subcontracting, Indirect Procurement, Consignments, Inter-Company & Intra-Company transfers. Inventory Management deals with various stock types, goods receipts, goods issues, stock transfers, transfer postings, physical inventory.

SAP ERP Production Planning comprises of Long Term Planning, Sales & Operation Planning, Demand Management, Master Production Scheduling, Material Requirements Planning, Planning tables, Production Execution – Production/Process Orders/Run Schedules, PI sheets in process manufacturing, Goods Issues/Backflushing, Goods Receipts, Settlement of orders.

SAP ERP Warehouse Management comprises of Warehouse structure, Putaway strategies, Picking strategies, Internal Warehouse processes, Wave Picking, Interfaces with Inventory Management, Manufacturing, Quality Management.

SAP ERP Quality Management comprises of Quality Master data, Quality in Procurement, Quality in Manufacturing, Quality in Logistics Execution, Results Recording, Disposition, Quality Notifications, Physical Sample Management.