IFS Process Models

This page explains how to navigate and read the IFS Process Models.

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Definition

The IFS Process Models illustrates a top-down approach with the sample models by industry or by functional area at the top level (level 1), the business process level in the middle (level 2), and the the details specific for IFS Applications as activity diagrams at the lowest level (level 3).

There are many definitions of what a process is, but generally a process is a set of activities that takes an input and adds value to it on order to meet the requirements defined by the user (customer) of the process output. The process might also have business objects controlling the process or resources that are being used by the process.

Introduction

The IFS Process Models is an extensive library of sample processes with links to detailed textual descriptions as well as direct links to the related function in IFS Applications. The process models can be seen as the central hub in the IFS Online Documentation and eLearning material. This applies especially for the setup guides.

Perhaps the most significant advantage of these models is the simplified understanding of the business solution offered by IFS Applications. Like a geographic map, they offer both sweeping overviews and detailed models graphically illustrating best practice.

How to navigate

Starting point

The IFS Applications Online Documentation home page

When the IFS Online Documentation is opened from a browser the IFS Process Models navigator bar is active by default and the top nodes in the navigator are displayed. The Welcome page, which also displays the top nodes but as process objects, is displayed in the information area. The process models can be explored from different perspectives, either by industry sample or by functional area. These options provide different perspectives of the same models. To browse through the different levels of the models you can either use the navigator or directly click one of the process objects in the Welcome page.

Navigation through navigator

  1. IFS Process Models navigator bar is by default the active one when opening the IFS Online Documentation from a browser. The minus sign means that this is the expanded navigator bar and that it could be collapsed by clicking the minus sign.
    The navigator bar also includes a navigator filter option. The filtering option is very useful if you, for example, want to view all models that includes "sales quotation" in the title.
  2. Navigate either by clicking the arrow (or the map icon) or the title. The results differ depending on what you chose to click on.
  3. This node (Business Performance) is collapsed since the arrow points to the right.
  4. This node (Call Center) is expanded since the arrow points down. A process symbol in front of the title means that it is a business process, i.e., a level 2 model mainly built by business objects and process objects.
  5. An activity symbol means that it is an activity diagram, i.e., a level 3 model mainly built by activities. If this symbol is highlighted it means that this model is displayed in the information area.
  6. A document link, normally to a process description that describes the process with detail information.
  7. Link to the eLearning home page, which opens in a new window.

Navigation through navigator filter

You can navigate by using the navigator filter in the IFS Process Models navigator bar.

Enter what you want to filter on and click (Search). The filtering option displays the context, i.e., within which process models and functional areas activity diagrams with "bdr for support ag" in the title are present. Note that only the hits in Process Models by Functional Area are expanded. If you want to view the hits in Process Models by Industry Sample you have to expand the node by clicking the arrow in front of that node. Clear the navigator filter by clicking (Clear the navigator filter). This will also reset the navigator.
 

Navigation through model

You can navigate through the models displayed in the information area.

Process model (level 2)

  1. Document links: The process description describes the graphical model in text. It provides details that cannot be illustrated in the model.
  2. Breaks down to: Click the arrow if you want to drill down to the next level. The next level opens directly if only one alternative exists. If there are several options a list is displayed. Click the model that you want to view.
  3. Participates in: If the process object is included in other main processes or sub main processes than the open one, this icon is displayed. Click the icon if you want to view the other model. The next level opens directly if only one alternative exists. If there are several options a list is displayed. Click the model that you want to view.
  4. Click the process object: If you click the process object both the aforementioned lists (breaks down to and participates in) are gathered into one list and you can chose what you want to view.
  5. Document links: A description of one or several business objects, i.e., the inputs and outputs of a certain process object. The description is of the type topic description (also called about description). The topic descriptions range from limited to extensive descriptions and can also describe a work flow, a specific function, or functionality in IFS Applications. All topic descriptions can be found by main process under Topics in IFS Applications on the documentation navigator.
  6. Breaks down to: Some business objects are further detailed by having a product model on level 3. If this is the case, a breaks down to icon is displayed. Click the icon if you want to view the product model.
  7. Find this model in the navigator (only available when the IFS Process Models navigator is active and a model is visible in the information area): Useful for example when you want information about in which context a particular business process/main process participates. The navigator displays all relevant models in IFS Process Models by Functional Area. If you want to view the filtering results in the IFS Process Models by Industry Samples you have to expand the node by clicking the arrow in front of that node.

Activity diagram (level 3)

  1. Client links: Direct links to the places where the activity can be performed in IFS Applications.
  2. Document links: The activity description describes how to perform a specific user action. The activity description provides an explanation of the activity and the functionality in general, prerequisites for being able to perform the activity, system effects when performing the activity, and a step-by-step procedure. One activity object can have several activity descriptions.
  3. Click the process object: If you click the activity object both the aforementioned lists (client links and document links) are gathered into one list and you can chose what you want to view.
  4. Find this model in the navigator (only available when the IFS Process Models navigator is active and a model is visible in the information area): Useful for example when you want information about in which context a particular activity diagram (level 3) participates. Then it is easy to view the corresponding business processes (level 2). The navigator displays all relevant models in IFS Process Models by Functional Area. If you want to view the filtering results in the IFS Process Models by Industry Samples you have to expand the node by clicking the arrow in front of that node.

How to read process models

The IFS Process Models are built in a 3-level structure (in exceptional cases more levels are used).

1. Sample Models (Level 1)

There are two types of sample models; by industry or by functional area. The sample models are made up of a number of generic, main business processes to create a sweeping overview of an entire business, for example, Make to Stock manufacturing. These models contain main processes that are supported by several different components within IFS Applications, such as portraying everything from sales to invoicing and financial monitoring. 

The main processes, which are used as building blocks in the sample models, can also be found in a library of main processes. Each main process is sorted into a functional area such as Distribution, Manufacturing, Human Resources, and so on.

2. Business Processes (Level 2)

Details the main process or sub main process. A process must always have at least one input business object that is refined in a process which generates at least one output business object. The process might also have business objects controlling the process or resources that are being used by the process.

Normally, the business processes are described graphically in rather general terms so that they represent what one actually wants to accomplish within a business.

3. Activity Diagrams (Level 3)

The activity diagram can be seen as a detail graphical description of the process object on level 2. The process object on level 2 always have one or several inputs and outputs. This means that the activity diagram describes how the input is refined/processed in order to become the output. This level includes links to IFS Applications forms so that an activity easily can be performed in IFS Applications.

There are three types of level 3 models: ordinary activity diagrams, Basic Data Requirements (BDRs) activity diagrams, and product models.

The activity diagrams show the actual implementation of how a process is carried out using IFS Applications. There might be several parallel flows describing alternative tracks, e.g., procurement of services and procurement of goods.