Evaluating a Rule Strategy Sequence: Example 

The system has identified a rule strategy sequence for the rules-based availability check based on the activation parameters from the OLTP system.

Settings for the Rule Strategy Sequence

You have maintained the following settings for this rule strategy sequence:

Rule Strategy Number	Rule Strategy	Rule Strategy Type	Description
50	LOKPROD_ERS	Inclusive	Location and product substitutions
60	LOK_SCHL	Exclusive	Location closure

For more information about settings for rule strategy sequences, see Global Available-to-Promise (Global ATP Check) → Rules-Based Availability Check → Maintain Rule Strategy Sequence in the Implementation Guide (IMG) of SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (SAP APO).

In this way, the inclusive rule strategy LOKPROD_ERS and the exclusive rule strategy LOK_SCHL are assigned to this rule strategy sequence.

The rule strategy number does not matter in the evaluation of this rule strategy sequence, since only an inclusive rule strategy exists.

Inclusive Rule Strategy LOKPROD_ERS

Based on the inclusive rule strategy LOKPROD_ERS, the system determines an inclusive rule with the following substitute location products:

L1/P1, L2/P1, L3/P1, L4/P1, L5/P1

Exclusive Rule Strategy LOK_SCHL

Based on the exclusive rule strategy LOK_SCHL, the system determines the following rules:

Rule	Condition Values	Rule Type	Locations
R1	Valid for all values	Inclusive	L1, L2, L4
R2	Rush order	Exclusive	L2, L4
R3	Repair order	Exclusive	L4
R4	Customer 001	Alternative	L2 → L6

Evaluating the Rule Strategy Sequence

The system evaluates exclusive rule strategies before inclusive rule strategies, since exclusive rule strategies merely restrict the substitution lists from inclusive rule strategies.

One substitution list exists in this example, since the system has found one inclusive rule based on the inclusive rule strategy LOKPROD_ERS. The substitution list consists of the substitute location products that are defined in this inclusive rule (L1/P1, L2/P1, L3/P1, L4/P1, L5/P1). The substitution list is reduced by the locations defined in the rules of the exclusive rule strategy LOK_SCHL. Reduction occurs depending on the values from the sales order.

Depending on the values from the sales order, the system uses the exclusive rule strategy LOK_SCHL to determine one or more of the following rules:

·        The inclusive rule R1

·        The exclusive rule R2

·        The exclusive rule R3

·        The alternative rule R4.

Effects of the Inclusive Rule R1

Inclusive rules within exclusive rule strategies define exceptions from the substitution lists of inclusive rule strategies. The system removes the following substitute location products from the substitution list based on the locations L1, L2, and L4 defined in the inclusive rule R1:

L1/P1, L2/P1, L4/P1

Effects of the Exclusive Rules R2 and R3

Exclusive rules within exclusive rule strategies define exceptions to exceptions. The locations, products, or location products defined in exclusive rules within exclusive rule strategies thus remain as substitutions.

In the case of a rush order, the locations L2 and L4 defined in the exclusive rule R2 remain as valid location substitutions. In this way, the substitute location products L2/P1 and L4/P1 remain in the substitution list.

In the case of a repair order, the location L4 defined in the rule R4 remains as a valid location substitution. In this way, the substitute location product L4/P1 remains in the substitution list.

Effects of the Alternative Rule R4

Alternative rules define alternative substitute locations for those substitute locations that the system removes from the substitution lists of inclusive rule strategies due to the inclusive rules of exclusive rule strategies.

In the case of an order from customer 001, the system adds the alternative substitute location L6 to the substitution list for the excluded substitute location L2 (excluded due to rule R1). In this way, the system adopts the substitute location product L6/P1 into the substitution list instead of the substitute location product L2/P1. If customer 001 has created a rush order, the substitution location product L2/P1 remains in the substitution list.

Result of Rule Strategy Sequence Evaluation

The result of rule strategy sequence evaluation depends on the values from the sales order. In this example, the system transfers one of the following substitution lists to the availability check after the rule strategy sequence has been evaluated:

·        L3/P1, L5/P1 (for all orders apart from orders from customer 001, rush orders, and repair orders)

·        L2/P1, L3/P1, L4/P1, L5/P1 (for rush orders)

·        L3/P1, L4/P1, L5/P1 (for repair orders, apart from those from customer 001)

·        L6/P1, L3/P1, L4/P1, L5/P1 (for repair orders from customer 001)

·        L6/P1, L3/P1, L5/P1 (for all orders from customer 001, apart from rush and repair orders from this customer)

Evaluation of the rule strategy leads to location L1 not being considered as a substitution. Locations L2 and L4 however remain as substitute locations for certain orders, such as rush or repair orders, for example.