Status

OwnerThe person responsible for driving this decision and documenting it. Type @ to mention people by name
StakeholdersThe persons consulted or otherwise involved in making this decision. Type @ to mention people by name

Issue

The purpose of this document is to provide an assessment of the two valuation approaches that we have currently in Syensqo. These are,  the revaluation on actuals with the use of the Material ledger and the so-called semi-standard approach. The objective is to collectively, business and IT,  assess what will be the approach that will be implemented in the S4 in relation to the above.

This document explores in detail the product cost approach and the integration with the manufacturing.


Decision

Optionally supplement with additional details or diagrams if required, else delete this 'Details' section.


Background & Context


We currently have two systems with two different valuation approaches and ways of working. These differences stem from mergers and acquisitions (M&As), where the acquired organizations used different valuation methodologies. Additionally, there were fiscal requirements that necessitated deviations from standard operating procedures. In this document, the two approaches are referred to as follows:

    • Re-valuation on actuals with Material ledger for PF1
    • Semi-standard for WP1

PF1 - An overview of the revaluation on actuals with Material Ledger

The Material Ledger consists of two main functionalities: actual costing and parallel valuation. A common misconception about the Material Ledger is that it refers solely to actual costing because actual costing tends to get the most attention. Therefore, when hearing the term “Material Ledger,” many immediately think of actual costing, not parallel valuation. Conversely, when the actual costing functionality is mentioned, it’s usually referred to generically as a “Material Ledger functionality.”  Furthermore, the Material Ledger falls within the CO menu, but it has as much impact on the FI module as it does in the CO module because of its impact on the inventory transactions that are posted to the general ledger

Actual costing generates a Material Ledger document and valuates all goods movements within a period at the standard price (preliminary valuation). At the end of the period, you calculate the actual price for each material based on the actual costs of the period. You call this actual price the periodic unit price, and you can use it to revaluate the inventory and COGS (and other consumptions) for the period you are closing. In addition, you can use this actual price as the standard price for the next period.

The revaluation on Actuals with Material Ledger makes it possible to use an actual cost system in addition to the standard cost system, because the values of the standard cost cannot be readjusted during a subsequent allocation. The Revaluation on actuals program with ML creates postings to the general ledger and relevant cost objects.

Assumptions

  • Currently we have two different approaches for assigning company codes to controlling areas in the two systems. These are, 
    • PF1: single controlling area 
    • WP1: Four controlling areas by Region (Europe, APAC, North America, South America) + one for Financial companies, total five controlling areas
  • In S4 we anticipate having a uniform enterprise structure. Especially on lower controlling objects like cost centers, profit centers, segments etc
  • In S4 we will have a single costing approach for all Legal entities. Local deviations are expected due to local fiscal requirements.
  • The product cost system will be S4
  • The implications of Universal Parallel Accounting, whether positive or negative, on the valuation question are not considered in this KDD. There will be another KDD to address Universal Parallel Accounting's new features and their overall implications for product costing.
  • Manufacturing is using Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) as well as planning systems, specifically Dynasys, and in the future, Kinaxis. MES and in some instances spreadsheets and manual input feeds SAP processes and production orders with confirmations and consumptions. 
  • Currently, in PF1 the confirmation is on std quantities and hour
  • Currently, In WP1, some plants confirm actual quantities and hours, while others do not.
  • Std prices are calculated in both systems
  • Activity prices are entered manually. Although in WP1, there is an activity calculation process, the capacities are loaded manually. Please see below on the additional information sections  


Constraints

  • In S4 material ledger is mandatory. but his does not imply that actual cost is mandatory.
  • If the transfer price functionality is implemented then actual costing has to be activated. Transfer price functionality is addressed to a separate KDD with the same title.


Impacts

Describe the impact of the decision on processes, infrastructure, other SAP modules or systems, data cleansing and migration, developments, automations, interfaces, in-flight projects, etc.


Business Rules

The decision may translate into business rules which enforce the decision and will require configuration. List these business rules here. For example, "An Outline Agreement cannot be created via the RFQ process. An awarded RFQ can only result in a Purchase Order". 


Options considered

List the options (viable options or alternatives) you considered. These often require a longer explanation with diagrams, or references to other documents (links are best, but attachments are also possible). Use enough detail to adequately explain what you considered so that a project or business stakeholder reviewing this decision will not come back and ask "did you think about...?"; this leads to loss of credibility and questioning of other decisions. This section also helps ensure that you considered enough suitable alternatives rather than just copy/pasting SAP's recommendations.

Option A: Option Title

Decribe the option in sufficient detail for a reader familiar with the subject matter to understand it properly


Option B: Option Title

Decribe the option in sufficient detail for a reader familiar with the subject matter to understand it properly


Option C: Option Title

Decribe the option in sufficient detail for a reader familiar with the subject matter to understand it properly


Option D: Option Title

Decribe the option in sufficient detail for a reader familiar with the subject matter to understand it properly


Evaluation

Outline why you selected a position. The best format could be a pro/con table (sample below), but is up to you as the author. You must consider complexity, feasibility, cost/effort to implement, but also ongoing operational impact and cost. You must consider the program principles and explain any deviations in detail. This is probably as important as the decision itself.



Option A

Option B
Option C
Option D
Criterion 1

(plus)Pro

(minus)Con

(plus)Pro

(plus)Pro

(plus)Pro

(minus)Con

(plus)Pro

(minus)Con

Criterion 2

(plus)Pro

(minus)Con

(minus)Con

(plus)Pro

(plus)Pro

(minus)Con

(minus)Con

Criterion 3(plus)Pro(minus)Con(minus)Con(plus)Pro

See also

Insert links and references to other documents which are relevant when trying to understand this decision and its implications. Other decisions are often impacted, so it's good to list them here with links. Attachments are also possible but dangerous as they are static documents and not updated by their authors.


Change log

Workflow history