Knowledge Management

Question:
Perhaps this is TOO basic for anyone to spend time on, but I'd appreciate some help, if you know how to do this.
Here's the problem:
A quota arrangement exists for one material between two vendors; our carrier needs to know which one to go pick the goods from.
How can I signal the carrier, as well as the vendor, who gets the order each time - automatically? I'm thinking to just send the carrier a copy of the PO too. (We used to just send the PO to the carrier and they would notify the vendor and make delivery arrangements, but with the new use of SAP and our auto fax program, the message now goes directly to the Vendor.)
The PO should go to the vendor with a 'copy' going at the same time to the carrier so that they can go to the right place for the pick up. However, there are some complications on that:
1. The carrier should NOT be able to see the PO price(s) on the goods.
2. The process of sending the PO to the vendor now is automated with a fax being sent regularly, the same time each day. This needs to remain exactly like it is.
Is this as simple as setting up the carrier as a Partner, linking them to the vendor(s), and then including them in the print output process? I realize it would require setting up a new Output type (something like PO Copy) - but I'm not sure what else would be needed.
Suggestions? Thanks in advance.
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johnsap
Answer:
Hi,
From what I experienced so far in many companies, it is of the company's procedure that PO will not be sent out (even the copy) to any other vendor rather than the material supplier due to information confidentiality and this is logical since as you said no sensitive pricing information should be disclosed to any other party. What most of companies would do is to send out the separate e-mail or fax informing their nominated vendor of shipping details (ETD Port of Loading, ETA Port of Arrival, shipping specifications - containerized or loose cargo etc...). However, in the event that this is a must you should send a copy of your PO to your freight forwarder, then partnering functionality must be set up in the vendor master of your material vendor. However, there is one apparent disadvantage that in practice, you don't know in advance who will be the freight forwarder/carrier of your particular vendor and therefore, this can not be set easily in SAP for automatic vendor determination for which the output type determination is made. Let me know if you would like to do it.
Cheers,
HT
Answer:
Ha Tran, you are on the right track. It's not as complicated as it may seem on the surface.
1st - the Vendors are used to the carrier getting a 'non-priced' copy of the PO we have with them (our vendor) - that's what we did before we created our auto fax program.
2nd - this is all domestic with one carrier per situation . . . we won't need to have any 'decisions' made by SAP, just an association of the carrier with the vendor (partner functionality - I assume) - then somehow trigger a non-priced PO copy to the carrier.
3rd (and lastly) - The Vendors (of the commodity item) know this is happening and don't have THAT much care - they don't mind the occasional mistakes where they get to ship more to us, but all in all, they probably will be happy to have us get it right. There are no real secrets other than the pricing. The carrier IS sensitive to this as it's HIS reputation on the line and we are inclined to punish him for the mistakes (even our own .
So - yes I would like to go through the process of setting up the carrier as an additional "vendor" to receive the 'limited' (no price) output along with the message being sent (in ALL of its detail) to the real vendor. There will be no forwarders, no 'multiple' carriers, nothing fancy . . . just one carrier that needs to be linked to more than one vendor to receive this message.
Thanks in advance.
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johnsap
Answer:
OK, here's what you should do:
Create an output type 'Copy PO', linked to partner function of vendor, as a fax output.
Create an output type 'Carrier PO' (where you leave out the prices), linked to partner function of carrier, as a fax output.
It's as simple as that.
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