Checking Capacity Availability

Outcome

Based on the result of the supply chain planning, suggestions for necessary forecast reductions due to capacity constraints in the supply chain are available in M3 DMP. If required by the M3 DMP administrator, opportunities for additional production within the capacity constraints are also available, enabling an increase in sales volumes.

The suggestions for necessary forecast reductions and opportunities from M3 SCP enter into the consensus-seeking process as suggestions to be negotiated.

Data import and any forecast activities performed in M3 DMP do not affect M3 Business Engine. The M3 BE is only affected when exporting data from M3 DMP. See Exporting Consolidated Sales Forecast Proposal.

Before Starting

• M3 Supply Chain Planner (M3 SCP) is installed.
• A model including all data and parameters except demand data is built in M3 SCP.
• The M3 SCP model and the structure of the demand data from M3 DMP must be consistent.

Workflow

The activities described below are an outline of the necessary steps to use M3 SCP to perform supply chain planning based on a Demand Plan Proposal from M3 DMP. The user should obtain further knowledge of the concept of supply chain planning and the structure and mechanisms of the M3 SCP model.

Activity Description

1. Define and save M3 SCP data

   In this activity, the data to be used in M3 SCP is defined. The Datasets, Demand Plan Proposal scenarios, and desired filtering are defined in a Favorite view. M3 SCP performs supply chain planning on aggregated data and it is mandatory to aggregate atleast two keys in order to create the M3 SCP package. The M3 SCP Data Wizard is therefore used to match M3 DMP keys to the elements used in the M3 SCP model. The data type, budget version, and the time periods to be used are specified.  Finally, the Demand Plan Proposal is saved as defined in a package file that is made available to the supply chain planner for use in M3 SCP.

2. Perform Supply Chain Planning

   In this activity the supply chain planning is performed in M3 SCP. The demand data from M3 DMP is loaded into an existing version in M3 SCP with all other data and parameters defined. The supply chain model including the demand data from M3 DMP is optimized with respect to the capacity constraints in the supply chain. If required by the M3 DMP administrator, Opportunity Planning and Best Sales Optimization is performed. The Capacity Adjusted Plan and, if required, suggestions for opportunities are written to the package file that is made available to the M3 DMP administrator.

3. Receive and view Capacity Adjusted Plan and opportunities

   Using the M3 SCP Data Wizard, the Capacity Adjusted Plan and suggestions for opportunities are shown in a worksheet. The M3 DMP administrator analyzes these suggestions and decides which ones to incorporate in the Demand Plan Proposal or discuss with other forecast participants. See Reaching Collaborative Consensus.