Concept of catalog profile is SAP PM is an important master data. It contains all catalog groups. Please go thru this blog post and get all answers to yuor queries on catalog profile in SAP PM. You will feel more confident after reading it. It contains “What”, “How” and “Examples” on the topic.
What is Catalog profile in SAP PM?
Catalog profile in SAP PM mean grouping. Grouping is the first word which should come in your mind when someone asks you about catalog profile. It is a grouping of code groups from several catalogs (ex: Cause, Damage, Object Part, Activity) that have been grouped together as allowed values to capture technical findings while processing a notification. Below picture shows the relation between Catalog Profile, Catalog, Catalog group, codes and code text. Knowledge about these relations and assignment helps in sequence of configuration in SPRO.
What is the use of Catalog profile?
In maintenance department end use who can be a supervisor or technician or Welder or Fitter enters the root cause of incident, tasks and activities performed to fix the machine in the maintenance notification. User enters the root cause and technical findings in the form of catalog codes. At the time of data entry users want to see only those catalog codes which are relevant to the equipment or functional location. To get the relevant and meaningful catalog codes we will use catalog profile in SAP PM. It helps to build a good quality of maintenance history and root cause analysis. These catalog codes then used in maintenance reports such as IW65, IW64, IW68. These reports can help to take important business decisions such as improvements in plant and machinery and reduce count of maintenance incidents.
Real example from industry
A real example of catalog profile in SAP PM equips an SAP Consultant with good knowledge and consultant feels confident in interviews and client facing role.
There is a refinery. During the routine round of plant a field operator observes an abnormal sound in a motor and he informed the prodcution incharge. The prouction incharge created a maintenance notification with reference to motor (equipment, functional location) and provided with the description of abnormality with the motor. The maintenance engineer and technicians will go to the field and take necessary action. Once maintenance job is finished in the field, the maintenance engineer will enter the root cause, technical findings and maintenance history in the form of catalog codes. When he goes to the drop down menu of catalog, (say Cause), he will get a list of code group and codes (provided there is a catalog profile assigned to notification type in SPRO) which are relevant to motor. Now he can select the relevant code and assign it to notification. For example: Object parts -> Bearing, winding, cooling fan, fan cover, rotor etc
How to set up catalog profile in SAP PM configuration?
To get the drop down first you will have to define the catalog code groups and code with code text in QS41. You can read my another blog to understand the process of creating catalog code groups and code texts.
Once the code groups and code with text are defined. We will go to SPRO and define a Catalog profile. here is the step by Step process to define a Catalog Profile in SPRO:
- Step 1: Go SPRO.
- Step 2 : Then click on Reference IMG button at the left most corner.
- Step 3: This will open the SAP Configuration screen. Here you will have to go to below navigation to create a new Catalog Profile.
- Step 4: Click on New Entry button to create new Catalog profile.
- Step 5: A new screen will appear where you will have to enter the Catalog Profile name .Name can contain Alphabets or numbers or combination of both. I am creating two Catalog profiles “Motors” and “1000” for better understanding.
I have assigned limited Catalog groups to Catalog Profile “Motor”. Please refer below screen shot :
Now enter Code Group “MOTORS” with respect to each catalog. This means that each of the code and code text created in Code Group “MOTORS” is available in the drop down list.
In the same way you can select Catalog profile “1000” and assign Code Groups to it. Here enter ‘*’ (asterisk) in code group. This means that all the code groups which are created with respect to certain catalog, will be available in the drop down list.
But this not enough to bring the catalog code groups and code in the drop down of catalogs in maintenance notification.
One more step is still remaining.
- Step 6: So far we have defined Catalog profile. Now we will have to assign the Catalog Profile. Here SAP provides us three options:
- You can assign Catalog profile to Notification Type in Configuration (SPRO).
- You can can assign Catalog profile to Equipment Master Data in Organization Tab.
- You can also assign Catalog profile to Functional Location Master in Organization Tab.
Please refer below screen shot and see the assignment:
Catalog profile assignment to notification type :
Catalog Profile assignment to Equipment Master. Here we will assign Catalog profile “MOTORS“.
In the same way we can assign Catalog profile to Functional Location Master in organization tab at the same place.
Please note that it is not mandatory to assign the Catalog profile to all three places. You have to assign it at any one of the place. Means either assign it to Notification type (in SPRO) or equipment or functional location.
- Step 7: Now if go to maintenance notification and create a notification with notification type M1 and equipment “10006575” (same equipment where we have assigned the Catalog profile “MOTORS”). While creating the maintenance notification we will get a message at the bottom that “MOTORS” is copied to the notification. Please refer below screen for the same.
- Step 8: Now go to the drop down of catalogs such as Cause, Damage or object parts. Here you will get the Code group “MOTORS” and all the codes assigned to code group “MOTORS”. Please refer below screen for clarification.
This is how you will get the Code Groups and codes in the drop down of the catalogs in maintenance notification. If you create the catalog profile and do not assign it no where, then you will get nothing while selecting the data. This answers our first Questions (Q1)
Now you will think why I got codes related to catalog profile “MOTORS”, why not for other code groups and codes are appearing in the list.
Here is answer to our second Questions (Q2):
How to get relevant Catalog Code groups and codes in Maintenance notification?
As I mentioned above that you can assign the Catalog profile to any one of the places either notification type or equipment or functional location. Suppose a MOTOR got malfunction and while maintaining the catalogs you want only motor relevant codes to appear, then assign the Catalog Profile to Equipment. If you want codes related to functional location then create a profile and assign code groups related to functional location and assign it to functional location. if you want all the code groups to appear then create a profile and put a ‘*’ (asterisk) with respect to each catalog and assign profile to notification type.
This is how we can get the relevant Catalog Profile. This answers our second question.
Now again a new question arises,
Which Catalog profile will be prioritized in PM notification?
Which hierarchy will system follow ?
Here is the answer. The preference goes like this
- Equipment Catalog profile
- Functional Location Catalog profile
- Notification type Catalog profile
This answers all queries related to Concept of Catalog profile.