The QM module is integrated in the following logistical processes in the R/3 System:
- QM in Procurement
- QM in Production
- QM in Sales and Distribution
Material Master Record
The material master record is the most important integration element for the application components in Logistics.
The material master record (short form: material) contains the material status that influences critical business processes in the logistical chain. The material status is present in the views of all relevant components.
The specific view in Quality
Management for the material is activated in Customizing for the material
type. The QM view contains controlling functions for QM in procurement,
as well as the control of inspection lot processing.
Quality Inspection and Lot
The quality inspection and the inspection lot play an important role in these processes.
The inspection lot data records or inspection lots, as they are more commonly called, fulfill a number of different functions from the time they are created until they are archived. Most importantly, they document an inspection requirement; an event has taken place that makes it necessary to carry out a quality inspection. During the inspection process, the inspection lot becomes the central control record that documents the current status of the inspection. It is the repository for all inspection data, including the inspection specifications, inspection results and usage decision.
Quality inspections are usually not triggered by the quality
department. In most cases, the request for an inspection comes from
the various applications in the logistics chain (for example, from materials
management or production). In such cases, the affected modules in
the R/3 System create the inspection lots and place them at the disposal
of the QM module. Of course, the quality department - or another department
with the proper authorization - can also create inspection lots manually.
QM in Procurement
The QM Procurement contains functions that allow you to integrate the tasks of Quality Management with the procurement processes in your company. Using these functions, the Quality department in your company can influence or control the following activities when materials are procured from external suppliers:
- Selecting suitable vendors
- Processing requests for quotations
- Processing purchase orders
- Processing goods receipt inspections
QM in Production
During production, it may be necessary for you to carry out a several individual inspections at different intervals or as a result of certain events. With QM in Production, you can process inspections during a production operation (while manufacturing discrete parts) or a process phase (while producing process goods).
The inspection characteristics in SAP QM are integrated
in the work scheduling and production processing functions of the Production
Planning component.
QM in Sales and Distribution
The Quality Management component supports Sales and Distribution by processing quality inspections and creating quality certificates for deliveries. A quality inspection for a delivery allows you to check the quality of a material or product before it leaves the manufacturer's or vendor's premises.
