Allocation buffers

You can use allocation buffers to allocate free, (unallocated) inventory if insufficient inventory is present.

When you create an allocation buffer, free on hand inventory for a warehouse, item and, if present, an effectivity unit, is allocated to a specification. The inventory is then consumable for outbound order lines whose specification characteristics match those of the allocation buffer. Outbound order lines, advice lines, shipment lines, and so on, created in the outbound and shipment procedures obtain the specification characteristics of the demand order from which they originate.

You can only create allocation buffers if the following applies:

  • The Nicht reservierten Bestand verwenden check box is selected in the Bedingungen für Bedarfszuordnung (tctrm1165m000) session.
  • Unallocated inventory is available.

Calculating available unallocated inventory

LN calculates the available unallocated inventory as follows:

{A - (B + C + D)} + E = F
If F > G, G = unallocated available inventory
H - I = G
Symbol Value of field in Bestand nach Lager, Artikel und Gültigkeitseinheit (whwmd2516m000) session:
A Vorhandener Bestand
B Gesperrt
C Fest reserviert
D Reserviert (auf Lagerplatzebene)
E Fest reservierter Bestand in Bearbeitung
F Intermediate result
H Vorhandener Bestand field of the Bestand nach Lager, Artikel und Gültigkeitseinheit (whwmd2516m000) session
I Vorhanden field in the Bestand nach Spezifikation (whwmd2519m000) session
Note: 

Allocation buffers are generated based on a number group and series defined in the Parameter Lagerbestandsplanung (whinp0100m000) session.

The committed inventory C and the location allocated inventory D can overlap, because if outbound advice is created for committed inventory, this advised committed inventory is listed as both committed and location allocated inventory. If C and D were subtracted from A to calculate F, the calculated free inventory F would be lower than the actual free inventory. Therefore, the inventory committed in process E is added to balance the result.

If F is more than the difference between the Vorhandener Bestand field of the Bestand nach Lager, Artikel und Gültigkeitseinheit (whwmd2516m000) session and the Vorhanden field in the Bestand nach Spezifikation (whwmd2519m000) session, the result is adjusted to this difference.

Creating allocation buffers

Allocation buffers are created:

You can view allocation buffers in the Feste Bestandsreservierungen (whinp2100m000) session.

Creating allocation buffers in Unternehmensplanung

During an order planning run, Unternehmensplanung can create allocation buffers to allocate inventory to a demand order.

To allocate inventory:

  1. LN checks whether unallocated inventory is available for the item, warehouse, and specification of the demand order.

  2. If no, no allocation takes place.

  3. If yes, LN looks for allocation buffers without outbound advice whose specification characteristics match those of the demand order.

  4. If found, the quantity of the existing allocation buffer is increased with the quantity required for the demand order and the quantity of the unallocated inventory is reduced by the demand order quantity.

  5. If not found, LN creates a new allocation buffer with a specification whose characteristics are identical to those of the demand order. The quantity of the new allocation buffer matches the demand order quantity.

    In the Bestand nach Spezifikation (whwmd2519m000) session, the following fields are increased with the new allocation buffer quantity:

    • In Reservierungsbestand
    • Vorhanden

Creating allocation buffers at sales order line entry

Allocation buffers can be created as follows from the VK-Auftragspositionen (tdsls4101m000) session, or the Geplante Lieferpositionen VK-Auftrag (tdsls4101m100) session:

  • Manually from the stock shortage menu

    When an inventory shortage occurs on the order line, the Bestandsunterdeckung - Menü (tdsls4830s000) session is started. Select Reservierungsbestand erstellen to create an allocation buffer in the Reservierungsbestände erstellen (tdsls4813s000) session. The allocation buffer is created when the sales order line is saved.

  • Manually in Lagerwirtschaft

    You can allocate unallocated inventory in the Feste Bestandsreservierungen (whinp2100m000) session. On the appropriate menu, click Reservierungsbestände to start this session and enter your data.

  • Automatically at sales order line entry

    When an inventory shortage occurs, an allocation buffer is automatically created at sales order line entry if the Automatische Abwicklung von Bestandsunterdeckung field is set to Reservierungsbestand erstellen for the relevant item in the VK-Auftragsarten (tdsls0594m000) session.

Consumption of allocation buffers

If outbound advice is created for an outbound order line with a specification, LN first advises the allocated- to inventory that was received by means of supply orders with matching specification characteristics, thus increasing the quantity in the Reserviert (auf Lagerplatzebene) field of the Bestand nach Spezifikation (whwmd2519m000) session.

If this inventory is insufficient, LN advises inventory from allocation buffers with specification characteristics that match those of the outbound order line, thus increasing the quantity in the Reserviert (auf Lagerplatzebene) field and the In Reservierungsbestand field of the Bestand nach Spezifikation (whwmd2519m000) session.

Note: 

If insufficient inventory for a particular specification is available to be issued from the warehouse, you can advise unallocated inventory or inventory from a different specification to make up for the missing quantity. Whether this is allowed is determined by the Nicht reservierten Bestand vorschlagen and the Bedarfszuordnung der Auslagerungsposition ist verbindlich check box in the Einstellungen für Lagerwirtschaft nach Standort (whwmd2101m000) session. See Allocated or unallocated inventory in the outbound process.

Likewise, if outbound advice is released for an outbound order line with a specification, LN first releases the allocated- to inventory that was received by means of orders with matching specification characteristics. If the corresponding shipment lines are confirmed, the quantity in the Reserviert (auf Lagerplatzebene) field of the Bestand nach Spezifikation (whwmd2519m000) session is decreased.

If this inventory is insufficient, LN releases inventory from allocation buffers with specification characteristics that match those of the outbound order line. If the corresponding shipment lines are confirmed, the quantity in the Reserviert (auf Lagerplatzebene) field of the Bestand nach Spezifikation (whwmd2519m000) session is decreased.

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