SAP Data Lookup for HD3D Visual Reporting. Routing ERP information, managed inside SAP, into the NX CAD framework to establish HD3D Visual Reporting as supporting dahsboard tool for enabling faster and smarter decisions. Review of the implementation of HD3D Visual Reporting at GEA Farm Technologies GmbH.

1. GEA Farm Technologies
Review of implementation Matthias Ahrens – Technical Solutions Architect 100164 BU Dairy & Farm Equipment - BU-Support 2014-11-10
NX HD3D Visual Reporting reads SAP ERP data

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Extend the utilization of the HD3D visual reporting capabilities of the SIEMENS PLM NX 3D CAD system.
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Embrace business relevant ERP data, managed inside SAP system, into the scope of information sources for HD3D.
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Provide visual analysis capabilities for project relevant business date to engineers and project managers to support faster and smarter decision process.
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Establish NX HD3D Visual Reporting tool as extension to spreadsheet based reporting processes.
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Within the product development process support the transition step from early concepts designs into first lot serial production.
Intent of implementation

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The system landscape of the GEA segment Farm Technologies consists of a strong SAP backbone, which is utilized to manage and guide all ERP relevant data and processes.
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To support early product development phases a 4Tier Teamcenter PLM backbone is in place with a connection to NX as CAD authoring tool.
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Entire architecture is spawning multiple departments across various global locations.
The system landscape
SAP
T4S
Teamcenter 8.3
NX 7.5
Product design: Mainly plant neutral
Production execution: plant specific

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In comparison to other processes (e.g. ETO) the GEA Farm Technologies is running a product development process, which is starting parallel to the autonomous product execution process.
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The product development process ends with adopting the new product into the standard catalogue of product offerings.
The process landscape
Product development process
Production execution process

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During the product development process exists a phase where the design and leadership will leave the CAD / PDM framework and will handed over to the ERP framework.
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In this stage technical date like drawings and Bill Of Materials have to be handed over and have to be synchronized.
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From that point on the ERP is leading and every change has to be processed according to ERP requirements.
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The regular review of ERP and other business data is important to get accurate information for faster and smarter decisions.
The PDM (PLM) – ERP handshake
Early Concepts
Relevance
Final Production
Area of interest for implementation of HD3D Visual Reporting & SAP Data Lookup inside NX CAD

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ERP Information, which are of interest during the phase of handshake
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Plant specific material status
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Plant specific procurement type
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MRP group
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In-house production time
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Vendor
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…
Project relevant information inside ERP

7. 7 2014-11-10 / NX HD3D Visual Reporting reads SAP data / M. Ahrens GEA Farm Technologies
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Two major architectural concepts were evaluated to feed HD3D Visual Reporting tool inside NX CAD.
a)
Routing of SAP data via Runtime Properties with the T4S interface into the Teamcenter PLM framework and make them available for NX CAD.
b)
Generate an additional SAP Data Lookup tool in VB.NET, which gathers SAP data and add them temporarily to the NX CAD assembly component.
Comparison of technical concepts
SAP
T4S
TC
NX
SAP
T4S
TC
NX
UG Open
Concept a)
Concept b)
Advantages: Standard tools Disadvantages: High stress on T4S interface by permanent runtime property gathering. Processes sap data lookup on component level.
Advantages: Full customizable! Less stress on T4S interface! Can be applied on demand! Processes numerous data lookups in one shot. Disadvantages: Custom programming

8. 8 2014-11-10 / NX HD3D Visual Reporting reads SAP data / M. Ahrens GEA Farm Technologies
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An additional, customized SAP Data Lookup application for NX was created inside UGOpen, which is utilizing SAP RFC calls to gather data directly from SAP ERP and populating component attributes.
Technical solution: Concept b)

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The application was design with UGOpen to get NX look and feel.
Technical solution: SAP Data Lookup application

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The application creates temporarily component attributes.
Technical solution: SAP Data Lookup application

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These component attributes can be used in HD3D Visual Reporting.
Technical solution: SAP Data Lookup application

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As lookup key a part attribute is used, which contains the SAP Material ID, which is more common used in terms of ERP processes.
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By the SAP Data Lookup application and another customized application, which can use EXCEL spreadsheets as source, the data visualization scope of HD3D was expanded.
HD3D Visual Reporting source information

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By the capability to gather nearly every relevant ERP information, stored inside SAP, and other project related information, which are managed by EXCEL spreadsheets, the HD3D visual reporting application of NX becomes a cross domain spawning business data visualization tool.
HD3D Visual Reporting as information dashboard

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There were no SOAP or other web based SAP connectors available.
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A technical challenge was the difference in the application architectures. SAP client is 32 Bit while NX is 64 Bit.
SAP Data Lookup: Technical challenges
UGOpen VB .NET DLL
.XLSM with SAPLOGON
SAP Data Lookup
RFC
MS EXCEL Interop.

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A macro enabled EXCEL workbook, referencing a SAP Logon control object, is called by the NX UGOpen VB.NET application.
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The SAP RFC function “RFC_READ_TABLE” is utilized and the query options are defined in the UGOpen VB.NET application script.
SAP Data Lookup: Technical solution

16. 120614-01-13 / PLM Implementation at GEA FT / M. Ahrens