Sap MRS
Sap MRS
Sap MRS
MRS is one of the critical area of SAP where hardly any consultant available. In this
post I have tried to explain end to end step for implementation of SAP MRS and also
guide you to integrate with SAP PS and HR module.
Introduction
Introduction to MRS
Multi Resource Scheduling (MRS) is a solution for resource management in the
service and in the project business With Multi Resource Scheduling you are able to
visualize your service planning status and assign requests to your service staff and
tools using an intuitive graphical planning board.
Main Features of MRS:
Get an overview of your current planning status; including scheduled requests,
resource utilization and open work lists
Use a graphical planning board, supported by an alert monitor, to interactively
dispatch open service requests to your available resources
Use an optimization engine to automatically create an optimized schedule
Take advantage of analytics to:
Determine your overall request status
Understand your resource utilization
Support your field service efficiency:
Reduce commute times by integrating Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Make use of mobile connectivity to update the requests for your field service
personnel
MRS 700 Introduction
A new release of MRS (MRS 700) is available since November 2009.
Some main functions and features of this release are:
Additional deployment options like:
This is achieved by decoupling the old Add on into two: Add on for Netweaver and
Add on for ECC.
The NW add on can be installed on any Netweaver platform.
The ERP Add on can be installed only on ECC 6.0 and required MRS Netweaver Add
on as prerequisite.
Integration with CRM Service Orders
MRS 700 can be integrated to CRM Service orders.
MRS 700 Netweaver Add on can be deployed on a CRM instance also
Support of Multi Back end demand systems
Demands from multiple PM/CS systems can be integrated into one instance of MRS
Support of HR Qualifications from c-Pro
In addition to MRS qualifications, the HR qualifications can also be used in c-Projects
Planning Scenario
Enhancements in MRS Optimizer
Optimizer provides new logging feature
Optimizer provides functions to schedule optimization from outside the planning
board too.
Configuration Guide
Configuration guide to MRS
1 Basic Settings
a. Status
Why do we really need an abstract status?
In SAP, all the statuses are 4 Character statuses and these are language dependent.
Moreover, this 4 character status can be customized also. The system statuses are
delivered by SAP and the user statuses are customized at each customer location.
So, a status that represents 'Work has started' for an assignment could be
customized differently at each customer location. I can call it STRT and you can call
it BEGN.
If in MRS we were to code some logic that depends on statuses, then it would be big
mess if we coded based on the 4 character statuses STRT or BEGN (because they
would be different for different customers). So inside MRS we use "Abstract status"
which can be mapped to the concrete statuses.
Thus the MRS code always depends upon the abstract status and on the UI, we
always continue to show the 4 character concrete statuses (because this is what is
shown in all other SAP applications and users are comfortable with this)
In this customizing step, there are mainly 2 settings to be maintained.
1. Define Abstract Status
Define abstract statuses for e.g. Work_Started.
2. Assign Status
Map this status to a concrete 4 character status like STRT or BEGN.
Important points to note:
You can assign exactly one abstract status to a concrete status. However, an
abstract status can be mapped to multiple concrete statuses.
b. Define RP Node and Evaluation paths
In this customizing node you will define the object type the system will use as
Resource planning node and the related evaluation paths.
Here, I will explain the R/3 Scenario (because I have no experience of other
scenarios ).
The object type: The object type used as 'Resource planning node'. It can be O, 9O,
A or anything else that customer likes.
Resource planner and Contact persons: Define here the object type used to identify
a Resource Planner and Contact Person. You can chose between P(Person) or
US(User). If you specify Person, the system retrieves the contact data for the
resource planners from the HR master record. If you specify User, the system
retrieves the contact data for the resource planner from the user master record.
Evaluation paths for Authorizations: Specify the evaluation paths that should be
used for evaluating the user authorizations. Here, from the user the system will
identify the Org units using these evaluation paths. The resulting org units are the
ones for which the user is authorized. These evaluation paths are used only if in the
basic settings you have activated "Authorization check based on Evaluation paths".
Evaluation path for resources: This evaluation path is used to determine the
resources from a resource planning node. So when you double click on an org unit in
planning board, the resources are fetched based on this evaluation path.
Evaluation path for Resource planner and contact person: This evaluation path is
used to determine the Resource planner and contact person of a Resource planning
node. In the resource planning scenario for project business, we enter the Org unit
number in network header customer enhancement tab. At that point, this evaluation
path is used to determine the names and details of contact person and resource
planners.
EP: Resource planning node to Resources: The name here is slightly confusing. This
evaluation path is used to determine the resource planning nodes to which a person
is attached. This is used at the time of authorization checks. For a person, this
evaluation path will find the planning nodes to which this person is attached. If the
resource planner is not authorized to plan these planning nodes, then he cannot
create / change the assignment or time allocations for this resource.
Eval Path for higher level RP nodes: This evaluation path is used to find the parent
org units for a given org unit. This is used at many places. For instance during the
authorization checks also to determine if the planner is authorized for higher org
units.
EP: Dir assigned RP Node for Resource planner: As the name suggests, this
evaluation path will get the directly assigned resource planning node for a resource
planner. This is used in transaction /MRSS/PLBOTIME to find the RP Node for the
current user. It is also used in the lean planning board transactions.
EP: Dir assigned RP Node for contact person: As the name suggests, this evaluation
path will get the directly assigned resource planning node for a contact person. This
is used in the transaction /MRSS/RAP_CP.
Log. Work center to RP Node: This evaluation path is used to find the work center
connected to a Resource planning node. This EP is used to determine the work
center during the back integration. For example if you change the assignment to
planning node for a demand in planning board, the appropriate work center must be
written back.
RP Node to work center: This evaluation path is used to find the Resource planning
node from a given work center. This EP is used in the forwards integration of PM/CS
and PS demands. Here, from the work center of the activity or operation the system
determined the planning node and assigns the demand to that planning node.
Work center to higher level RP Node: This evaluation path is used to determine the
work centers for a selected and higher level resource planning nodes. This
evaluation path is used in the search help of work centers. The search help shows
the complete resource planning node hierarchy and the work centers under that.
Person to Work center: This evaluation path will find the persons attached to a work
center. This EP is used during the automatic assignment creation to determine the
resources from a work center.
Work center to Person: This evaluation path finds the work center for a person. The
system uses this EP during the back integration to determine the technician work
center of the resource.
2 Customize MRS Basis
a. Time Allocation Types
Time Allocation types are defined in the customizing node MRS Basis->Define Time
Allocation Types.
To know about what are time allocations, read the page Time Allocation.
Here, you define the types of individual time allocations and determine the
parameters required to calculate the time availability of a resource. The time
availability of a resource is calculated using the sum of all time allocations (for
example, Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 18:00 and Friday from 8:00 to 14:00).
Each assignment can have a specific type, such as WORK for working time, ILL for
illness, and so on. You can assign the following attributes to each time allocation
type:
"Available" or "Not available"
A standard priority
An exception indicator for the time allocation that specifies that this time
allocation type does not form part of basic availability (normal working times)
Example
You define a time allocation type for illness. You define a time allocation type "ILL"
for the absence type illness. Since a resource is not available when ill, you assign
the availability 0. You then define the standard priority of this absence.
You have defined a value range from (-64) to 64 for your priorities, where (-64) is
the lowest priority and 64 the highest. Since employees are never available when
they are ill, you assign the time allocation type the priority 64.
Since ILL does not form part of the "normal" working times, you mark it as an
exceptional time allocation type.
You then enter "ILL" as the short text and "ILLNESS" as the long text.
b. Assign Time Allocation Types to Resource Types/ Time allocation Type for Tools
The time allocation types defined in the previous step must be assigned to resource
types. Then only they can be used in planning board.
Step 1: Create a new check class. Let's call it ZCL_MY_CHECKS. This class must
implement the interface /MRSS/IF_SGE_CHECK. Here you need to define all 4
methods of this interface.
CHECK_PERFORM : This method is called when the planning board is launched. This
method imports all the data from the planning board and this data can be used to
create alerts.
INITIALIZE : This method is called at the initialization of the planning board. Here
you can populate some global variables etc. This method will import the reference
of Alerts, Resource manager, Work list and Clocking interface. These references will
be used to get the global buffered data of MRS application.
IS_TIME_DEPENDENT : This method is called to check if a particular check class is
time dependent or not. Here, you just have to return the RETURNING flag as 'X' or '
'. If 'X' is returned then it means that the checks in this class will be called at a
periodic interval of time. It is useful if you have certain checks that depend on time.
So these checks have to be carried out at a regular interval of time.
CHECK_PERFORM_CHANGE : This method is called whenever a object (assignment,
demand, time allocation etc) is changed in MRS engine. This method imports the
changed data object of type : /MRSS/CL_SGE_DATA_CHANGED. Here, to identify if an
assignment was changed or demand was changed, you can use the attribute
GV_OBJECT_TYPE of this changed object.
The methods of object for alerts (imported in INITIALIZE method above) must be
used to create, modify, delete alerts. Check the methods provided by interface:
/MRSS/IF_SGA_ALERT_INT.
In your coding, you should only call the methods of this interface to create or modify
alerts.
Step 3 - Customization:
Add you class to list of check classes. This will be done in: Set Up Scheduler
Workplace -> Workplace Profiles -> Check Profile -> Define Classes for Performing
the Checks. When you do this, your class will also be called when ever checks for
alerts are called.
Add your check class in your check profile. This check profile is in turn linked to the
planning board profile. This is done in: Set Up Scheduler Workplace -> Workplace
Profiles -> Check Profile -> Define Check Profiles
Define your new alert type in customizing: Set Up Scheduler Workplace ->
Workplace Profiles -> Alert Profile -> Define Alert Types
Define your new alert message number in your alert profile. This is done in
customizing: Set Up Scheduler Workplace -> Workplace Profiles -> Alert Profile
->Define Alert Profiles
That's all. Then launch your planning board and your checks and alerts are active.
Planning board
1 Optimizer
Before you kick start to test the work center scheduling functions, please make sure
that all the steps described in Set up Planning board in 15 minutes! are completed.
After that follow the below steps:
Step 1: Define the duration of work center breaks in MRS customizing. This is
defined in: Set Up Scheduler Workplace->Define Breaks for Work Centers.
Note: This is an optional customizing.
Step 2: Run the work center transfer report /MRSS/SGE_PN_MNT. Enter the work
centers that you want to transfer.
Step 3: Create new PM/CS Orders or PS Networks (capacity planning relevant) and
save them. Maintain some relationships also between different operations /
activities.
Step 4: Launch the planning board with transaction /MRSS/PLBOSRV with the orders
that you have created in previous step. Switch to Demand Planning layout from the
Planning board menu to see the work center capacity information.
Here, you should see that the work center capacity and dispatching information is
shown on the planning board.
Step 5: Move any of the operations ahead in time. Trigger scheduling for the Order.
Check that other related operations should also move accordingly. Also, the capacity
of the work center must be calculated accordingly.
What have we tested?
With the above steps - we have validated following points:
The Planning board functions normally without major errors.
The Work center integration is working fine.
The capacity calculations are working fine.
The scheduling functionality works as expected.
Troubleshooting:
The work center cannot be seen on the planning board - Check that you have
successfully transferred the work center as described in step 2.
The capacity utilization of the work center is shown incorrectly for the old order Save the order again and then relaunch the planning board. It should work fine. If
you still get problems - raise a flag!
4 Set up planning board in 15 minutes!
You have just installed MRS on your ERP system and now you want to kick start your
planning with MRS. It is easy and basic tests can be done in just 15 minutes !
Step 0: Check if the system is ready for tests. Check the following points. If one or
more checks fail - write a mail to the system administrator and get it resolved
before proceeding for testing.
Check in table T000 if the logical system for the defined for the testing client.
Check that the system is open for customizing changes and correction changes.
If the testing client is not delivery client (000) then make sure that the delivery
customizing is imported before you proceed.
Step 1: Make sure that you have employees created in your SAP HR system and
make sure that the work schedule is created.
Step 2: In transaction PPOME check that the resources are assigned to the org units
(positions).
Step 3: Customize settings in MRS (transaction /MRSS/IMG). Note: Maintain only the
settings described here. Do not maintain / change any other MRS customizing. This
will be a test to check if the delivery customizing is maintained correctly or not!
a) HR Integration->Configure Settings for HR Integration - Define the work and work
break entries here. The entry should look like this:
Mapping HR Time data to MRS Time allocations
b) MRS Basis->Define Time Allocation Types - Define the time allocation types
WORK and WORK_BREAK here. The entries should look like this:
Maintain time allocation type
c) MRS Basis->Assign Time Allocation Types to Resource Types - Assign the time
allocation types to the Human resources
d) Sources of Demand->Orders->Define resource planning relevance for PM/CS
orders - Define the Order integration here.
e) Basic Settings->Assign ERP Objects->Assign Work Center Types - Assign the work
center category (Of the work center to be created in step 6) to WCPN (WC for
Planning node). This is required so that during the forward integration, the linked
Org unit for a work center can be found.
Step 4: Run the availability transfer report /MRSS/HCM_RPTWFMIF for the resources.
Step 5: Implement the note 1380802 (if you are running MRS 700) for PM/CS
integration. Make sure that no manual corrections are required. The note
implementation should be automatic.
Note: If you are running MRS 610 use note: 1135513 instead of 1380802.
Step 6: Check that in CR03, the work center (that you plan to use) has the HRMS
link to the org units.
Step 7: Create a sample order from transaction IW31 and save. If you want to
integrate the existing orders, then just open and save the order again.
Step 8: Launch planning board via transaction /MRSS/PLBOORG. You should see the
resources and their working times transferred. You should also see the sample order
created in Step 7. Drag and drop the demand on the resource. The assignment must
be created.
What have we tested?
With the above 15 minute test - we have validated following points:
The minimum required customizing is maintained correctly.
The MRS integration works
The resource availability is transferred correctly.
Troubleshooting:
The Order I created does not appear on the planning board - Check the customizing
in step 3-d. Confirm the note in step 5 has been correctly implemented. Check that
the work center is correctly created as described in step 6. If you still don't get the
order... raise a flag!
I can see the resources in planning board but the work timings are weird - Check
your customizing in steps 3-a, 3-b and 3-c. If necessary, delete the resource data
using the same report and run the availability transfer report once again after
correcting the customizing. If you still don't see the correct data... raise a flag!
5 Test PS Integration of MRS
For setting up the PS MRS Integration, the Step 0 to Step 4 you can contact me.
Step 5: Implement the note 1135512 for PS integration. This note has automatic
corrections as well as manual steps to be followed.
For the time being, just skip all the manual steps. Only follow the automatic
corrections. Thus we will test the work center planning integration (Integration
based on Work centers). Later on we will implement the manual steps also and we
will thus activate the resource planning integration.
Step 6: Check that in CR03, the work center (that you plan to use) has the HRMS
link to the org units.
Step 7: Define PS Integration relevant customizing in MRS:
a) Sources of Demand->Networks (Projects and WBS Elements)->Control Integration
of Projects and WBS Elements in MRS - Here define if you want to integrate Projects
and WBS elements or not.
b) Sources of Demand->Networks (Projects and WBS Elements)->Define resource
planning relevance for networks - Here define if the network activities are relevant
for MRS integration or not.
Note: In the Process variant field, the entries: Contact Person Process, Resource
Planner Process and Background Resource Planning Process are all relevant for
Resource Planning. They are NOT relevant for work center planning.
Hence for the time being, always select Not Relevant for Resource Planning.
Additionally, we also have separate check boxes for Resource planning and Capacity
Planning (in the end). For the time being use only Capacity Planning check box for
steering the integration.
Step 8: Create a Project, WBS Elements, Networks, Activities, Activity elements and
relationships between them. Save the Project in CJ20N.
Step 9: Launch the planning board via transaction /MRSS/PLBOSRV. Here you should
see the complete project hierarchy that you have created in step 8.
What have we tested?
With the above steps - we have validated following points:
The minimum required customizing is maintained correctly.
The MRS Integration works
The work center and other configuration is maintained correctly.
The integration notes are implemented correctly.
Troubleshooting:
The Order I created does not appear on the planning board - Check the customizing
in step 7. Confirm the note in step 5 has been correctly implemented. If you still
don't get the order... raise a flag!
6 Test PS Resource Planning Integration of MRS
After testing the PS Integration for work center planning, it is not time to test the PS
integration for Resource Planning. After you have successfully completed the
previous steps, follow the below steps now:
Step 1: Implement the note 1135512 for PS integration. This time, you have to
implement only the manual steps given in the note. Follow all the steps given in the
long text of the note.
Important: If you have note implemented the automatic corrections yet, please
implement them also.
Step 2: Define PS Integration relevant customizing in MRS:
a) Sources of Demand->Networks (Projects and WBS Elements)->Control Integration
of Projects and WBS Elements in MRS - Here define if you want to integrate Projects
and WBS elements or not.
b) Sources of Demand->Networks (Projects and WBS Elements)->Define resource
planning relevance for networks - Here define if the network activities are relevant
for MRS integration or not.
Note: In the Process variant field, the entries: Contact Person Process, Resource
Planner Process and Background Resource Planning Process are all relevant for
Resource Planning.
Additionally, we also have separate check boxes for Resource planning and Capacity
Planning (in the end). Use the Resource Planning check box for steering the
integration.
c) Make sure that the status profile for networks has a status STPL defined. This is
done in SPRO transaction.
d) Basic Settings->Assign ERP Objects->Status->Assign Status - Here, map the
abstract status START_PLAN to STPL.
Step 3: Create a Contact Person and Resource Planner for the Organizational units
that you want to use. This can be done in transaction PPOME.
Step 4: Create a Project, WBS Elements, Networks, Activities, Save the Project in
CJ20N.
Note: Now you should see an additional tab in the network header and network
activity screens named 'Customer Enhancement tab'. This tab is of the most
relevance for MRS integration.
Set the flag Start of Planning in network activity screen and save the network.
Step 5: Launch the planning board for your selected org unit. Here you should see
your network and the resources also.
Step 6: Test all the scenarios of PS Resource planning process.
What have we tested?
With the above steps - we have validated following points:
There are no errors in delivery customizing.
The PS forward integration works (In the case of Resource Planning).
The integration notes are working fine.
Troubleshooting:
The Order I created does not appear on the planning board - Check the customizing
in step 2. Confirm the note in step 1 has been correctly implemented. If you still
don't get the order... raise a flag!
The 'Start of Planning Flag' is cleared automatically - Check the status customizing
in step 2. Pay special attention to the status language in customizing.
7 Test Work Center scheduling functions
MRS is also capable of Work Center Scheduling or Capacity Planning. This feature is
available from SP03 release onwards.
Before you kick start to test the work center scheduling functions. After that follow
the below steps:
Step 1: Define the duration of work center breaks in MRS customizing. This is
defined in: Set Up Scheduler Workplace->Define Breaks for Work Centers.
Note: This is an optional customizing.
Step 2: Run the work center transfer report /MRSS/SGE_PN_MNT. Enter the work
centers that you want to transfer.
Step 3: Create new PM/CS Orders or PS Networks (capacity planning relevant) and
save them. Maintain some relationships also between different operations /
activities.
Step 4: Launch the planning board with transaction /MRSS/PLBOSRV with the orders
that you have created in previous step. Switch to Demand Planning layout from the
Planning board menu to see the work center capacity information.
Here, you should see that the work center capacity and dispatching information is
shown on the planning board.
Step 5: Move any of the operations ahead in time. Trigger scheduling for the Order.
Check that other related operations should also move accordingly. Also, the capacity
of the work center must be calculated accordingly.
What have we tested?
With the above steps - we have validated following points:
The Planning board functions normally without major errors.
The Work center integration is working fine.
The capacity calculations are working fine.
The scheduling functionality works as expected.
Troubleshooting:
The work center cannot be seen on the planning board - Check that you have
successfully transferred the work center as described in step 2.
The capacity utilization of the work center is shown incorrectly for the old order Save the order again and then relaunch the planning board. It should work fine. If
you still get problems - raise a flag!
MRS Tutorials
1 Work Center Planning in MRS
It is also possible to do work center planning (also referred as rough cut scheduling)
in MRS. This function is available since MRS 610 SP03 release.
The important functions of MRS rough cut scheduling are:
Visualize the capacity (utilization) at the work center level
Drag and drop operations to schedule them
Undo-Redo function available - Simulate your results and finally save them
Drag and Drop dispatching at resource level (create assignments)
In order to use this function, you must first transfer the work center to MRS. This is
done by executing the report: /MRSS/SGE_PN_MNT.
2 Travel times in MRS 610
The current version of MRS - MRS 610 is equipped with lot of new features. You can
now visualize the travel time for your technicians if they are traveling to a customer
location to complete the work.
MRS can also calculate travel times automatically.
3 Screen Layouts in MRS
For e.g. you can customize a layout to show only the resource gantt and the item
work list, OR you could customize a layout to show only the DPD (Demand planning
and dispatching) Gantt.
You can switch between different layouts easily and you can also default a layout in
your user settings.
4 Create Assignments in MRS
You can create assignments via drag-drop or by drawing on the Gantt chart. You can
also move them. You can undo and redo your work multiple times and then finally
save your work.
Enhancements in MRS
In this section, you can find how to enhance SAP solution MRS to cater to your
custom needs.
This section will explain about the MRS BADIs and enhancements, how they can be
implemented and in which scenarios which Badi needs to be implemented.
Change the sort sequence of resources in planning board
Lot of customers wonder if they can change the sequence of the resources in
Planning board. The standard planning board by default sorts the resources based
on their name.
However, if you wish to change the sort sequence, then you can do so. There is no
customizing option to do that, but a BADI is available that can be used to change
the sorting sequence.
Implement the BAdi: /MRSS/SGU_SORT_RESOURCES_SEQU (Enhancement spot:
/MRSS/SGU_ES_SORT_RESOURCES).