Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I completely remove an FSE database, including all services and resources?

How do I setup and use supplied (subcontract) POs?

When a BOM is exploded for a either a manufactured or a subcontract (i.e., supplied PO) item, the system computes a "start date" for the job, and then determines which components were effective as of that date.   The start date is determined by the formula:

For example, if the due date for a manufacturing job is Friday, June 27, and the lead time is 3 days, then the start date will be Tuesday, June 24.

Once the start date is determined, the BOM is filtered for components that are active on that date, using the In-Effectivity and Out-Effectivity dates on each line.   The In-Effectivity date determines when the component becomes effective, and the Out-Effectivity date determines when the component is no longer valid.   Components are considered active when the start date falls between the In- and Out-Effectivity dates.

A common mistake is to forget to set In-Effectivity dates when new BOMs are created.   The default In-Effectivity date for a BOM is today's date.   Therefore, if there is a non-zero lead time, then the component will not be effective today.

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Several steps are required in order to completely remove an FSE database.   In the steps below, the xx refers to the FSE suffix in the database name "FSDBxx".

1. Backups:  
   Before completely removing a database, you are strongly encouraged to take backups of all applicable files and save them on external media (e.g., CD, tape ) before starting this process!
2. SAP Administration tasks:
   1. Login to the FSE/SAP company to be removed.
   2. Navigate to Administration > Add-on Administration.
      1. Highlight the FSE Add-on on the right, move to the left side, select update, and OK.
         Note: Do NOT remove the Add-on entirely, if other FSE databases will remain.
   3. Navigate to Administration > Licenses.
      1. If required, release any user logins that are unique to this database.
         Note: Deleting an SAP database with user logins that do not exist on other databases may result in a "lost license".
   4. Logout of SAP.
3. Remove the services:
   1. Stop the MAINxx service, from Windows Administrative Tools > Services.
   2. Delete the MAINxx service: Open a command prompt, type 'sc delete MAINxx'
4. Registry updates - delete MAINxx entries in the registry:
   1. Hkey_Local_Machine > Software > Fourth Shift > DeferredTask > xx
   2. Hkey_Local_Machine > Software > Fourth Shift > LockServer >CurrentVersion > xx
   3. Hkey_Local_Machine > Software > Fourth Shift > MAINxx
   4. Hkey_Local_Machine > Software > ODBC.INI > ODBC Data Sources > FSDBxx
   5. Hkey_Local_Machine > Software > ODBC.INI > FSDBxx
5. Windows Directories:
   1. Stop FSE Distributor service, from Windows Administrative Tools > Services.
   2. Delete these directories:
      1. M:\MFGSYS\xx
      2. M:\MFGSYS\FSExx
      3. C:\FSUSER\FSExx
   3. Restart FSE Distributor Service, from Windows Administrative Tools > Services.
6. SQL Enterprise Manager or SQL Management Studio
   1. Delete FSDBxx database.
   2. Expand FSECommon database > Tables, right-click and open FSEC_Company and delete FSDBxx row.
7. Login to SAP > select Change Company > Refresh

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Keep in mind that the words "supplied" and "subcontract" are used pretty much interchangably.   Personally, I prefer the term subcontract to describe this process, for two reasons.   First, subcontract implies that there's an off-site manufacturing process.   This is exactly the case, and the BOM reinforces that aspect.   Second, I like referring to the item received back from the vendor as the "subcontract" item, and the components as the components "supplied" to the vendor.   It just makes more sense to me that way.

1. Setup
   1. Create a new item on the Item Master Data screen as the supplied item:
      Item Detail > Make/Buy code = Supplied
   2. Add the components to be sent to the vendor to the Bill of Material for the supplied Item.
   3. Add Item and Workcenter cost Standard Cost record for the supplied item.   Enter the cost you expect to pay the vendor to perform this function in the Added-At-This-Level (ATL) Material cost.
      Note: On a rollup of cost, the system will sum the cost of the components plus the supplied item ATL Material cost to the supplied Item Rolled Material Cost, becoming the Total Rolled Cost.
2. Create Subcontract PO
   When you create a subcontract PO, the system will explode the Bill of Material to an order dependent bill (order qty times component bill qty).   The order dependent bill is the material you will send to the vendor.   This order dependent bill can be viewed and issued from the Issue Material Purchase Order screen.
   1. Add the vendor number.
   2. Change the item/service type to: Service
   3. Enter the parent subcontract item number in the Supplied Item field.
   4. Enter a description of the work to be done in the description field.
   5. Enter the quantity for the order in the Supplied Quantity field.
   6. Enter the total order amount in the Unit Price field (quantity times vendor's unit price).
   7. Enter the component(s) in the Supplied Materials field separated by a comma.
      Note: This has no functional effect on the order, but it would facilitate printing reports that display the items supplied to the vendor.
   8. Save the order.
3. Issue Components to the PO
   When you issue the material to send to the vendor, the system will debit external WIP the cost of each component times quantity issued.
   1. Open the Purchasing Management folder > Issue Material PO screen, bring up the saved order and issue the components.
4. Receive PO
   When you receive the parent from the vendor, the system will credit external WIP for the Rolled Material cost of the supplied item and debit external WIP for the ATL material cost of the supplied item.
   1. Open the Goods Receipt PO screen:
   2. Select the vendor
   3. Change the Item/Service type to "Service"
   4. Do a "copy from PO" and select the subcontract PO
   5. Complete the Draw Wizard
   6. Open (right-click in body) the Lot and Bin Selection screen.
   7. Click on the row to be received in "rows from Document"
   8. Click on a Bin in the available bins section and move (using ">") to the selected bins.
   9. Enter the receiving quantity and update.
   10. Press OK and do the Add on the Goods Receipt PO screen.

• ATL material for supplied = 5.00.
• Rolled material for supplied = 5.00 + 10.00 + 3.00, $18.00.
• Bill of Material for PAINTED has two components at 1 each, RAW & PAINT.
• Subcontract PO is for a quantity of 3.
• Order dependent bill displays 3 each of RAW & PAINT.
• Issue 3 of RAW, debit to WIP = 10.00 x 3, 30.00.
• Issue 3 of PAINT, debit to WIP = 3.00 X 3 = 9.00.
• Receipt of PAINTED, credit to WIP = 18 X 3 = 54.00 and debit to WIP 5.00 x 3 = 15.00.
• Total debits = 30.00 + 9.00 + 15.00 for a total of 54.00. Credit to WIP = 54.00. no balance in WIP.

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