Rules-Based Availability Check 

 

Use

You use the rules-based availability check to automatically or manually optimize the decision-making process between alternatives using predefined rules.

Prerequisites

Features

The following levels exist in the rules-based availability check:

The global availability check allows you to search for all available quantities in locations and for all selectable products in a multi-level process.

In the rules-based availability check the condition technique is used. You are familiar with this, for example, from R/3 (SD). This technique offers multi-level processes and flexible handling of variable parameters.

The rules-based availability check is an iterative process; that is, each step defines the subsequent step based on the rules saved in the system. The following is determined in each step:

  1. the advanced methods that should be carried out.
  2. the requirement groups for which the next check step should be carried out.
  3. the criteria according to which the results of the check steps should be reflected.

After a check step has been carried out by the system, it must be determined if the rules-based availability check should continue to be executed. The criteria used for determining this includes the check results, activation parameters ( technical scenario, business transaction, and the action type) and the values of the key combinations such as customer, sales organization, location product, product group and so on. The new rule then determines the next check step.

Example

Rule I means:

  1. Search for an alternative location, if one does not exist,
  2. then search for an alternative procurement method.

Rule II means:

  1. Search for an alternative product, if one is not available,
  2. then search for the alternative product in an alternative location. If that also does not exist,
  3. then search for an alternative procurement method.

The dimensions are displayed in the following graphic:

See also:

Executing Simulative Rules-Based Availability Checks

Settings for the Rules-Based Availability Check

Rules-Based ATP (R/3 and APO)