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zpoints Production Order Integration
 

Optimising the logistics of production brings about high benefits for performance improvements in production. This should be made use of. With zpoints you are a big step closer to the target.

zpoints – znt Production Order Integration System – offers a complete integration of the Production Automation Systems into the SAP environment.

zpoints is a “composite application” based on SAP NetWeaver (SAP WAS 6.40, XI, Portal), which integrates production planning, stock control and production control systems into a fully automated logistical process.

zpoints is the core of the solution which znt has realised for the TRW Airbag Systems GmbH. At TRW there are 40 production lines in two plants that are completely integrated in SAP with zpoints. The article describes the product zpoints and our experiences with the new SAP technologies.

zpoints, Component of the znt automation components

The znt automation components zac have been developed out of practical experiences of many customers’ projects in different industries. The spectrum covers:

zac znt Automation Components

 

zpoints, Production Order Integration System

The initial situation in many companies: The business processes on the company level are mapped in a very appropriate way via SAP R/3. The production is automated to a large extent and well supported by process control systems. Between the ERP level and the production level, one has the classical “swivel chair” with a colleague on it, transferring the data manually between the systems.

zpoints supports and assists you in the optimisation of the business processes in the field of the production logistic

  • Improved data quality
  • Reducing of current stock via consumption messages in real-time and implementation of stock ground
  • Safe, timely material supply for the production lines
  • Avoidance of unnecessary picking
  • Integrated Monitoring with zcon

In the zpoints scenario, the orders will automatically be dispatched into the production control system based on the planning together with the picking lists. Consumed materials and finished products will be confirmed automatically in real-time upon completion. The planning in SAP can, but does not have to be made with APO. 

  • Takeover of the order positions from SAP, maintenance and automatic dispatch into the control system
  • Generating of the consumption postings from the raw data of the control system.
  • Order completion, evaluation of consumption
  • Administration of the material stock in the separate stocks


An important function of the integration level is a much differentiated administration of the material stocks in the line stocks, which calculates the material range of coverage and reorders them automatically.

This component is optional and can be customised, since there will always have company specific rules for the material selection as well as for quantity tolerances.

System architecture

zpoints is realised based on SAP NetWeaver (WAS 6.40, XI, Enterprise Portal 6.0) corresponding to the Enterprise Service Architecture.

zpoints can thus be implemented completely into the Enterprise Service Architecture of SAP.

The GUI of zpoints is realised as a browser-enabled web-surface based on SAP WebDynpro. Therewith zpoints can be operated both as stand alone and as fully-integrated in a SAP Enterprise Portal.

All system interfaces are implemented as WebService. These are linked preferably over the SAP Exchange Infrastructure (XI), but they can also be operated using other Middleware products (e. g. Biz-Talk) based on the open WebService Standards. It can be also made available, corresponding to the Enterprise Service Architecture Concept, the services of the application to all other applications via XI.

The product zpoints is realised as a Java / J2EE application within the Java personality of the application server SAP WAS 6.40.

The application is designed in several layers:

The Presentation Layer is realised as WebDynpro application. With WebDynpro, SAP provides a Rich GUI Web-Technology, which from the ease of use, exceeds by far the possibilities of previous HTML surfaces. The business logic of the application is realised as Java application at SAP WAS.

Benefits using zpoints

  • The optimisation of production logistics is for many companies a decisive factor for productivity enhancement.

  • Use zpoints in order to reach your targets.

  • With the application of SAP NetWeaver, zpoints is implemented optimally into the future Enterprise Service Architecture.

  • znt-Richter continually develops the functionality of znt automation components and the products grow with your needs.

We will be happy to assist and inform you when planning your production optimisation.
The corresponding data sheet is ready for download here.