SAP APO ONLINE TRAINING

     SAP APO Overview

SAP (Advanced Planning and Optimizer) or SAP (APO) is the planning component within the mySAP SCM solution. APO is an acronym for Advanced Planner and Optimizer. This is a large component of SAP's New Dimension products. APO is an entire suite of supply chain planner applications that increase overall knowledge of the supply chain and provide forecasting, planning and optimization. There are eight application levels within SAP APO: network design, supply network planning, demand planning, production planning and detailed scheduling, transportation planning and vehicle scheduling, global availability and supply chain collaboration. 

The SAP APO is not a standalone application and requires a backend ERP system such as SAP R/3 for the execution. SAP R/3 communicates with SAP APO using the APO Core Interface (CIF) which supplies SAP APO with the master and the transaction data in the real time. Interaction between the SAP R/3 at backend and the SAP APO is in real time and any data related to the production, the sales or the supplies is immediately transferred from one system to another without requiring any batch processing. 

The efficient way of installing some standard SAP APO scenarios is by reference to the SAP Best Practices for Supply Chain Management. 

SAP APO (Advanced Planner and Optimizer) is a key application component of mySAP.com and forms a technical foundation for several SAP solutions.

         The benefits of using SAP APO :

The benefits of the SAP APO, is that it provides the basis for an end-to-end supply chain management solution, seamlessly linking all key processes -- from order generation to production planning to transportation.

        SAP APO offers functionality for:

• Demand planning

• Supply network planning

• Production planning

• Detailed scheduling

• Available to promise Although SAP APO is no longer marketed as a separate solution; its functionality underlies mySAP Supply Chain Management, mySAP Customer Relationship Management, and mySAP E-Procurement.

• Modules within SAP APO

• Supply Chain Cockpit

• Demand Planning - a toolkit of statistical and collaborative forecasting techniques.

• Supply Network Planning - used to calculate quantities to be delivered to a location in order to match customer demand and maintain the desired service level.

• Global Available to Promise - uses a rule based strategy to ensure you can deliver what you promise to your customers.

• Transportation Planning / Vehicle Scheduling - optimizes transportation route and schedules vehicle resources.

• Service Parts Planning

• Production Plan / Detailed Scheduling - create procurement proposals for in-house production or external procurement to cover product requirements and optimize the same.

SAP APO Course Content

 SAP APO Course Curriculum

   Demand Planning - DP

   Supply Network Planning - SNP
 
   Core Interface - CIF Demand Planning

• Model& Version

• Storage Bucket Profile (Maintain Periodicity)

• Planning Buckets (Maintain Time bucket profile DP/ SNP)

• Master Planning Object Structure (MPOS) S&DP Administration

• Planning Area

• Planning Books, Data Views& Selection Id's

• Master Forecast Profile- Maintain Forecast Profiles

• Interactive Planning Table

• Macro's

• Back ground Job settings - Activities, Job & Schedule

• Alerts Management

• Release / Transfer the forecast.

• Calculate Proportional Factors

• Lifecycle Planning

• Data Loading, Copy/Version Management& Realignment

• Job Monitoring, Process Chain Monitoring

• Live Cache Monitoring

• Maintain Planning Calendar (Time Stream), Maintain Period Split Profile, Maintain Distribution Function

• Product& Location Split

    Supply Network Planning General Settings

• Model& Version

• Profiles

• Calendar

• CTM Sort Profile

• Demand Profile

• SNP Profile

• Deployment Profile

• Lot size Profile

• All Planners

• TLB Profile

• SNP Optimizer Profile

• SNP Cost Profile

• Rounding Profile

     Master Data Set Up

• Locations (Plant, Vendor, DC& Customer)

• Products (Finished & Components Specific to Location)

• Resource

• PPM/PDS,

• Transportation Lanes

     Administrative Data

• MPOS

• Storage Bucket

• Planning Area

• Planning Buckets

• Planning Books

• Data Views& Selection Id's

     Planning Engines& Process

• Heuristic

• Deployment

• Transport Load Builder

• Optimizer

• CTM

     Core Interface - CIF

• CIF Overview

• A story about CIF

     Architeccture of Integration

System Infrastructure, Define Logical Sytems& Assing Clients, Define RFC Destinations, Business System Group, Specify Release, Establish Target System& Setup User Parameters

     Transfer of Master Data

Master Data for APO, Initial Transfer, Generation& Activation of Master Data Integration Models

      Transfer of Transaction Data

Transaction Data for APO& R/3, Generation& Activation of Transaction Data Integration Models, Publication from APO to R/3

      Monitoring& Error Handling

Monitoring Process, Error Handling

      List of Important T.Codes

SAP APO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

    What determines stock categories displayed in Stock on Hand key figure ?

The categories defined in Category Group ST1 (can be maintained in table /SAPAPO/APOCGC) determine the stock categories that are displayed in the Initial bucket in the Stock on Hand key figure. Subsequent buckets are dynamically computed.

    Does dynamic alerts show up in Alert Monitor ?

Dynamic Alerts do not show up in the stand-alone alert monitor. Network alerts are to show pegging relationships.

    What is the report to execute MASSD ?

The report for executing MassD in background job is MASSBACK.

   What is the shortcut to change location type in APO ?

Report /SAPAPO/CHECK_LOCATION_TYPE can be used to change location type (say from 1001 to 1002 or vice-versa) of existing locations in APO. The table to refer is /SAPAPO/LOCMAP. SAP does not recommend this process.

   How can a transaction be executed even when no authorization ?

SE93 - Transaction code for Transaction Code E.g. CRC1 Create Resource has txn code CRAH. So if you do not have authorization to create resource you can use SE93 and enter txn CRAH and then Test F8 button to go to the txn.

   How to copy a Process Chain ?

To copy a process chain to another process chain, goto the Process Chain you want to copy and then type copy in the tool tar and hit enter. It will allow you to copy the Process Chain to another Process Chain that can be modified as per user's requirement, saved, activated and used.

   What is the process to copy planning versions in R/3 ?

Use OLIX to first delete previous MRP planning versions. Then use MCB& to create the new MRP planning versions by choosing the appropriate version you want to create as ICO Version. The info structure in this case is S094.

    How to use create planning book with two tables ?

To use two tables on one screen of Planning Book/Data View - select indicator next to second page title and give name. Additional tab page is displayed in Planning Book Maintenance wizard to define the keyfigures for the second table.

    What is Master Data in DP ?

Master Data in Demand Planning primarily is Charcateristic Value Combinations commonly termed CVCs. CVCs are the planning combinations against which data is stored in keyfigures.

    What is the behaviour of Procurement Type X ?

Procurement Type X - source selection is based on matching due date then priority then cost. If both In-house Production and External Procuremnet is possible then In-house Production (PPM) is chosen as source of supply.

    What is PPDS Fixing Horizon ?

PP/DS fixing Horizon defines the PP/DS time Fence - within that period if heuristic is run no orders get changed.

    What is the reuse mode in Product Heuristic ?

Reuse mode in Product Heuristic - makes the system to reuse orders already present in the heuristic run i.e. orders are not deleted and recreated.

    What is Planning Procedure ?

Planning Procedure in Product Master (PP/DS) defines that when you convert a planned order to process order it is in Deallocated state and not Scheduled state and more.

    Which are the components of the new my SAP SCM Solution ?

SAP SCM 4.1 is the new available Supply Chain Management Solution offered by SAP. The SAP SCM 4.1 System includes SAP APO 4.1 (Advanced Planning and Optimization), SAP ICH 4.1 (Inventory Collaboration Hub) and SAP EM 4.1 (Event Management).

    How about the architecture of SAP SCM 4.1 ?

SAP SCM 4.1 is based on the SAP Web Application Server 6.40. All SAP SCM 4.1 Architecture Components can be installed on one hardware server, as long as this server is sized for all used application components.

    What does APO mean ?

SAP APO stands for SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization and is the planning component within the mySAP SCM solution.

    Can SAP APO be used as a stand-alone solution ?

 No, SAP APO always requires a backend ERP system for execution functions. In most cases, the backend system is an SAP R/3 system.

    Can SAP APO and SAP R/3 be installed on the same server and use the same database ?

No, SAP APO requires a separate server. The actual size of the SAP APO system may vary and depends on the data volume to be processed. You can find more details on this subject under the alias /sizing on the SAP Service Marketplace (//http:/service.sap.com).

    How does SAP R/3 communicate with SAP APO ?

Through the APO Core Interface (CIF) which supplies SAP APO with master and transaction data in real time. CIF is delivered through the R/3 Plug-In, which is something you have to install in your SAP R/3 system. This is the same Plug-In that you need for connecting a BW or a CRM system.

    What about the exchange of data between the two systems ?

With SAP APO you have a real-time integration to SAP R/3. The minute you change something in one system, it is immediately being transferred to the other and vice versa. And that goes for all data, be it a sales order, a production order or a purchase order. You do not have to perform any batch jobs for transferring data between the systems.

    Do I have to maintain the master data twice ?

No. You create and change master data exclusively in SAP R/3. If you want to work with SAP APO, you need to transfer the master data from the SAP R/3 system. Depending on the scenario you want to use in SAP APO, you may have to enhance the transferred data with SAP APO specific settings, which are not relevant to SAP R/3.

   What is an easy, cost efficient way of installing some standard SAP APO scenarios ?

The answer is: SAP Best Practices for Supply Chain Management. Choose one or more of the mySAP SCM business scenarios that SAP Best Practices for SCM provide.

SAP APO ONLINE TRAINING

  COMPANY PROFILE

AcuteSoft Solutions India Pvt.Ltd. is an emerging end to end SAP training provider focused on training for companies that have captive, in-house or specific technology based training requirements. We focus on the needs of the SAP ERP community.
We offer in-depth SAP APO Online Training in any module of SAP.  Our response is almost immediate and we offer you the freedom to cut down on your training costs and ramp-up your resources where needed in minimal time.
We bridge the gap between the need of the industry for knowledgeable and skilled professionals and the training required to produce highly qualified candidates and professionals.

      Unique Features:

1. Top of the line trainers, hand-picked to suit your requirement
2. Customized training - you can choose the level and depth of training to be delivered
3. Interactive Feedback mechanism
4. Cutting-edge training delivery

      SAP APO ONLINE TRAINING

Experience the Quality of our Corporate Training
ACUTE SOFT is a Global Interactive Learning company started by proven industry experts with an aim to provide Quality Training in the latest IT Technologies.
ACUTE SOFT has a pool of Expert Trainers worldwide on all the technologies to train the students.
ACUTE SOFT is offering online Training services to Major IT giants and to individual students worldwide. 

Contact : Santhosh /Lakshmi :
INDIA: +91-9848346149, +91-7702226149
Land line:  +91 (0)40 - 42627705
US: +1 973-619-0109, +1 312-235-6527
UK : +44 207-993-2319
Skype id : acutesoft
http://www.acutesoft.com            
http://training.acutesoft.com