When copying planned independent requirements using a reference (for example, the forecast, or SOP), you can specify that the total quantity is to be distributed automatically according to a predefined period split.

You can use a distribution function to split the requirements according to a non-linear strategy, or you can split the requirements quantities evenly over the period split (without the distribution function).

You define this period split per reference type in Customizing for Demand Management (Planned Independent Requirements -> Automatic Split -> Define period split for automatic split). If you maintain a split for a reference type in Customizing, the system creates schedule lines using this period split each time an independent requirement is created using a reference.

The system can only split planned independent requirements created in monthly, weekly, or posting periods. The periods for which you want to split the planned independent requirements must be in the same period split. If you use different periods (for example, months and weeks), this can lead to incorrect results.

In Customizing, you maintain the period split for the automatic split of reference requirement quantities as follows:

• Irrespective of the period split used to create the reference requirements, you define two intervals for the split. The first interval determines the number of weeks to be split into days. The second interval determines the number of months to be split into weeks.
• If you use the distribution function, you must specify the percentage of the quantities to produce within a percentage of the production time in Customizing for Demand Management (Automatic Split -> Distribution Function for Automatic Split -> Define distribution function).

The system splits the reference independent requirements as follows:

• If a reference requirement is in months, the system first splits the number of weeks defined in the first column into daily quantities. Then the number of months entered in the second column are split into weekly quantities

• If a reference requirement - to be copied using the automatic splitting procedures - is in weeks, then the first column is read to split the number of weeks entered into daily requirements. The second column is ignored.

You maintain a distribution function which allocates 10 pieces to each of the first three weeks, and assigns 20 pieces to week 4, and 50 pieces to week 5.

Each week is allocated a requirements quantity of 20 pieces.