How to evaluate the complexity of Variant Configuration needs

[Former Member]

Hi Experts,

I need to estimate the complexity of implementing SAP VC in a project, but I only have some basic knowhow about VC.

Here are some points I think need to be found out to define the complexity, I came from sales point of view

1. How complicated the BOM of Product

2. How many level of configuration in the product

3. Number of Price relevant Attribute / Attributes value

4. Number of Packages (combinations variants ) would be used in Sales

5. Number of factors / attributes which could effect the consistency

if the complexity can be divided into 1. simple 2. middle 3. complex 4. very complicated ,

is there any more criteria can be used to evaluate ?

Could some one give me some comments or suggestions ?

Thanks a lot!!!

[former_member184627 · Accepted solution]

Hi Recke,

Also check the below:

1. Total no of configurable products

2. Object Dependencies (rules) to be created, whether some rules are applicable for all products or if each product has its own set of rules to be created

3. Pricing is usually an important part to be considered. Whether it is simple one to one relation. for Eg: you select a characteristic value & it brings in a price from the variant condition or if there is a separate logic to calculate multiples / add extras etc when multiple values are selected.

4. Same applies if the component qty needs to be changed in the BOM based on multiple characteristic value selection.

5. Check if material variants can be used

6. How price upload/changes are done

7. Reports required

Regards,

Senthilkumar SD

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Senthikumar,

thanks a lot for ur reply,

--- about 3. what do u mean

"there is a separate logic to calculate multiples / add extras etc when multiple values are selected."

I know in standard you can define a variant condition to calculate e.g. if the attribute "cable type " is selected, then the price would be based on the this type , mulitply the lenth of the cable.

if it is not the case, could u provide an example ?

--- about 4, how should I address the question to the customer ? it sounds like some special requirements on how the attributes values are defined. Is this point similar to your point 2?

--- what do u mean by point 6 price upload ? and point 7 what kind of reports ? for evaluation purpose ?

--- in addition, would production also relevant ? the working plan could also be VC dependent

thanks!

[former_member184627 · Accepted solution]

Hi Recke,

Reg: 3: For e.g. If Char A is 1, Char B is 2 & char C is 3, then we may may have to select one particular variant condition. Hence a obj dependency needs to be created using all these combination.

Also, some times if there is product where say 10 pieces of same type go in. There may be 10 diff characteristics. which refer to same variant condition. If 5 pieces are selected, then the variant condition needs to be multiplied by 5 times. So check their pricing methodology, when the values are selected.

Reg: 4. Similar to the above based on characteristic values, the component qty may need to multiplied 5 times. check how the component qty is determined.

Price upload/calculation: How frequently they change the price in variant conditions/rules to select the var condition. The business needs to be informed that if there is any change in business rule, then the corresponding object dependency to fetch the price needs to be changed.

Reports: Whether business required any reports apart from the standard reports.

Regards,

Senthilkumar SD

[ravi_kumar204]

Hi

Check the below points.

1) Total Number of Configurable products and sub-models.

Even though there is a one configurable material based on the models, complexity will increases as it may require to differentiate the product components.

  Ex : Bicycle is KMAT then models will be

          1) Nomal

          2) Sports

          3) Mountain....

2) Pricing factors, Such as Basic price and discounts.

  Here you need consider the combination of chars to arrive the price / discounts.

3) What are the limitations / rules / validations required to manufacture  each configurable product..

This details can be obtained from the product catalogs / design documents / brochures etc. These will act as inputs for Dependencies require to map the products.

4) How many material variants required.

5) How many Characteristics, Classes are required to map the products.

Production point of view:

1) Configurable materials - Super BoM and its components (No. of raw materials / components required for each configurable material)

2) Super BoM components qty. determination steps.

3) Components BoM (raw material) qty determination steps.

4) How many production orders will be created for one configurable material model?

    Ex: For a Single Sales order line item apart from the super bom production order, how many production orders required to manf. the components of super bom.

5) How many Configurable Routings required?

6) How many variant tables, dependencies required to modeling the product in Sales (Rules, User Interface, Sales BoM, Pricing) and Production (components selection & Qty. determination)

Regards,

Ravikumar B

[Former Member]

Hello Ravi,

thanks for your detailed explaination.

Still some questions

---- about Point1 in Production, what do u mean by (No. of raw materials / components required for each configurable material) ? do u mean components which itsself is again a configurable material ?

---- Production 2,3 do u mean the qty of components and raw mat. are determined by variant conifiguratiion, but how

----- Point 6, since customer is not using sap yet, thus, could u tell how to translate this point into the business word ?

Thanks!

[ravi_kumar204]

Hi Recke W,

Reg: 1 Variant material Bicycle Super BoM has 500 Nos. of BoM Components (raw materials / accessories / consumables etc.,)

Reg: 2 For each component we need to determine the Qty. calculation procedure in system. Ex. Bicycle handle qty. = 1.

Reg: 3 It may require to manf. Bicycle – Handle internally. So it will have its own BoM with raw materials.

Like this we need to determine the approx. how many Super – BoMs & Sub - BoM’s. required.

Reg : 6) What are the limitations / rules / validations required to manufacture  each configurable product.

These details can be obtained from Discussions with process owners / design dept. / product catalogs / design documents / brochures etc. These will act as inputs for Dependencies required to map the products.

Regards

Ravikumar B