Neckarsulm, 2 July 2013. - Full-service IT provider TDS, which offers SAP-based industry solutions for process manufacturers, has extended its portfolio to include a solution for the seamless, user-friendly integration of weighing systems with SAP ERP. The SAPWeigh/3 solution developed by TDS partner, AKR, allows chemical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food and beverage manufacturers to integrate their weighing systems with the production planning module SAP PP and the corresponding user interface in full compliance with GMP and 21 CFR Part 11. Through close collaboration with AKR, TDS is able to offer a complete, one-stop solution for integrating weighing systems - from consulting and planning to hardware, licences, implementation and user training.

Seamless integration

In addition, the new module integrates fully with myTDS.Process, TDS' SAP-based industry solution for process manufacturers. This further extends the wide range of add-ons from TDS that allow customers to tailor their SAP ERP software to the unique requirements of their business. The seamless integration of weighing systems with SAP ERP allows data to flow freely, ensures compliance with tolerances in the weighing process, significantly reduces manual data entry and associated errors, and in many cases, makes a two-man rule unnecessary. Other benefits include the graphical representation and real-time digital display of measurements, visual alerts if the weight is too high or low, and the calculation of active ingredient concentrations and excipients based on the metered quantities. Furthermore, scanner integration enables barcodes to be read and data directly captured from them. Customisable forms for weighing logs and label printing are also available. A simulation tool allows the integration of the weighing solution and its impact on manufacturing processes to be tested without actually using any scales.

Validation made easy

SAPWeigh/3 requires a version 4.6B or newer SAP ERP system. TDS' complete, one-stop solution also includes the MTOPC-Box from AKR. This uses the SAP ODA interface (which does not require certification) to integrate with the SAP software. As a result, integrating the weighing system does not impact the validation of the overall system. Moreover, the solution meets all calibration requirements.

The Windows workstations employed for weighing operations require no other software besides the SAP GUI application and a Java runtime system. Thanks to its modular design, the functions and features of SAPWeigh/3 can be tailored to customer requirements, and all changes are documented via the SAP transport system. To provide a dedicated audit trail, the solution additionally logs all weighing activities - including those not saved as part of the production process.

Integration into production and process orders

The weighing system is integrated into the production processes via a production or a process order (PP or PP-PI). This is the leading object for all processes and the assigned object for all postings. Direct status requests ensure that only approved orders can be used. To support complex, iterative production procedures, SAPWeigh/3 offers an optional split module for managing weighing orders. This combines individual orders to create a master that provides a link to the corresponding production or process order.

Straightforward role and authorisation management

A dedicated authorisation object makes it easy to carry out authorisation checks directly from the standard SAP system. It enables both transactions and individual activities within a transaction to be defined and assigned to SAP users as roles. In addition, SAPWeigh/3 maintains a user management system for the weighing solution. This reduces costs - for example in shift operations where not all weighing staff have SAP access.

"SAPWeigh/3 helps us to reduce complexity and substantially cuts the cost of integrating the weighing solution with SAP ERP," reports Iris Schroers, Industry Manager for the process industry at TDS. "What's more, our solution is GMP and 21 CFR Part 11 compliant, which means it has minimum impact on the validation of the master ERP system. So quite apart from the chief benefit of integration - which streamlines planning and production processes - customers also enjoy a rapid return on investment," she says.

distributed by