Generating Data for the Material Planner Workbench

Use the Material Planner Workbench Generation form to populate the Material Planner Workbench form with planned supply orders. To generate the data, perform the following tasks:

Note: To see demands for components on job orders, run the Scheduler before running the Material Planner Workbench Generation utility.
  1. If Use Planned Data is set to Yes, you must run the MRP or APS Planning activity or MPS Processor before running this utility.
  2. If you will be generating data based on a range of jobs or projects, make sure that every job or project in the range has been scheduled. Jobs and projects that have not been scheduled will not be included on the Material Planner Workbench form. Run the Scheduling activity before running the Material Planner Workbench Generation form.
  3. Decide if you want to delete your previous batch before posting this data on the Material Planner Workbench form. If you select No under Delete Planner's Batch, new data will be added to the previous batch.
    Note:  In some situations, if you do not delete the planner's batch, the Generation does not process any records.
  4. Determine whether you want to use MRP, APS, or MPS planned data, item replenishment information, or cross-referencing to generate the planned supply orders.
    Generation method Description Do this to use it
    MRP or APS planned orders, MPS data, or approved requisition lines Output from running MRP Planning, APS Planning, or MPS Processor Select Yes under Use Planned Data. Make sure the MRP Planning, APS Planning, or MPS Processor have run successfully before you run the Material Planner Workbench Generation
    Item replenishment information Determines whether the total demand for an item, netted against the total supply for the item, drives the on-hand inventory level below the safety stock value. Creates a planned supply order to cover each shortage (due date=current date/time + lead time). Select No under Use Planned Data and enter a warehouse and a range of items.
    Cross-referencing Creates planned supply orders for all requirements and hard-pegs the supply orders to the requirements. Select No under Use Planned Data and enter a range of orders, projects, transfers, and jobs. Leaving the range blank will process all records of that type. For jobs and projects to be included, they must be scheduled and must not have a cross-reference value.

    You must select the Process field for each type of data before that data can be processed (at least one type must be selected, unless you are using Planned Data).

  5. Specify this information:
    • Ending Date
    • Source
    • Planner Code
    • Buyer
    If the source is purchased or transferred and Use Planned Data is set to Yes, source rules are consulted.
    Note:  If the generation does not create any records, make sure your Buyer Code is associated with the items you are trying to process, or try blanking out the Buyer and/or the Planner Code to process all items. Also, make sure the Ending Date is set far enough into the future to find records to process.
  6. To calculate replenishment requirements for all warehouses, specify your Default warehouse (as specified on the Inventory Parameters form) in the Warehouse field. To calculate replenishment requirements for only a single warehouse, specify that warehouse in the Warehouse field. If you enter a warehouse other than the default warehouse, these fields are disabled:
    • Use Planned Data
    • Order
    • Project
    • Transfer
    • Job
    • SRO
  7. If you want requirements to be replenished by transfer orders, select Transfer. For any other means of replenishment (such as by jobs or purchase orders), select Direct. Direct demand generates replenishments to the selected warehouse, and direct demand data can populate any Material Planner Workbench view except Purchase Requisitions.
  8. After you have entered ranges of items to process (if Use Planned Data is set to No), click Process.

    The Errors tab lists any items that were not processed because they already exist on another Material Planner Workbench.

  9. Troubleshoot any errors. Sometimes the Material Planner Workbench Generation form displays the message "0 Item(s) were processed." Here are some tips for avoiding this problem:
    • If Use Planned Data is set to Yes, make sure the APS or MRP Planning activity or MPS Processor has run successfully before running the generation.
    • Make sure the Ending Date is set far enough into the future to find records to process.
    • If Use Planned Data is set to No, make sure at least one of the Process check boxes is selected.
    • Make sure your buyer and/or planner code is associated with the items you are processing. Sometimes you must set these two fields to blank to generate these types of requirements with this utility.
    • Set Delete Planner's Batch to Yes.
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