creating additional characteristics in QA32

[Subh]

Hi Experts,

During result recording when i am trying to add additional characteristics in the QA32 screen by clicking on "create additional char" icon, i am getting only 6 MICs in the drop-down list instead of the 80 MICs present in the plant. Please suggest how to make all the MICs available in the drop-down ?

Regards

Sm.

[former_member186399]

Dear SM

Nehal is correct. You can add Mics but if you try any existing mic it will take the specification set at the mic level

Regards

Gajesh

[Subh]

Hi Gajesh/Nehal,

Ihave 2 issues here:

1. I have specifications like, say pH, which will jhave different upper and lower limits in different inspection plans. Naturally i can't have this MIC as per this thread's discussions as a complete model because:

Please understand If MIC is copy model then it can not be modifiable at inspection plan level

At the same time on a particular day this MIC may also need to be inspected for some materials (where it is not appearing in the inspection plan ) and reported in COA. So i need to have a provision to create this MIC as a copy model because:

There is no other way other than maintaining those mics as complete.

So in this case, do you suggest maintaining of the same MIC in version2 as copy model and maintaining in inspection plans in version 1 as incomplete model?

2. Incidentally i also maintained a MIC in inspection plan as copy model, saved the plan and changed the upper and lower limits of the MIC in the plan and re-saved without error. I also made a manual lot and recorded result, etc. and again went back to the plan and changed the upper and lower limits of the MIC in the plan and re-saved without error. So how is it that

Please understand If MIC is copy model then it can not be modifiable at inspection plan level

Please clarify

Regards

Sm.

Edited by: Sm on Jan 12, 2010 11:20 AM

Edited by: Sm on Jan 12, 2010 11:22 AM

Edited by: Sm on Jan 12, 2010 11:23 AM

Edited by: Sm on Jan 12, 2010 11:24 AM

Edited by: Sm on Jan 12, 2010 11:24 AM

Edited by: Sm on Jan 12, 2010 11:26 AM

[former_member42744]

With regard to your numbr 2 item: Any charcteristic used in the inspection plan can have the limits changed if the link to the MIC is broken. When you add an MIC to a plan, it typically comes in greyed out with an icon of a chain link next to it. If you unlock the characteristic and break the reference, it is now independent of the original MIC. Changes to the original MIC are not reflected in the plan any longer. You are free to edit the characteristic in the plan as you choose.

It sounds like you have very variable inspections that are done on the decisions of people as they go through the process. Or that they are trying to limit master data requirements by trynig to design a one plan fits all type of process. I would suggest relooking at the basic design.

SAP doesn't like a lot of free lancing when it comes to inspections. There must be a set of rules, and if there are, then there are ways usually in SAP to apply them. But that requires master data support.

My intention is not offend anyone but from reading the thread now for awhile I have to question the basic design.

Craig

[Subh]

Hi Craig,

Thanks for the reply. You are right, about 10% of my inspection plans are made for customers who may sometimes deire to have an additional characteristic tested during delivery. As this is not a regular practice, i am exploring the possibility of adding characteristic in the way i discussed. If there is a more convenient way out, please let me know.

Regards

Sm.

[former_member42744]

This is always a problem. The question is, is the 10% of customers really worth the effort of doing handstands for them? If those 10% buy 80% of the product then yes. If those 10% buy 5% then no. Of course, companies don't like to hear that. But sometimes you are better off sending those 10% to your competitors!!!!!

In any case, if you have to deal with it, you have to deal with it.

When trying to do this on an ad hoc basis you have limited options. There is the ability for flexible inspection specifications in SAP. This was introduced for stability studies originally but in 4.7 they made it available for general use. You have to implement some BADI's to use them. But it is SAP supported functionality. You can read about it here in these release notes:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_47x200/helpdata/en/a5/fa4d40eae76f13e10000000a1550b0/16_qm_en.pdf

You won't find a lot of help on this in the online help files. It is reviewed in the course material for one of the SAP classes. i can't remember exactly which one. PLM412 or maybe PLM421? Not sure. It's not covered heavily, might just be an appendix for review and not actually covered. Its been a while since I've taught it and I don't have my instructors manuals handy to check.

If you don't want to go the flexible specs route you could set up the tests to be done at the time of delivery as a type 10 inspection. in this case, you only do the tests if the material is being shipped to the customer. This is ok if you have the means to access retains or pull actual samples from the shipment and your lab is working mostly the same hours that your shipping department is. Of course this also depends on the concept that you know in advance what the customers spec is well in advance.

Sales people shouldn't just promise a customer a spec without checking with the labs or other quality people. Seems like a simple concept but in practice it often doesn't happen.

Craig

[Subh]

Hi Experts,

Thank you all for your suggestions and informations. This thread is being closed.

Regards

Sm.

[former_member186399]

Dear SM

Changing the existing MIC from incomplete to complete will not affect the existing mics in the inspection plan, but if you try to change any inspection plan you will not be in a position to add specification. I would recommend you to create a set of complete Mics only for addition characteristic

Regards

Gajesh

[Subh]

Hi Gajesh,

"but if you try to change any inspection plan you will not be in a position to add specification"

Do you mean if i have an inspection plan using 2 complete model characteristics temperature and elongation and later i want to add a third complete model characteristic bursting strength, i shall not be able to do it ? Or is it that i cannot change the specification limits of the existing characteristics in the inspection plan?

Please clarify my understanding.

Regards

Sm.

Edited by: Sm on Jan 3, 2010 7:24 AM

[former_member587434]

>

 "but if you try to change any inspection plan you will not be in a position to add specification"
> Do you mean if i have an inspection plan using 2 complete model characteristics temperature and elongation and later i want to add a third complete model characteristic bursting strength, i shall not be able to do it ? Or is it that i cannot change the specification limits of the existing characteristics in the inspection plan?
> Edited by: Sm on Jan 3, 2010 7:24 AM

Please understand If MIC is copy model then it can not be modifiable at inspection plan level but if it is incomplete copy model then you can.

SO in your example if you have two MIC as complete copy model then you can't change specification of those MIC but you can add additional MIC, which should be complete copy model.

Hope this helps.

Thanks!!!

[former_member186399]

Dear SM

There is no other way other than maintaining those mics as complete

Regards

Gajesh

[Subh]

Hi Gajesh,

Thanks again. But please explain or suggest a link to understand what maybe the trade-off involved in changing the incomplete copy models to complete copy models ?

Regards

Sm.

[former_member587434]

Only complete copy model & ref characteristic will appear in additional chara. drop down list.

If char is incomplete copy model then it would not appear. Please check & let us know.

Thanks!!!

[Subh]

Hi Nehal,

Thanks for the reply. You are right that the list contains only complete models/reference characteristics. However, i cannot limit my choice to selecting from only those MICs and may need to add MICs with incomplete copy models in QA32 screen. Please suggeat how i can achieve this?

Regards

Sm.