Determination of Low-Level Codes 

Use

The prerequisite for a successful MRP planning run are correct low-level codes. You have to execute low-level code determination for products, for example:

●      If the low-level codes of the products in SAP APO have not been previously determined

●      If bills of material have changed

●      If planning packages have been created manually or automatically

Features

To determine low-level codes for products, you execute a heuristic for determining low-level codes for these products in the production planning run. The standard heuristic SAP_PP_020 is available in the standard system for this purpose. This heuristic can do the following for products:

●      Adopt the low-level codes transferred from SAP R/3 to SAP APO

The low-level codes are transferred during the initial master data transfer from SAP R/3 to SAP APO. Later changes in SAP R/3 are not updated in SAP APO. In such a case, you can calculate the low level code in APO via the heuristic.

●      Perform a cross-location or location-internal determination of the low-level codes based on the supply chain model

In the cross-location calculation of low-level codes, the heuristic takes account of stock transfers, that is, transportation lanes between locations. You can perform cross-location planning in the MRP planning run based on the low-level codes calculated for all locations.

You can display the low-level code of a location product in the planning file. For more information, see the system documentation for the heuristic SAP_PP_020.

To call the system documentation for a heuristic, in Customizing for Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS), under Maintain Heuristics, select the Information icon for the heuristic.

Low-Level Code of Products in a Planning Package

If the product selection for the heuristic contains a product that belongs to a planning package, the heuristic automatically performs a low-level code determination for all products in the planning package. The algorithm first determines the individual low-level code of each product in the planning package. It then sets the low-level codes of the products to the highest low-level code value that occurs in the planning package. This is relevant for planning with product interchangeability, for example.