Multiple ECC system integration to one APO system

[Former Member]

Hi All,

Please suggest the challenges faced during integration of multiple ECC systems with one APO system along with the risks & mitigation steps.

regards,

Mohit

[former_member209769]

Hi Mohit,

This question might or might not have a simple answer depending on your business requirements.

You need to look carefully at ALL the master data and transaction data available in your different R/3 systems. You would also need to identify ALL the various scenarios relevant for APO planning (for all modules that you plan to use - DP, SNP, PPDS, GATP), and their intercation with R/3 system(s).

Identify any overlap in number ranges for different kind of data. You might need to use separator or different BSG to identify these overlapping data in APO system. If the same data exists in multiple systems, then you would need to identify a leading system, and plan CIF and data transfer properly. In some scenarios, you might need enhancements also.

If there are data transfers BETWEEN the various R/3 systems, then you might need to consider this also in the design of your APO planning.

If you could give some specific scenario, then only its possible to give a specific answer.

Thanks - Pawan

[Former Member]

Tailgating on Mohit's original question from 2012, my organization finds itself now in the position where we also need to use APO-SNP to model and plan a network that connects all of the location-products stemming from one ECC (E1P) with some of the product-locations from another ECC (PRD) in order to plan a complete North American supply chain network.

We would be looking at integrating some of the master data (plants-materials-resources-PDSs) from the secondary ECC (PRD) to complement the network derived from the primary ECC (E1P).  We would also want to integrate some of the transactional data from the seocndary ECC system as well (Inbound to APO (S1P) : Inventories/Process Orders/Sales Orders  and Outbound from APO to Secondary ECC (PRD) : Planned Ind Requirements) .

Both ECCs are on the same version though slightly different SP levels (see graphic attached).

The materials within the two ECCs would be common between them however only integrated as loc-prods from mutually exclusive locations (concern about global material attributes as they most likely will not be harmonized/same...whcih ECC would be master for Global materials attributes).

Likely not relevant but FYI; the volume or scope of integration from the secondary ECC would be a very small subset of the overall data (few hundred product-locations out of the 10s of thousands in the secondary ECC). However the data from the primary ECC (E1P) is already all inclusive (100K loc-prods).

The Secondary ECC (PRD) is also already connected to another APO system (FC1) and we would not want to impact that existing connectivity and configuration as we are running DP-SNP-GATP-PPDS modules within that APO system as well for the rest of the Latin Amrican netowrk.

Given the above high level information, please share any recommendations, watch-outs or concerns you can think of.

Thank you very much.

[Former Member]

Hi Mohit,

Some challenges that we faced:

- Different units of measure

- Same plant codes in different ECC systems

- Overwriting of level A data in product master (e.g. product hierarchy)

- Different material codes for identical materials

- Networks cross ECC system (Creation of ST)

- Unaligned vendor/customer codes cross ECC systems

- Different SAP versions cross ECC, with possible impact on CIF

Gr. Marc

[Former Member]

Hi Mohit

This is a common scenario for many clients. I can quickly think of the following challenges:

1) Master Data & Transaction Data : Are multiple ECC system using same Master Data or different master data. If they are same, then you need to make sure how you manage the updates from/to different systems. All CIF configurations make sure that all logical systems have been entered.

2) From Batch Job perspective, please make sure that you avoid locking issues e.g. for CIF Integration Model jobs.

Thanks,

Prasun