Master Planning

Master Planning calculates and controls the master production schedule, representing the long-term production plan of a company.

The resource master plan is derived from the production plan. This plan represents the capacity utilization of the critical capabilities in a company. The channel plan is derived from the central production plan. This plan contains the forecast, actual sales volumes, and allowed sales volumes from each demand channel.

  • Item planning

    The master plan for an item can be generated based on the demand, purchase plan, or planned distribution orders, depending on the sources of the plan items. If based on demand, a production plan is created.

    The demand can be of the type: Forecast, Sales Orders, Sales Quotations, Sales Schedules and more.

    Master planning runs from the order horizon of a plan item up to the planning horizon. It can be run in infinite and finite mode by using workload control. Additionally, master planning can be run in regenerative or net change mode. In net change mode, only plan items for which changes have occurred are selected during the run. Signals based on the master planning can be generated that warns the planner of exceptions in the plan.

  • Resource planning

    For every resource it can be indicated whether a resource master plan applies. The resource master plan is a view on the available capacity, capacity utilization and the resulting free capacity for each plan period as defined on the scenario in which you work. You can view the capacity capable to promise is calculated and displayed in the plan to support order promising. The sources of the capacity utilization, which can be critical capacities, planned orders, actual SFC order, service order, and PCS activities.

  • Channels in Enterprise Planning

    Enterprise Planning supports the use of channels. A channel is a sales or distribution channel that you use to distribute particular items to particular customers (sold-to business partners). For example, a channel can represent a particular geographical area, or a particular group of customers. Forecasts can be maintained and compared with actual sales in the channel master plan. For each plan item it can be determined if the module is channeled.

    Based on the allowed demand, the channel available to promise is calculated to support order promising. Forecast and allowed demand can also be calculated by using disaggregation from the central item master plan.

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