Supply Source Determination: Finding External or Internal Sources of Supply

Use

You can narrow down the search for supply sources for a particular article to internal or external sources of supply and define the sequence in which the system should search:

  • The system searches exclusively for an external source of supply (standard).

  • The system searches exclusively for an internal source of supply (stock transfer).

  • The system first looks for an external and then for an internal vendor (standard and then stock transfer).

  • The system first looks for an internal and then for an external vendor (stock transfer and then standard).

To determine the sequence in which it should search, the system evaluated the Source of suppl y field in the logistics data of the article master.

Note Note

If the site to be supplied with merchandise has been assigned to a supply region, the system only selects a potential source of supply if the source is valid for the supply region of the site.

End of the note.

Features

Finding External Supply Sources

In this case, the vendor searches for an external vendor. The following cases can exist:

  • Only one valid outline agreement is found

The outline agreement is determined as the source of supply.

  • Several valid outline agreements are found

Since the result is not unique, all outline agreements are possible sources of supply. The system then searches for a purchasing information record for the vendor.

  • Only one valid purchasing information record is found

The vendor concerned is determined as the source of supply.

  • Several valid purchasing information records are found

The regular vendor indicator has been set in one of the purchasing information records

The vendor concerned is determined as the source of supply.

The regular vendor indicator has not been set in any of the purchasing information records

More than one valid entry is found The system proceeds in the same way as when no valid entry is found.

  • No external source of supply is found

Depending on the contents of the Source of supply field in the article master, the system either stops searching or continues searching for an internal source.

If the system finds more than one supply source, outline agreements have priority over information records.

If the system finds two outline agreements, it checks if any of them are with regular vendors. If there is an agreement with a regular vendor, it assigns the outline agreement as the unique source of supply. If there is no agreement with a regular vendor, then no source is found in this step.

Finding Internal Supply Sources

In this case, the vendor searches for an internal vendor, such as a distribution center.

The system first searches for a stock transport scheduling agreement, then for a supplying site at merchandise category level and finally for a supplying site for the whole assortment.

If the procurement suggestion was generated via a store order, the system can also perform a sourcing check. If the supplying site found does not have enough stock, for example, or the maximum delivery quantity is exceeded, the system searches for a different internal source. If no internal source of supply is found, the system searches for an external source of supply.

The following cases can exist:

  • One valid stock transport scheduling agreement exists

The agreement is determined as the source of supply.

  • Several valid stock transport scheduling agreements exist

Since the result is not unique, all agreements are possible sources of supply.

  • A distribution center has been entered for a site and merchandise category in the site master

The DC is determined as the source of supply. This only applies to the merchandise category of the article to be procured.

  • A distribution center has been entered for a site in the site master

The DC is determined as the source of supply. This applies to all merchandise categories unless a different entry is found.

  • No internal source of supply is found

Depending on the contents of the Source of supply field in the article master, the system either stops searching or continues searching for an external source.

See also:

MM - Purchasing: Purchasing Information Records