Enabling Macro Orders

This document explains how you enable the use of macro orders in M3 Supply Chain Planning and M3 Manufacturing.

Macro orders are used to facilitate planning when dealing with large order volumes. A macro order consists of relevant summary information from orders and/or supply chains that are aggregated on a suitable level from a planner's perspective.

In current version of the system, macro orders are only used when M3 Planning Workbench (M3 PWB) is integrated with M3 Business Engine (BE).

Outcome

The macro order functionality is activated and defined so that macro orders will be aggregated according to the requirements of the planners at your company.

For use cases, refer to the list of documents in the See also section.

Before you start

  • Your company has a planning policy.
  • All materials to be aggregated into a macro order must be defined as critical material. This means that the 'Critical material' check box must be selected when the material is added to a product structure in 'Product. Connect Material' (PDS002/F). (If the material has been defined as critical when connected to the facility in 'Item. Connect Facility' (MMS003/F), this will be proposed by default.)
  • All operations to be aggregated into a macro order must be defined as critical resources. This means that the 'Critical resource' field must be set to 1 (Critical) or 2 (Non-controlling) when the operation is added to a product structure in 'Product. Connect Operations' (PDS002/G). (If the work center in question has been defined as a critical resource in 'Work Center. Open' (PDS01/E), this will be proposed by default.)
  • The macro order number series (number series type 44, number series C) must be defined in 'Number Series. Open' (CRS165).

Follow these steps

  1. Activate Macro Order Functionality and Define Time Frames

    First, you activate the macro order functionality and define which bucket lengths to use when orders and/or supply chains are aggregated into macro orders. For each bucket length a macro order will be created.

    Different bucket lengths can be used for preliminary orders and approved orders, thereby enable you to use a higher aggregation level for preliminary orders on a longer horizon in order to minimize the information that the planner needs for validation.

    This is done in 'Settings – Macro Order' (RPS800).

  2. Define Macro Order Policy

    Next, you define a set of macro order policies. A policy basically consists of a set of rules that determines on which item level orders and/or supply chains are connected to a macro order from a product and demand perspective, as well as how the materials and operations in the orders and/or supply chains are aggregated.

    This is done in 'Macro Order Policy. Open' (RPS350).

  3. Connect Items to Macro Order Policy

    Finally, you connect items with similar characteristics to each macro order policy. You do so by using control objects such as product group and item group. All items that belong to the specified control object ID are then automatically connected.

    This is done in 'Macro Order Policy Selection Table. Open' (RPS360).

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