AUM

Alternate Units of Measurement (AUM) are used as conversion factors such as weight, volume, or currency. This allows different base units to be converted into Alternate Units of Measurements, where you can SUM and calculate across the items in a given dataset. For example, if the base unit of measurement in a dataset is quantity or pallets, the AUMs can convert numbers to kilos or turnover. This enables you to forecast in other units than those included in the dataset and facilitates the use of compatible numbers across the organization. Multiplying the base units in the forecast with a conversion factor produces Alternative Units of Measurement columns. You can manipulate the AUM columns in the same way you manipulate the corresponding base unit columns, provided that the AUMs have been deployed to all subjacent cells.

There are two types of AUMs:

  • Simple AUM (not time-phased)
  • AUM (time-phased)

Simple AUMs are recommended for use to perform simple unit conversions that do not change over time. These are the benefits of using Simple AUMs:

  • It is easier to handle and performs better.
  • It does not use Deploy AUM, which is a long-running task.
  • You can edit it in the DMP grid in Favorite Views. You can also use it in Calculated measures.

The other type of AUM is time-phased, that is, if you have different values in some time periods. The Advanced AUMs are helpful for advanced pricelist models but are also difficult to set up. The Advanced AUMs use a Deploy AUM process to insert the AUM factors into a dataset. This process is a long-running task. It also uses the AUM Factor Edit grid to manually edit the factors, but you cannot do it in the favorite view.

  • The AUMs are defined at the version level and therefore shared between all datasets in a version. You can only view and manipulate the AUMs on pivot sheets.
  • The AUMs are defined or imported from the standard M3 DMP menu screens. If ODBC is used, you still need to install this as a prerequisite.
  • After import of the AUMs, you must deploy the conversion factors to the structure by using the AUM Deploy functionality.
  • The functionality consists of a number of dialog boxes for defining, importing, editing, and deploying the AUMs.
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