Using segment sets
Segments have a specific segment length, are expressed in the segment time unit (weeks, months, four weeks, and so on), and are linked to requirement types. A segment set consists of a number of segments.
To set up a segment set, refer to Overview of purchase schedule handling.
Segment sets and purchase schedules
If you use push schedules or pull forecast schedules, the segment set from the Purchase Contract Line Logistic Data (tdpur3102m000) session and/or the Items - Purchase Business Partner (tdipu0110m000) session is used to:
- Regenerate schedule lines in the Regenerate Schedules (tdpur3211m000) session.
- Cluster schedule lines to generate release line details with the status Created, which you can perform in the Generate Release Lines (tdpur3222m000) session.
For pull call-off schedules, no segment sets are used because these schedules lines are not regenerated, or clustered and are immediately converted to a release line detail with the status Scheduled. As a result, the requirement type is always Firm.
Segment Set - Segments (tdipu0114m000) If you link segments to the segment set in the Segment Set - Segments (tdipu0114m000) session, you must make sure that you use the correct segment time units. Make sure that:
- You correctly define the first segment time unit of the first segment in a segment set. For example, if you set the first segment time unit to Week or Four Weeks, and if the calculated schedule issue date does not fall on a Monday, some days can be excluded from the clustering or regeneration process. Note that these segment time units always have Monday as a starting point for their activities. As a result, for a segment time unit defined as Week or Four Weeks, LN only starts clustering or regenerating schedule lines from the first Monday that follows the previously calculated schedule issue date. For a segment time unit defined as Month, LN does not start to cluster or regenerate schedule lines on the first available Monday, but on the first available Monday of the following month.
- The various segments connect. For example, if you combine the weekly time unit, which runs from Monday through Sunday, with the monthly time unit, which runs from the first Monday of the month through the day before the first Monday of the following month, a period of time can be undefined when you regenerate or cluster schedule lines.
- When LN regenerates schedule lines, if a period is undefined between two segments, the schedule lines that fall in this time gap automatically receive the requirement type of the segment with the highest sequence number. For example, if a time gap exists between a segment that calculates the Firm requirement type and a segment that calculates the Planned requirement type, the schedule lines that fall in this time gap automatically receive the Firm requirement type.
- When LN clusters schedule lines, if a period is undefined between two segments, LN automatically adds another segment that fills this time gap so that the schedule lines that fall in this time gap are also included in the clustering process. All the schedule lines that fall within the time period of that newly generated segment, are clustered into one release line detail.
- All schedule lines in a purchase release that fall after the period calculated by the last segment in a segment set, automatically receive the Planned requirement type.
Example
Next schedule issue date: 19/07
Segments in the segment set:
| Segment Code | Requirement Type | Time Unit | Segment Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Firm | Weeks | 1 |
| 2 | Planned | Months | 1 |
| 3 | Planned | Months | 1 |
Segment time calculation, based on schedule issue date:
| Segment Code | Start Date | End Date | Requirement Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19/07 | 25/07 | Firm |
| 2 | 02/08 | 05/09 | Planned |
| 3 | 06/09 | 03/10 | Planned |
In this example, a time gap of one week exists between 26 July and 2 August. Although LN automatically fills this time gap, to avoid time gaps in a segment set, use the four weeks time unit in combination with the weekly time unit.
The schedule lines that fall in the time gap of 26 July through 2 August automatically receive the requirement type of the segment with the highest sequence number, which is the Firm requirement type.