In Repetitive Manufacturing, it is normal to produce large lots of a material over several periods, for example, 1000 pieces in 5 days. The total quantity of 1000 pieces (output) is not normally produced just on the last day, but over several days, for example, 200 pieces per day. The material staging of components required for production likewise does not have to take place on the first day of production, but can be distributed over various periods, that means continually.

In the APO, you can plan and map continual receipts and issues (continual input/output). This allows the most cost-effective MRP possible, both for the receipts and issues.

• When using the production process model, you must enter the consumption type C (continual) in the activity for the logical component (input and/or output). Master data ® Production process model ® Logical components.
• If you use the CIF to transfer the master data from the R/3 System to the PPM, you must maintain a distribution key in the production version for a product with the characteristic continual output and maintain a distribution key in the BOM item for a product with the characteristic continual input.
• In iPPE in the APO, you must set C for continual receipt in the Receipt type field in the access object. If you want to use continual input, you set C for continual consumption in the column Material consumption on the tab page Component assignment in the iPPE initial screen.
• If you maintain iPPE in the DI System and transfer the data to the APO, you maintain the production version in the master data, select this and choose iPPE: Initial Screen. In the next dialog box, you use the input help to set C for continual consumption in the field Receipt type.

• In the PPDS view of the product master, you must select the heuristic SAP_PP_C001.

Automatic planning for continual input/output is executed using a special heuristic SAP_PP_C001. This heuristic generates discrete/continual receipts for discrete/continual requirements. The receipts are scheduled so that the components are staged as late as possible without causing a shortage. In iPPE, you can also maintain a float after production as an offset.

Discrete receipts for continual requirements can be split into time buckets by choosing periodic lots.

Manual planning: when using manual planning in the product planning table, the work scheduler can find information about the split requirements quantities. The scheduler can decide whether and how receipt quantities are split.