Search Results po_change_requests

The PO_CHANGE_REQUESTS table in Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) versions 12.1.1 and 12.2.2 is a critical repository for tracking modifications to purchase orders (POs) after their initial approval. This table plays a pivotal role in maintaining audit trails, enforcing approval workflows, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies. Below is a detailed analysis of its structure, functionality, and integration within Oracle EBS.

Purpose and Functional Overview

The PO_CHANGE_REQUESTS table stores records of change requests initiated for existing purchase orders. These changes may include updates to line items, quantities, pricing, delivery dates, or other PO attributes. The table ensures that modifications undergo proper approval workflows before being applied, maintaining data integrity and auditability. It is tightly integrated with Oracle Purchasing and Oracle iProcurement modules.

Key Columns and Data Structure

The table's structure includes the following critical columns:

• CHANGE_REQUEST_ID: Primary key, uniquely identifying each change request.
• PO_HEADER_ID: References the original PO in PO_HEADERS_ALL.
• CHANGE_REQUEST_TYPE: Categorizes the change (e.g., "QUANTITY," "PRICE," "SCHEDULE").
• STATUS: Tracks workflow state (e.g., "PENDING," "APPROVED," "REJECTED").
• REQUESTOR_ID: Links to PER_ALL_PEOPLE_F for the requester's details.
• CREATION_DATE and LAST_UPDATE_DATE: Audit timestamps.
• APPROVAL_PATH_ID: References approval hierarchies in WF_APPROVAL_PATHS.

Integration with Oracle Workflow

Change requests leverage Oracle Workflow (WF_ITEM_TYPES, WF_NOTIFICATIONS) to route approvals based on predefined rules. The PO_CHANGE_REQUESTS table interacts with workflow tables to update statuses and trigger notifications. For example, when a request is submitted, a workflow process initiates, and approvers receive notifications via the WF_NOTIFICATIONS table.

Business Process Flow

1. Initiation: A user submits a change request via the Oracle Purchasing UI or APIs, creating a record in PO_CHANGE_REQUESTS.
2. Validation: The system validates the request against business rules (e.g., budget checks, contract compliance).
3. Approval: The request routes through workflow, updating the STATUS column at each stage.
4. Implementation: Approved changes are applied to the original PO, with logs written to PO_ACTION_HISTORY.

Technical Considerations

In EBS 12.2.2, the table supports Online Patching (ADOP) due to its inclusion in the Edition-Based Redefinition (EBR) framework. Customizations should avoid direct DML on this table; instead, use Oracle's public APIs like PO_CHANGE_REQUESTS_PKG to ensure workflow integration remains intact. Indexes on PO_HEADER_ID and STATUS optimize query performance for approval dashboards.

Reporting and Extensions

Standard Oracle Purchasing reports (e.g., "Change Request Status Report") join this table with PO_HEADERS_ALL and PO_LINES_ALL. Custom extensions often add columns via descriptive flexfields (DFFs) or create ancillary tables linked by CHANGE_REQUEST_ID.

Conclusion

The PO_CHANGE_REQUESTS table is a cornerstone of Oracle EBS's procurement governance, ensuring controlled modifications to POs. Its integration with workflow, audit mechanisms, and adherence to Oracle's data model best practices make it indispensable for organizations requiring strict procurement compliance in EBS 12.1.1 and 12.2.2 environments.