Fit Capacity to Projected Load in Simulated Environment

This procedure is used to establish a reasonable rough-cut capacity plan using the simulation capabilities in M3. It can be used to review the effects of different actions, such as investment in production capacity or changed order backlog.

Before you start

To start this procedure, these prerequisites must be completed.

  • Calculate Projected Load
  • Analyze Projected Load
Note: Refer to the see also section for details on the prerequisites.

Follow these steps

Follow the steps below to fit capacity to projected load in simulated environments.

  1. Select 'Material Plan Vsn. Open' (RPS050). Create a simulated environment and enter a name with a letter from A to E.

  2. Define the parameter for planning horizon/master scheduled items so that the entire RCCP period is covered. This should be done since this planning horizon is copied to every item in the simulated environment. If the entire period is not included, the projected load per planned orders ( resource planning base) cannot be calculated, since no planned orders are created beyond the planning horizon. The parameter for planning horizon/capacity requirements planning does not apply here.

  3. In 'Material Plan Database. Open' (RPS070), specify option 9 to copy the database to the simulated environment. This activates the plan.

  4. Switch to the simulated environment by typing command VERx, where x identifies the version name (A to E).

  5. Change the conditions for the RCCP. For example, use a different forecast, increase production capacity or reschedule planned orders. The following programs can be used without affecting the real environment.

    • 'Manual Forecast. Adjust' (FCS020)
    • 'Automatic Forecast. Calculate' (FCS100)
    • 'Manual Forecast. Enter via F/C Family' (FCS415)
    • 'Manual Forecast/MDS. Open' (FCS350)
    • 'Manual Forecast. Distribute' (FCS470)
    • 'Manual Forecast. Update fr Last Year His' (FCS480)
    • 'Manual Forecast. Remove' (FCS490)
    • 'Work Center. Open' (PDS010)
    • 'Work Center. Change Capacity' (PDS015)
    • 'Resource Reqmnt. Create' (RCS050)
  6. Carry out a load calculation for the simulation version. See the procedures for this. Note that changes to the resource requirements profiles are always real changes.

  7. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until satisfactory results are achieved. To transfer planned orders to the real environment, raise their status to 20 (firm planned orders).

  8. Type command VER to exit the simulated environment.

  9. Information from the simulated environment can only be updated in the real environment. Information can be updated in forecasts, budget, annual requirements using 'Annual Demand & Item Statistics. Update' (RPS620), and firm planned manufacturing orders using 'Material Plan Vsn. Transfer Firmed Order' (RPS650).

  10. If planned orders were transferred to the real environment in step 8, the MRP should be recalculated. 'Run Resource Reqmnt. Create' (RCS050) again to reset projected load in the real environment.