Mode Selection
You can create your routing data in such a way that several modes are assigned in the PDS or PPM of an activity after the transfer of this data to SAP APO. This is always the case if there are several alternative resources on which the activity can be processed. Via mode linkage, selection of a mode for an activity results in the stipulation of the modes for the activities for which a temporal relationship exists. This applies in particular to the activities of an operation that are generally processed on the same primary resource (mode linkage via the primary resource).
Mode selection can be performed during scheduling either manually by the user, or automatically by the system, as follows:
Manual Mode Selection on the Detailed Scheduling Planning Board
An operation has already been assigned to a certain mode on the detailed scheduling planning board. You can assign the operation to another mode by moving it onto the primary resource of the desired mode using Drag&Drop. You can use manual mode selection when you:
When using manual mode selection for an operation, you can use modes of all priorities.
Manual Mode Selection on the Resource Planning Table
See the documentation for the resource planning table Rescheduling an Operation on an Alternative Resource.
Automatic Mode Selection
The system selects the mode automatically:
If an order is created
When you schedule a deallocated operation with the scheduling function reschedule
When the system reschedules a scheduled dependent operation or adjusts the dates/times for a deallocated dependent operation, because time relationships or pegging relationships with other operations have to be adhered to.
With automatic mode selection, the system can use modes with priorities A to O. It automatically selects the mode with the highest priority for the operation, and can thus depending on the scheduling direction do the following, where possible:
Close the operation as early as possible (in the case of forward scheduling)
Start the operation as late as possible (in the case of backward scheduling)
You can restrict automatic mode selection via the detailed scheduling strategy.
The mode assignment of an operation is generally retained:
When a selected operation is rescheduled with the scheduling function
Reschedule
or with a detailed scheduling heuristicWhen an insert scheduling mode (insert operation, squeeze in operation or insert operation and close gaps) is defined in the detailed scheduling strategy, and an operation is rescheduled by the system to a resource in order to make room for an operation to be inserted or to close gaps in the schedule.
When the system deallocates an operation
Exception: In the deallocation of a dependent operation using the scheduling submode
deallocate dependent operations
, mode linkage can force a change of modes.
Prerequisites
You have maintained more than one mode for each activity of an operation in the PPM. If you only define one mode for an activity, the operation can only be assigned to this mode.