Transport Load Builder

You can use the Transport Load Builder (TLB) to group transport loads for certain means of transport whilst ensuring that the capacity of the means of transport is utilized as much as possible. The main aims of TLB planning are:

Building of transport loads that are within the parameter limits defined by the user (such as weight and volume)
Straight loading or load balancing of means of transport

You can implement the TLB profile in SAP Supply Network Collaboration (SAP SNC) or in Supply Network Planning (SNP). In SAP SNC, additional functions are available. These are features that are not available in the SNP TLB. For more information, see the documentation for SAP SNC under Start of the navigation path Replenishment Next navigation step Transport Load Builder Additional TLB Functions in SAP SNC End of the navigation path .

The TLB groups deployment stock transfers (SNP) or planned replenishment orders (SAP SNC) that were generated for individual products in the previous planning runs, into TLB shipments for several products.

Prerequisites

You have set up the master data for the TLB. For more information, see Master Data Setup for the Transport Load Builder.
You have defined upper and lower limits for the TLB parameters in a TLB profile, and have assigned this profile to the means of transport in the transportation lane. To create the TLB profile, proceed as follows:
- SAP SNC: On the SAP Easy Access screen, choose SCM Basis Transport Load Builder Define Transport Load Builder (TLB) Profiles .
- SNP: On the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Advanced Planning and Optimization Supply Network Planning Environment Current Settings Profiles Define Transport Load Builder (TLB) Profiles .
For more information, see TLB Profile.
You have defined a profile for the TLB basic settings in Customizing for SAP SNC or SNP. If you do not define a profile, the TLB uses the default settings. To create the profile, proceed as follows:
- SAP SNC: In Customizing for SAP SNC, choose Replenishment Transport Load Builder Make TLB Basic Settings .
- SNP: In the SNP Customizing, choose Basic Settings Make TLB Basic Settings .
For more information, see Customizing.
If you are using SNP, you can make settings for the layout of interactive TLB planning in SNP in the SNP Customizing under Basic Settings Change Display of Parameters in Interactive TLB . For more information, see Customizing.
You can set the TLB: Pallet Loading parameter to Product Mix in Customizing for SNP under Maintain Global SNP Settings (if you want the TLB to be able to load a pallet with several different products). If you do not make this setting, the SNP TLB is permitted to load pallets with products of the same type only.

If you are using SAP SNC, you must make additional settings for the TLB. For more information, see the documentation for SAP SNC under Start of the navigation path Replenishment Next navigation step Transport Load Builder Additional TLB Functions in SAP SNC End of the navigation path .

Features

Building of Transport Loads

The TLB first groups deployment stock transfers or planned replenishment orders from the current period into TLB shipments. In doing so, the TLB tries to load the shipments as far as possible to the upper parameter limits that you defined in the TLB profile for that means of transport.

The TLB also considers the loading method that you defined for the means of transport in the transportation lane. As far as possible, the TLB loads the transport loads with the same products, or products from the same loading group (straight loading), distributes the products evenly amongst all transport loads built (load balancing), or distributes the products so that the load reaches an ideal weight/volume ratio (product-wise loading - product mix heavy/light). Do note, however, that the TLB does not use optimization methods and can, therefore, not guarantee the optimal solution. The TLB considers the individual loading methods as follows:

Straight loading: The TLB sorts the loading groups and then the products within the loading group alphabetically. In the second step, the TLB distributes the loading groups and products into shipments, in the sequence in which they were sorted.
If a loading group can only be partially loaded onto a shipment, the TLB loads the rest of the loading group onto the next shipment. In this way, it is possible for a loading group to be too large or too small for a shipment.
Load balancing: The TLB tries to distribute products to shipments in such a way that the product percentages are, as far as possible, the same for every shipment.
To do this, each time, the TLB adds a rounding value of that product to a shipment. This is the smallest ratio of the quantity already loaded and the total demand of the product. If the ratios of all products are the same, the TLB adds a rounding value of a product selected at random to the shipment.
Product-wise loading - product mix heavy/light: The TLB tries to distribute products to shipments in such a way that load reaches an ideal weight/volume ratio, which makes the best use of the capacity of a means of transport.
To do this, the TLB uses either a static or a dynamic weight/volume ratio. For more information, see Weight/Volume Mix.

Once all TLB shipments lie within the valid parameter limits, the TLB ends the planning run.

You can also make detailed settings for transport load building by creating your own profile for the TLB basic settings in Customizing for SAP SNC or SNP (see the Prerequisites section above).

Procedure for Remaining Quantities

The TLB may not be able to load one of the TLB shipments to the defined lower limits with deployment stock transfers or planned replenishment orders from the current period. For more information about how the TLB proceeds in this situation, see TLB Procedures for Remaining Quantities.

Running the TLB and Checking the Results

You can also start the TLB as a background job or run it directly from interactive TLB planning. In interactive TLB planning, you can display the results after the TLB run and then change the shipments manually. You receive a list of generated TLB shipments and possibly also deployment stock transfers that have not been processed. You can then remove or add deployment stock transfers from or to the TLB shipments.

You can also display the results of the TLB run in the application log that is generated during the run.

Activities

The following table details the activities that you have to carry out in SNP or SAP SNC to run the TLB and check the results:

Activity	SNP	SAP SNC
Running the TLB as a Background Job	On the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Advanced Planning and Optimization Supply Network Planning Planning Supply Network Planning in the Background Transport Load Builder (TLB) . The SNP Transport Load Builder screen appears where you can make settings for the background run and for the TLB run. You can also plan the TLB run as a background job using the Process Chain in SCM function.	You execute the TLB as a background job using the Planning Service Manager.
Running the TLB from Interactive TLB Planning and Checking the Results	Choose Advanced Planning and Optimization Supply Network Planning Planning Transport Load Builder (TLB) . Then make a selection. To make settings for the TLB run, choose TLB Parameters. In this dialog box, you can also temporarily change TLB profile settings and transportation lane settings. Then choose TLB. The results are then displayed in the planning table.	In the SAP SNC Web application menu, choose Replenishment Transport Load Builder TLB Shipments . Make the settings for the TLB run and choose TLB Planning Run. The results are then displayed in the TLB Shipments section.
Checking the TLB Results in Application Logs	For more information about application logs in SNP, see the SNP documentation under Application Logs.	On the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Supply Network Collaboration Tools Application Logs Display Application Logs .

Activity

SNP

SAP SNC

Running the TLB as a Background Job

On the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Start of the navigation path Advanced Planning and Optimization Next navigation step Supply Network Planning Planning Supply Network Planning in the Background Transport Load Builder (TLB) End of the navigation path . The SNP Transport Load Builder screen appears where you can make settings for the background run and for the TLB run.

You can also plan the TLB run as a background job using the Process Chain in SCM function.

You execute the TLB as a background job using the Planning Service Manager.

Running the TLB from Interactive TLB Planning and Checking the Results

Choose Start of the navigation path Advanced Planning and Optimization Next navigation step Supply Network Planning Planning Transport Load Builder (TLB) End of the navigation path .

Then make a selection. To make settings for the TLB run, choose TLB Parameters. In this dialog box, you can also temporarily change TLB profile settings and transportation lane settings. Then choose TLB.

The results are then displayed in the planning table.

In the SAP SNC Web application menu, choose Start of the navigation path Replenishment Next navigation step Transport Load Builder TLB Shipments End of the navigation path .

Make the settings for the TLB run and choose TLB Planning Run.

The results are then displayed in the TLB Shipments section.

Checking the TLB Results in Application Logs

For more information about application logs in SNP, see the SNP documentation under Application Logs.

On the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Start of the navigation path Supply Network Collaboration Next navigation step Tools Application Logs Display Application Logs End of the navigation path .