Tài liệu Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses doc

Report Development Tools 5–1
Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Contents
What Is the Logistics Information System (LIS)?................................................5–2
Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses .........................................................5–2
Creating a Standard Analysis................................................................................5–9
Getting the Most from LIS Standard Analyses: Tips & Tricks.........................5–22
Review ...................................................................................................................5–24
Where to Learn More............................................................................................5–24


5
In this chapter you will learn
how to:
 Select data for Standard
analyses
 Navigate within an LIS
Standard analyses
 Choose which key figures
to display
 Customize or control how
the data is displayed (for
example, formats)
 Run a statistical analysis
(for example, an ABC
analysis)
 Access document data
from within a Standard
analysis
Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses

What Is the Logistics Information System (LIS)?

Reporting Made Easy

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What Is the Logistics Information System (LIS)?
The LIS performs the following functions:
< Collection or creation of data for reporting purposes
< Presentation of the collected data
The LIS collects the data in transparent tables (that is, tables that physically exist and contain
data in the R/3 database) called information structures. For more information on
information structures, see page 5–3. How the data is collected (or created) is beyond the
scope of this guidebook (see TechTalk below). Our focus will be on how the LIS presents the
collected data.
The LIS provides users with the following presentation tools:
< Standard analyses
< Flexible analyses
Both Standard and Flexible analyses only present data that is contained in the information
structures. It is important to note that these tools do not present data from any other tables.
In this chapter, you will learn about Standard analyses. Flexible analyses are covered in
chapter 6.


To get the LIS ready for use, the following questions must be answered during
configuration:
< Which data is collected?
< How is the data collected?
< When is the data collected?
This task is performed in the Implementation Guide (IMG) and is generally regarded as

a configuration step.

Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses
Standard analyses is a presentation tool used to display the contents of LIS information
structures. An online drilldown tool, Standard analyses analyzes data primarily from the
Logistics application components, such as sales, purchasing, inventory, etc. in the R/3
System.
A Standard analysis is based on LIS data contained in special tables called information
structures. With a Standard analysis, you can easily retrieve the business information
available in the information structures.
Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses

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In each Standard analysis, you can specify the range of the data to be analyzed by using
various selection options. You can either predefine the data of the information structure
or choose the data interactively during the analysis.

The R/3 System is delivered with SAP-defined information structures that are automatically
activated during installation. If no further configuration is needed (see TechTalk below), all
you need are some transactions in the system, and you are ready to run a Standard analysis.


Although the data dictionary objects called information structures are activated during
installation, it does not mean that the information structures are automatically going to
collect data.

In the standard R/3 System, there are many tables that are delivered “active” but are
empty. Filling these empty tables requires configuration or processed transactions in the
system.
Similarly, information structures are always delivered empty. Some of these information
structures can begin to collect data immediately when transactions are processed
because certain configuration settings are “generic.” However, other information
structures require specific configuration settings. Certain configuration “switches” need
to be set for the system to populate the information structure with data.

Terminology
It is helpful to be familiar with some of the essential terms and concepts used with Standard
analyses.
Information Structure
An information structure stores aggregated data resulting from transactions. The three types
of data stored in an information structure are:
< Characteristics
< Key figures
< Periodicity (period unit)


An information structure is a transparent table. For each information structure that is
generated, a separate database table is created. Among them are Sxxx and SxxxE , where
xxx represents the number of the information structure (see appendix E). Some of the
tables related to LIS can be found in the data dictionary beginning with the name TMC.
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Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses

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Information structures are special tables but they are different from the document tables.
While the document tables store detailed information about your documents (such as sales
orders and invoices), the information structures store data aggregated by characteristics and
period unit.


Example: S001 (in the Sales Information System) is an information structure. It contains
data related to customers (for example, sales orders, deliveries, and invoices).

Characteristic
A characteristic is a dimension of your business for which you collect data (also the
aggregation or subtotal levels).
Examples of characteristics include sales organization, purchasing organization, plant, sold-
to party, vendor, storage location, material group, and material.
Key Figure
A key figure is a measure of the business data you are collecting.
Examples of key figures include, incoming order value (booking value), incoming order
quantity (booking quantity), invoiced sales value, invoiced sales quantity, PO order
quantity, PO order value, goods receipt quantity, valuated stock quantity, and valuated
stock value.
Periodicity (or Period Unit)
The period unit used for aggregating the data stored in the information structure. The
period unit can be daily, weekly, monthly, or by fiscal period (using the fiscal year variant
established by the finance team). Do not confuse this with periodic loads of data.


Note: Some information structures do not appear to have periodicity. In such cases,
these information structures are actually built from the data contained in other
information structures. As the source information structure itself contains a periodicity,

the target information structure “inherits” the periodicity of the source information
structure.

Initial List
An initial list is the first screen of your analysis. The initial list provides an overview of the
characteristic values for the key figures, according to previously chosen selection criteria.
Drilldown List
A drilldown list shows a particular characteristic value. Several drilldown options exist,
depending upon the analysis selected.
Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses

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How to Access LIS Standard Analyses?
How you access Standard analyses largely depends on the type of user you are.
For example, does your work mostly include:
< Processing transaction data?
< Processing master data?
< Running reports?
< Logistics-related activities?
< A mix of Logistics and Human Resources?
One of the menu paths commonly used to access LIS Standard analyses is shown below:
Logistics
→
Logistics controlling
→
(application area of your choice), then Standard analyses
→

(available analyses)


Note: You can also access LIS analyses transactions from the General Report Tree. For
more information, refer to chapter 3 in book 1, Fundamentals of Reporting of this
guidebook series.

In the LIS, the application areas noted in the table on page 5-6 contain Standard analyses.
These information systems within the LIS are commonly referred to as the XXX component of
the LIS (where XXX represents the abbreviated or component information system name
shown in the table on the next page). Examples: The SIS component of LIS, or the LIS-
Inventory Controlling Information System (INVCO).


Most reports and reporting capabilities within the R/3 system are under a particular
information system. However, the term information system can be a likely source of
confusion. This chapter deals with an information system called the LIS which is
uniquely characterized by the following components:
< Information structures
< Standard analyses
< Flexible analyses
The LIS should not be confused with other information systems in the R/3 System, for
example:
< Human Resources Information System
< Executive Information System
Although there are some similarities between the LIS and the other information systems,
each information system has its own unique features. Beyond the basics, each information
system requires specialized learning.

Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses

Reporting Made Easy

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Component Information System
(Abbreviation)
R/3 Application Area Some of the Available Standard Analyses
Inventory Controlling (INVCO) Materials Management-
Inventory Management
Plant, Storage Location, Material, and
Batches
Purchasing Information System
(PURCHIS)
Materials Management-
Purchasing (including
External Services
Management)
Purchasing Group, Vendor, Material
Group, and Material
Sales Information System (SIS) Sales and Distribution Customer, Material, Sales
Organization, Shipping Point, Sales
Employee, and Sales Office
Shop Floor Information System
(SFIS)
Production Planning Work Center, Operation, Material, and
Production Order
Plant Maintenance Information

System (PMIS)
Plant Maintenance Object Class, Manufacturer, Location,
Planner Group, and Damage Analysis
Quality Management
Information System (QMIS)
Quality Management Lots and Notifications by Material,
Vendor, and Customer
Retail Information System (RIS) SAP Retail Perishables, Physical Inventory, and
Rough Workload Estimate
Warehouse Management
Information System (WMIS)
Materials Management-
Warehouse Management
Stock Placement/Removal, Flow of
Quantities, Material Placement
Removal, Material Flows, and
Movement Types
Service Management
Information System
1
(SMIS)
Service Management Object Class, Manufacturer, Planner
Group, Damage Analysis, Object
Statistics, Breakdown Analysis, Cost
Analysis, and Problem Notifications


1
Service Management is an information system for the Service Management application module that uses concepts
which are similar to the Plant Maintenance and Sales Information Systems.

Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses

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How Does LIS Standard Analyses Differ from Other Reporting Tools?
Standard analyses differ from other reporting tools in the R/3 System in several ways.
Information structures are the centerpiece of the LIS. Standard analyses read the data from
these uniquely structured database tables. While other reporting tools/techniques may be
used to read these tables, or to display their contents, the Standard analyses tool offers the
best capabilities.
Integration
Standard analyses are tightly integrated with the rest of the R/3 System. For example, the
classification system (a cross-application functionality that allows a user to categorize
objects, for example, vendors, into groups as desired by the R/3 customer) can be read in
real-time and incorporated into the Standard analyses.
The Standard analyses tool, along with the Early Warning System (see below) can be used to
start a workflow task (for example, starting a workflow by sending a workflow task to a
single user or a group of users) when the specified number of service notifications for
particular equipment is reached.
Planning
With Standard analyses, you can view both the “what-if” scenarios and current data in the
same manner. In addition, you can do a comparison between the current data and the
“what-if” data.
Graphics
Standard analyses can generate graphics such as Gantt charts, Time-series graphics,
Cumulative curves, Correlations, ABC analyses, Classifications, Dual classifications,
Comparisons, 2-D, and 3-D. The initial list (see the graphic on page 5–9) is simply that—an
initial list of data that can be displayed to the user. Once inside the Standard analyses,

reports of the report can be viewed to slice-and-dice the data in a variety of ways.
Exception Analysis (Early Warning System—EWS)
When running a Standard analysis, (either online, at-will, or in the background on a
periodic basis), the Early Warning System (EWS) permits the output, or a certain action, to
occur according to the user’s instructions. This functionality, for example, can be used to
achieve proactive reporting. While one may find other reporting tools that support some
form of exception reporting, the simplicity and the power behind the LIS EWS in Standard
analyses is unparalleled.
Enhancements
The Standard analyses have SAP-delivered customer exits that may be utilized to enhance
and include customer-specific requirements. Standard analyses offer exceptional method
enhancements, list enhancements, and general customer enhancements. For more
information on enhancements, refer to the R/3 online documentation.
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Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses

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Archiving
Output from Standard analyses can be archived. Few other reporting tools in the R/3
System offer a similar level of archiving capabilities.
User Settings
In Standard analyses, it is possible to see a report based on, for example, the vendor, and
then the vendor country. Using User settings you can set the drilldown paths (and default
currency of a report and time period of report, etc.). What sets Standard analyses apart from
other reporting tools is that with Standard analyses you can either set the drilldown path for
all the users at a global level or for a specific user.
What Are the Prerequisites?

There are three main prerequisites to using Standard analyses:
< Know the application and the type of analysis you want: Before running a Standard
analysis you must know which logistics module you are interested in analyzing and
what type of information you want to analyze. For example, if you are interested in a
vendor analysis, you have to know that vendors are part of the Purchasing component.
Similarly, if you want to do a customer analysis, you must know that customers are part
of the Sales component.
< Make sure there is data to analyze: Remember that information structures collect data
as transactions occur. Therefore, there must be transactions in the desired component for
any data to be available for analysis.


If data does not exist, then the two most common causes are as follows:
< The data is collected only when transactions occur. Therefore, there must be
transactions in the desired component for any data to be available for analysis.
< The information structure is not fully configured to collect data.

An information structure must exist and be active.

The mechanism and configuration required to put data into the information
structure must exist and be active.

Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Creating a Standard Analysis

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Creating a Standard Analysis
In this section, you will learn how to create a Standard analysis. This systematic approach is

built around a sample report (see the graphic below). Take a minute to familiarize yourself
with the scenario and the sample report.


Example: Analyze the sales according to customers (sold-to-party) in the Sales
Information System. Create an initial list of the customer analysis showing sales order
and invoice information. Then, use Standard analyses to interactively view the list in
different ways.

The example illustrated in this section uses Release 4.5A. Although there are some minor
differences, the basic concepts and approach is applicable to earlier releases as well.
Shown below is the initial list for our example. In the following pages, you will see how this
initial list was created.

Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Creating a Standard Analysis

Reporting Made Easy

5–10

Follow these steps to run a Standard analysis:
1. Decide which data you want to see.
2. Determine the Component Information System that is likely to contain the data.
3. Enter the selection criteria for the Standard analysis.
4. Run the Standard analysis.
5. Create an initial list.
6. Slice-and-dice the data as needed.
Slice-and-dice data
as needed

Slice-and-dice data
as needed
6
Create an initial list
Create an initial list
5
Run the standard
analysis
Run the standard
analysis
Enter the selection
criteria
Enter the selection
criteria
Determine the component
information system
Determine the component
information system
Decide which data you
want to see
Decide which data you
want to see
1
2
3
4



Guided Tour

Step 1: Decide Which Data You Want to See
Before you can create a Standard analysis, you must know which data is to be included in your analysis.
The type of data you need depends on the type of analysis you want to perform.
In our example, the data must include customers (sold-to-party), sales orders, and invoice information.
Step 2: Determine the Component Information System
Next, you must determine the application component where the desired data is likely to reside. Use the
table on page 5-6 to help you determine the relevant application.