Do you include instrument loops in SAP PM? If yes, do you use register them as equipment master and then link them using functional location structure? TQ

Hi Josh,
In my experience we have implemented instrument loops into our functional location structure quite successfully. We have a six level functional location structure and the instrument loops slot in from level 4- process control, level 5 - instument loops, level 6 - actual loop number. It all depends on how you've set your structure up. What I don't recommend is creating instruments as rotable equipment in SAP, depending on the size of your organization this can become very difficult to manage due to the number of instuments that are replaced. If the instrument is very expensive and repair history is required then it is a good idea to create it as a rotable equipment to track costs, we do this on the exceptional basis.

By the way we've also successfully implemented a calibration management system using SAP4.6 PM. Please contact me by mail if you'd like to hear more about that.

Regards
Craig

Thanks Craig for the imput. May I know what do you mean by rotable equipment? Yes I would like to know more about your calibration mgmt system in SAP 4.6. Presently we manage the calibration using maint plan which auto-triggers PPM orders at specified frequency but the problem is the validity date after each revalidation by extenal party always changes due to delivery duration etc. TQ

Hi Josh,
Firstly, Rotable equipment as we have configured it for SAP 4.6 refers to repairable equipment for which equipment master records are created in SAP. We manage these by using the Install/Dismantle function with Equipment Masters and Functional Locations. However in terms of instrument loops we have chosen to use functional locations rather than equipment masters. Maintenance of instrumentation is rather different to that of mechanical equipment and perfomring an install/dismantle transaction for every instrument replacement is more work than it is worth for our company (unless the instrument has a large monetary value).

Secondly, from what I can gather you have a difficulty with the scheduling of calibrations due to the delivery duration of the calibrations. (Are they done by an external party?) We have the same problem and it is one that we manage differently depending on the situation. Re-scheduling maintenance plans must be mangaged carefully because it can be easy to lose track of changes that have been made. Our calibrations are driven mostly by Environmental and ISO accreditation. If an instrument is calibrated at an opportune time when the plant is down and this occurs at a time that does not co-incide with the maintenance plan; a manual call is performed from the maintenance plan and the plan is re-scheduled to the next date or we just perform the calibration again at the planned time anyway.

The real enhancement we have on SAP 4.6 is that we've configured the system so that we can record the results of the calibration for each work order in SAP and print a certificate which is signed and filed for our auditors to check. This works well for us as we perform many of our own calibrations.

Once we've confirmed with our auditors we may be able to switch to a paperless system which is completely traceable through the work order to the instrument fucntional location (including the serial number of the instrument installed).

By the way where are you located?

Regards
Craig

Thanks for the reply. Now Oknow what you mean by rotable eqpt. Basically we are doing it the same way for the FunctLoc, eqpt master & maint plan. How to contact you by email to know more about the calibration mgmt in SAP? Are you going to charge fees for this? TQ

Hi Josh,
Sorry for the late reply. I am currently quite busy on the Condition Monitoring aspect of my job so I haven't spent much time on SAP. Please let me know what details you would like on our calibration config. It would be best if you could see it, I am based in South Africa on the east coast. I don't believe in charging for the sharing of my knowledge but I must consult with the relevant parties at my company to discuss what our intellectual property clauses entail.
I don't beleive that this should be a problem.

Regards
Craig

Dear Craig, I tot u r a vendor or consultant who normally look for business. Of course people like u & me enjoy sharing knowledge for free. Anyway, which SAp functionality you use to manage your instrument calibration? Maybe you can show me by some screenshot capture for calibration and your instrument loop structure in SAP? TQ

CraigR, can you kindly post one example of your instrument loop here or what is your email address if cannot?

ATC, have you used object link & Network to represent instrument loops in SAP PM?

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