Use

You create sales orders in SAP R/3 and in SAP APO you carry out product allocation (a check against product allocations) for the sales document items as an application of the check against plans.The check against product allocations is a basic method of the ATP check.The ATP check and the check against product allocations cannot be carried out separately (for example, availability check with ATP logic in SAP R/3 and product allocation in SAP APO). They must be carried out together in SAP APO.

If you continue to plan product allocations using Flexible Planning (SOP) in SAP R/3 and product allocation in SAP APO, use the info structure for planning product allocations in SAP R/3, and use the product allocation group for checking product allocation quantities in SAP APO.The planning data for the info structures must then be transferred periodically to the product allocation group via the APO Core Interface (CIF).

If you have carried out planning in SAP R/3 until now, and now change over to Demand Planning in SAP APO, Demand Planning is carried out in the planning area.

The planning of product allocations and the check against product allocations can take place independently of each other; that is, they can no longer block each other.Demand Planning uses the planning area, the check against product allocations uses the product allocation group.However, you can configure that planning and the check against product allocations use a common data container, the planning area.This means that the planning situation as well as your product allocation situation can be updated immediately.

The check against product allocations has been enhanced in SAP R/3 (as of 4.0) and in SAP APO by many functions.There are, however, new functions that can only be found in SAP APO.

Prerequisites

You installed a 4.5 GUI in the SAP R/3 System

You installed the SAP R/3 Add-on SAP APO CIF in the SAP system

You made the default settings for the CIF integration function

You generated and activated integration models

In the active integration model, the ATP Check indicator also determines whether the check against product allocations is carried out for the selected material/plant combinations in the SAP APO system specified.

Note the following, however:If you have created the product allocation quantities in SAP R/3 in Flexible Planning, you must have set the Product Allocation indicator in the integration model.A worklist is created for the planning data.You can transfer the planning data manually to SAP APO using transaction QTSA.As of 4.5B, product allocation quantities are transferred from Flexible Planning via Environment → APO Transfer. This can then only be carried out using transaction CIF.As of 4.6C you can transfer the product allocation quantities and the product allocation control via Logistics → Central Functions → Supply Chain Planning Interface → Core Interface Advanced Planner and Optimizer → Environment → Product Allocations and Product Allocation Control. If you plan the product allocations in Demand Planning, it is not necessary to set this indicator.The product allocation group must have already been created in SAP APO for this.

When Customizing is transferred for the check against product allocations it behaves in a similar way.If you want Customizing to be transferred for the check against product allocations, you must have set the Product Allocation Customizing indicator.A worklist is created for the Customizing for product allocation.You must then transfer the Customizing manually to SAP APO using transaction QTSP.Afterwards you can change or recreate the Customizing in SAP APO as necessary.The product allocation procedure must have already been created in SAP APO for this.

We recommend that you check Customizing after the transfer.In Customizing for the SAP Advanced Planner and Optimizer (APO) select Global ATP → Product Allocations → Check Settings for Product Allocation

In order that you can protect the ATP Customizing in SAP APO from new Customizing transfers from SAP R/3, you should have processed the global settings.You can activate the import protection (also against the import for product allocation Customizing).For more information see Maintain Global Settings .If the transfer of the Customizing for product allocation has not been successful, you should check if the import protection was active during the transfer.

For more information see the Generating Integration Models documentation.

Example

The product allocation process can be explained using the following example.Product is P, requirements quantity is 3001, check methods are product availability check first, then check against product allocations.

You create a sales order in SAP R/3 and choose ENTER.

You branch to a delivery proposal screen since the requirements quantity cannot be completely confirmed.

From the delivery proposal screen you can display the detail results of the check types and the product allocation results as well as the product availability overview .

Note

The effects of product allocations control on product allocation (for example, the conversion factor) are not taken into account or displayed in planning. After transferring the data, you can execute a shortage check .

You should also execute the shortage check if you have executed planning without a subsequent check because product allocations could be exhausted in the meantime.

See also:

Checking Shortages

Product Allocation Without Direct Check of Planning Area

Product Allocation With Direct Check of Planning Area