Planning with Aggregated Resources 

Purpose

In this Supply Network Planning (SNP) planning process, you carry out heuristic-based or optimization-based planning at aggregated resource level, that is at header resource level of a resource hierarchy. You then disaggregate the result to the subresources. This enables you to use resources evenly and achieve better performance.

You can use the following process variants:

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·        You execute an SNP heuristic run with source determination at the lower level of a hierarchy for production process models (PPMs) or production data structures (PDS). You then run capacity leveling in which the system aggregates the orders from the subresources to the header resource of a resource hierarchy and levels the header resource. Finally, you disaggregate the result back to the subresources.

·        You execute an SNP heuristic run or optimization run with source determination at header level of a PPM or PDS hierarchy. If you carried out heuristic-based planning, it is necessary to run capacity leveling to level the header resource. Finally, you disaggregate the result back to the subresources.

In addition, you can use the resource hierarchy to determine alternative resources for overloaded resources during capacity leveling. For more information, see Consideration of Alternative Resources.

Prerequisites

The process has the following general prerequisites. For the specific prerequisites for each planning step, see the respective sections in the SNP documentation under Process:

·        You have created a resource hierarchy and a PPM or PDS hierarchy that is consistent with the resource hierarchy. You have assigned the hierarchies to the supply chain model you are using.

The header and sub PPMs of the PPM/PDS hierarchy should be defined for the same product. Otherwise the product might be changed during resource disaggregation.

Standard hierarchy structures for resources and PPMs are already assigned to the standard planning area 9ASNP02. You can create hierarchies based on these structures. In SNP Customizing, you can also create your own hierarchy structures and assign them to the planning area you are using. A standard hierarchy structure is also predefined for a PDS hierarchy. However, it is not assigned to the standard planning area 9ASNP02, so you have to assign it to your own planning area.

For more information about creating hierarchy structures, see the Implementation Guide (IMG) under Advanced Planning and Optimization → Master Data → Hierarchy → Define Hierarchy Structure. For more information about creating hierarchies, see the hierarchy section in the SAP APO master data documentation.

·        For planning with aggregated resources and for aggregated planning, there is the standard planning book 9ASNPAGGR with data views SNPAGGR(1) and SNPAGGR(2) based on the standard planning area 9ASNP02. However, you can also use the standard planning area and planning book as a basis for creating your own planning area and planning book. For more information, see Planning Area Administration and Planning Book.

Process

Process Variant 1

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       1.      You perform extended safety stock planning with source determination at the lower level of the PPM or PDS hierarchy. This process step is optional.

For this, specify Only Sublevel in the Source Determination field in the safety stock planning profile.

For more information, see Extended Safety Stock Planning.

       2.      You execute a heuristic run in the background. On the initial screen for executing the heuristic in the background, choose Only Sublevel in the Source Determination field.

For more information, see Running the Heuristic in the Background.

       3.      You perform capacity leveling at header resource level. If you perform heuristic-based capacity leveling, you have two options:

                            a.      The system aggregates all orders of subresources at header level.

For this, set the Manual Parameter Selection and Raise Orders to Header Level indicators on the initial screen for executing capacity leveling in the background.

                            b.      The system only aggregates orders to header level that need to be moved so that overloads can be remedied.

For this, do not set the Raise Orders to Header Levelindicator.

Optimization-based capacity leveling always aggregates all orders to header level. For more information, see Capacity Leveling.

       4.      You execute resource disaggregation. For more information, see Resource Disaggregation.

Process Variant 2

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       1.      You perform extended safety stock planning with source determination at the header level of the PPM or PDS hierarchy. This process step is optional.

For this, specify Only Header Level in the Source Determination field in the safety stock planning profile.

For more information, see Extended Safety Stock Planning.

       2.      You execute a heuristic run or optimization run in the background. On the initial screen for executing the heuristic or the optimizer in the background, choose Only Header Level in the Source Determination field.

For more information, see Running the Heuristic in the Background or Running the Optimizer in the Background.

       3.      If you have executed a heuristic run, also perform capacity leveling at header resource level. For more information, see Capacity Leveling.

       4.      You execute resource disaggregation. For more information, see Resource Disaggregation.