Solution Card Proposal

In the Manage apps, the system proposes solution options for materials with procurement type F (external procurement). The solution options are displayed as cards and help you solve material shortages and process uncovered or late requirements. You can click or tap somewhere on a solution card to simulate the effects of the solution or you can choose a solution card to apply the changes.

When you choose a proposed solution, you can change existing MRP elements or create new ones. If the system cannot find a suitable solution, it only displays a card with which you can accept the shortage.

To determine the best solutions, the system checks all the existing procurement orders and requisitions for every valid source of supply that is used and chooses the order or requisition whose date is closest to the start of the shortage. Although the system might find more than one solution (increase, reschedule/change, procure, and transfer), it does not propose the same type of solution more than once for each source of supply. If multiple supplies are available on the date closest to the start of the shortage, the system displays all of them, independent of the source.

The system determines the source of supply from the source list record of the material. It considers quantity restrictions, the validity of the source of supply on the new date as well as scheduling restrictions, and proposes possible procurement dates and quantities. You can overwrite the proposed changes. In this case, quantity and scheduling restrictions are ignored.

To propose a solution, the system proceeds as follows:

1. To increase procurement quantities of an MRP element, the system checks the existing orders and requisitions that are at or before the start of the shortage situation.

   For each source of supply, the system proposes increasing the quantity of the order or requisition closest to the start of the shortage. Before proposing a new quantity, the system considers quantity restrictions, such as rounding values, minimum and maximum lot sizes, or fixed lot sizes. Maximum procurement quantities of scheduling agreements and contracts are ignored, as well as maximum quantities of quota arrangement items.

2. To reschedule an MRP element, the system checks existing orders and requisitions that are after the start of the shortage situation.

   For each source of supply, the system proposes rescheduling the order or requisition that is closest to the shortage start date. Before proposing a new delivery date, the system considers the validity of the source of supply on the new date as well as scheduling restrictions, such as dates in the past.

3. If rescheduling an MRP element is not sufficient to solve the shortage, the system also proposes increasing the quantity. To change an MRP element, the system checks existing orders and requisitions that are after the start of the shortage situation.

   For each source of supply, the system proposes rescheduling and increasing the order or requisition that is closest to the shortage start date. Before proposing a new date and quantity, the system considers quantity restrictions, the validity of the source of supply on the new date, and scheduling restrictions. Maximum procurement quantities of scheduling agreements and contracts are ignored, as well as maximum quantities of quota arrangement items.

4. To procure the required quantity from another plant, the system proposes a transfer from the sources of supply defined in the source list. In this case, the system also checks whether the required quantity is available on the requested date in the potential source plant to cover the material shortage in the target plant. The following scenarios exist:

   • If the requested date is after the replenishment lead time, the system presumes that the complete quantity will be available and proposes a stock transfer order for this date.

   • If the requested date lies within the replenishment lead time, the system performs an availability check to determine when the complete quantity is available. The following elements are included in the calculation of the available quantity in the source plant:

     • Available stock minus safety stock

     • All demands including forecast demands

     • All planned receipts

     Note

     During the availability check, the system makes sure that none of the existing demands are endangered. That is, it only proposes the creation of a new stock transfer order within the replenishment lead time if the available quantity within this period is sufficient to cover already existing demands plus this new stock transfer order.

     Depending on the availability results the system proceeds as follows:

     • If the requested quantity is completely available on the requested date within the replenishment lead time, the system proposes a stock transfer order for this date.

     • If the requested quantity is only partially available on the requested date within the replenishment lead time, but is completely available on a later date within the replenishment lead time, the system proposes a stock transfer order for the date on which the complete quantity is available.

     • If the requested quantity is not completely available within the replenishment lead time, the system proposes a stock transfer order at the end of the replenishment lead time.

5. In addition, the system proposes creating a new MRP element for the sources of supply defined in the source list.

Based on the evaluation of the procurement orders and requisitions, the system proposes different solution cards and rates them according to how well the solution solves your issue: A solution card with 2 stars solves the shortage completely and the required quantity can be procured on the first shortage date. A solution card with 1 star only partially solves your issue because only part of the required quantity can be provided on the first shortage date, or because although the entire quantity can be provided earlier than currently planned, it cannot be provided as early as the first shortage date.