Gerhard F. Knolmayer - Böcker

In recent years, Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become one of the most widely discussed issues on top management`s agenda. One essential precondition for the implementation of SCM concepts are powerful information systems. Many manufacturing companies deploy the logistics modules of the SAP R/3 system. In 1997 SAP enlarged its focus beyond Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and started an SCM initiative, which resulted in the Advanced Planner and Optimizer (APO) system. Today, APO has become one of the main components of the mySAP.com solutions. This book describes the principles and methods of intra- and inter-company SCM with reference to Release 4.6 of the SAP R/3 and to Release 3.0 of the SAP APO system. It also discusses potential future developments of these widely used software systems. The final chapter of the book contains an annotated overview of the most valuable online resources dealing with SCM.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is not a buzzword like many others in management and IT - it is here to stay. "Megatrends" such as globalization and increasing specialization result in a complex division of labor at national and international levels. Lean and agile supply chains have become a major management target, and the interorganizational coordination of business processes has become highly relevant. The complexity of today's supply chains cannot be mastered without the support of powerful information systems. SAP has established itself as the market leader in this type of IT systems. The book describes SCM using a pyramidal framework and relates it to the SAP SCM Solution Map. Desired features of IT support for SCM are formulated, and the extent to which SAP systems provide these features is shown. We describe the functionalities of SAP APO™ in detail, present case studies on implementing and running SAP SCM™ systems, and discuss SCM aspects of the new SAP Business ByDesign™ approach.

In recent years, Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become one of the most widely discussed issues on top management`s agenda. One essential precondition for the implementation of SCM concepts are powerful information systems. Many manufacturing companies deploy the logistics modules of the SAP R/3 system. In 1997 SAP enlarged its focus beyond Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and started an SCM initiative, which resulted in the Advanced Planner and Optimizer (APO) system. Today, APO has become one of the main components of the mySAP.com solutions. This book describes the principles and methods of intra- and inter-company SCM with reference to Release 4.6 of the SAP R/3 and to Release 3.0 of the SAP APO system. It also discusses potential future developments of these widely used software systems. The final chapter of the book contains an annotated overview of the most valuable online resources dealing with SCM.