You can protect procurement proposals from any automatic changes to master schedule items in the planning run in the near future by using the manual firming date. The system does not change procurement proposals automatically up to this date.

You define the manual firming date on a material-specific basis in the following places:

• stock/requirements list
• planning result
• interactive planning

You can firm all types of procurement proposals with the manual firming date:

• planned orders
• purchase requisitions
• schedule lines

The following applies to the firming type:

• Materials with firming type 3 or 4: procurement proposals are not firmed automatically, even if the order finish date is before the manual firming date.

If you have defined a planning time fence, the following applies:

• If the manual firming date is before the end of the planning time fence, the planning time fence is used.
• If the manual firming date is after the end of the planning time fence, the planning time fence is extended up to this date.