Laboratory control

Construction of inspection order

When using the SAP standard functions an inspection lot is only generated when the associated production or process order of the SAP ERP system is released (socalled 'early inspection lot creation' in the SAP ERP), or in the case of materials procured externally, the goods have been delivered. The release of a process order normally occurs about one week before start of production. Therefore, in the SAP standard the possible plannig horizon for the lab is only one week. Within production planning however there are usually production plans available over several months, arising from the arrival of customer orders and from sales planning. This state of affairs is used by the OR Soft laboratory control software.

Inspection orders are used for displaying the impending laboratory tasks. The following areas can be planned in particular:

• Bulk inspection
• Goods-in checking (incl. limited inspection scope)
• Packaging inspection
• Microbiological inspection
• Special inspections as part of vendor certification
• Stability testing

Definition of inspection order

An inspection order is therefore a virtual data object, which extends the conception in the SAP standard and enables planning based on the production and procurement plan. It combines information from master data (inspection plan) and transaction data (fixed planning orders, process orders, purchase requisitions, order objects and inspection lots) and renders them usable for planning. When changes occur, for example in the deadlines of the transaction data, the data on the inspection order are also updated automatically.

Scheduled interval for inspection order

An inspection order is considered to be part of the supply chain. Building on the information from production planning a pegging algorithm determines the required date for the laboratory inspection.
This function allows definition of deadlines even for socalled "un-free" packaging, which is given when continuing production stages are also carried out without (primary) release.
With the aid of the picture one can see what the deadline situation will look like for a simulated or real inspection order. If free packaging is used, the "SET" date must be observed. If unfree packaging is used, it can be seen that the time interval is extended up to the completion of the laboratory inspection as far as the "SET requirement" date.