Conquer Your SAP PP Interview: Essential Questions and Answers

The SAP Production Planning (PP) module is a cornerstone for manufacturing businesses, streamlining everything from material procurement to shop floor control. Landing a role in this domain can be a great career move. But first, you need to ace the interview.

This blog equips you with the most frequently asked SAP PP interview questions, categorized for easy preparation:

SAP PP Fundamentals:

• What is SAP PP? Explain that SAP PP is a module within SAP ERP that manages all production-related activities, from planning and forecasting to execution and control.
• What are the different production processes in SAP PP? Briefly describe Repetitive Manufacturing (discrete units like cars), Discrete Manufacturing (custom-made products), and Process Manufacturing (continuous flow, like chemicals).

Master Data and Configuration:

• Explain the role of the Bill of Materials (BOM). A BOM is a hierarchical list of components needed to produce a finished product. It’s crucial for material planning and costing.
• What is a Routing in SAP PP? A Routing defines the sequence of operations needed to manufacture a product, including work centers, machines, and times.
• What are MRP (Material Requirements Planning) master data elements? Explain that these include material master data, source of supply (in-house production or external vendor), and forecasting data.

Production Planning and Execution:

• Please walk us through the steps of creating a Production Order. Explain how a Production Order translates a sales order or forecast into a detailed plan for manufacturing a specific quantity of a product.
• What is the difference between TECO and CLSD for a Production Order? TECO (Technically Complete) indicates production is finished, while CLSD (Closed) signifies the order is settled with all variances accounted for.
• How do you handle material availability checks in SAP PP? Explain how the system verifies if sufficient materials are on hand before production begins.

Production Cost Controlling:

• What is the role of Cost Controlling in SAP PP? It tracks and analyzes production costs associated with materials, labor, and overhead, providing valuable insights for optimizing production efficiency.
• Explain the difference between Plan cost, Actual cost, and Target cost. The Plan cost is an estimated cost, the Actual cost is incurred during production, and the Target cost is the desired cost for future production runs.

Beyond the Basics:

• How can you integrate SAP PP with other SAP modules? Highlight how PP interacts with modules like Sales & Distribution (SD) for sales order processing and Materials Management (MM) for inventory control.
• Describe your experience with MRP evaluations in SAP PP. Explain how MRP evaluations analyze planned vs. actual material requirements and identify any discrepancies.