MDO supports several types of workflows:
- Parallel Workflows
- Determination Workflows
- Decision Workflows
Example 1 – Parallel Workflows
Parallel workflows are when a workflow step goes to more than one user/role at the same time for approval.
Scenario:
Step 1: Requester is creating a new material.
Step 2: The material must go to the following roles:
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- Maintenance Manager where they can enter maintenance details.
- Warehouse Manager to fill Warehouse Management System (WMS) details.
- Procurement Manager to manage supplier contracts.
Step 3: The material goes for final approval.
Solution:
Assign all the users/roles to those involved in the second workflow step (Step 2 above).
Example 2 – Determination Workflows
Determination workflows are used to determine which step of the approval process a record should go to. This is based on the values entered for a field(s).
Scenario:
Step 1: Requester is creating a new material.
If the material type is ‘Spare Parts’, the process continues to Step 2. All other material types will go directly to Step 3.
Step 2: When the material type is ‘Spare Parts’ the material must go to the following roles:
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- Maintenance Manager where can fill maintenance details.
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- Warehouse Manager to fill WMS details.
- Procurement Manager to manage supplier contracts.
Step 3: The material goes for final approval.
Solution:
- Configure material type as the workflow reference field.
- Create second step as a determination step.
- In the second step – specify determination criteria (Say for material type! = ERSA select the step the workflow should go to if the condition is satisfied (in this scenario step 3)
- Create remainder of the required steps.
Example 3– Decision Workflows
Decision workflows are used to determine to which user/role a task should go for approval from the list of users/roles assigned to a step.
Scenario:
Step 1: Requester is creating a new material.
Step 2:
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- The material must go to Maintenance Manager where material type is ‘Spare Parts’
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- The material must directly go to Inventory Controller when the material type is ‘Finished Products’.
Solution
- Configure material type as the workflow reference field.
- Enable decisions for the required step.
- In the Decision Combination mapping section select Material Type as ‘Spare Parts’ and the assigned user as Maintenance Manager.
- Repeat for all the required combinations.