Material Synchronization

Using the Material Synchronization component, you can link demand and supply. The component orders and the parent orders can be linked. Subsequent simulations respect the supply time and plan demands accordingly.

On the Primary behavior tab, you can perform these actions:

1. Select the items to synchronize
2. Select the material synchronization function
3. Select the material synchronization method
4. Select the material synchronization area

On the Secondary behavior tab, you can define a more detailed item selection, and select demand and supply types.

On the Tolerance behavior tab, you can select tolerances for material synchronization.

You can use these material synchronization functions:

1. Synchronize. Use this function to generate links between the selected supplies and demands on the selected items. These links are respected in subsequent simulations.
2. Shortage check. Use this function to generate links between the selected supplies and demands on the selected items. These links are displayed as shortage checked. These links do not postpone parent orders in subsequent simulations. Instead material shortage are identified and necessary manual decisions can be taken.
3. Lock. Use this function to set a status lock on the existing links of the selected items. When performing synchronization or a shortage check, all the not locked links that have been generated by a previous shortage check or synchronization are deleted. This function can preserve the result from an earlier shortage check or earlier synchronization.
4. Unlock. Use this function to remove the lock status on all the links of the selected items.
5. Remove not locked links. Use this function to remove the not locked links that are generated by a shortage check or by synchronization.
6. Remove all links. Use this function to remove all the links, including the locked links, that are generated by a shortage check or by synchronization.

You can use these material synchronization methods:

1. Earliest supply. This method is the standard method. The selected demands are sorted according to time, infinite time, and priority. The demands are handled according to this sorting. The first demand is linked to the earliest supply. The next demand is processed and is linked to the earliest free supply and so on.
2. Closest supply. The demands are sorted according to priority/time/infinite time/sequence number. The demands are handled according to this sorting. The first demand is linked to the closest earlier supply. Then the next demand is processed and is linked to the closest earlier free supply and so on.

You can use these material synchronization area:

1. Warehouse. Orders are usually generated on warehouse level in MRP/DRP. Therefore warehouse is the standard level for material synchronization area.
2. Facility.
3. Division.
4. Company.

Lead Time Handling. This parameter controls lead time handling. If the parameter is active and a demand is linked to a supply with supply time later than the lead time offset, the status of this link is "L". For planning purposes, the material is available at the time of the lead time date. This method can be used if new supplies can always be available according to lead time. To enable lead time handling, you must specify, on the item, a lead time that is greater than zero.

Respect Due Date from Spare Part Customer Orders. Use this parameter primarily to handle spare part customer orders where a manufacturing order delivers to spare part customer orders and end item orders or another order. If an order is linked to an external requirement, for example, a spare part customer order, then the due date from the external requirement is copied to the order and the order is marked with "Respect due date on order". The due date of an order that is marked in this way is respected when calculating the latest end, even if the order delivers to a parent order with a later due date.

You can use these tolerance methods:

1. None. If total demand must always be covered before production can start, then no tolerance method must be selected.
2. Percentage. During Material synchronization, a tolerance percentage of the original demand or supply quantity of the size that is specified in the Percentage field is used.
3. Quantity. During Material synchronization, a tolerance quantity of the size that is specified in the Quantity field is used.