Search Results for: sap-apo

  • Introduction to SAP APO PP/DS

    ByPrimary Researcher

    Executive Summary

    PP/DS uses two methods for performing planning and scheduling. In this article, we cover capacity level versus capacity constraining.
    We cover fixed versus dynamic pegging, lot size settings, planning sophistication versus ERP, heuristic planning, ATP’s accuracy, how resources are managed, PP/DS with process industry planning, and the PP/DS release history.

    Introduction
    Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS) in SAP APO is designed for the manufacturing portion of your company’s supply chain. Planning systems for production planning help you decide when to schedule production requirements in a way that matches your factory capacity …

  • Introduction to SAP APO SNP

    ByPrimary Researcher

    … tell any lie for personal benefit. Furthermore, SAP pays off all IT analysts — who have the same concern for accuracy as SAP. Not one of these entities will disclose their pro-SAP financial bias to their readers. 

    SNP as the Heart of APO
    SNP is often considered the heart of SAP APO because it ties together many other SAP APO applications. Those implementing SNP must be keenly aware of the interrelationships with other SAP APO applications. SNP is about managing the inventory at all of the locations that make up the supply network, which is all of the stock holding …

  • How to Understand Redeployment Decision Matrix for SAP APO

    ByPrimary Researcher

    Executive Summary

    Different Redeployment Designs in Conjunction with APO
    Redeployment Decision Matrix
    Integrating with the SAP Deployment Solution
    The Approach for Transportation Lane Management
    The Downsides

    Introduction
    Redeployment is a much less discussed supply planning thread. Some redeployment is necessary at most companies.
    Different Redeployment Designs in Conjunction with APO
    Companies do not meet their redeployment (not be confused with deployment needs, which are met with the SNP deployment heuristic) needs with APO. I have been through this topic with several companies, with a desire by either the consulting company or SAP, that we “get creative” in coming up with …

  • How to Best Document SAP APO Configuration

    ByPrimary Researcher

    Executive Summary

    We cover how to document and store SAP configuration settings.
    Another useful item is the SAP configuration spreadsheets.
    One can extract configuration data from SAP.

    Introduction
    In SAP, the configuration is everything from the time settings (for a detailed explanation of the many different time settings that can be found in planning applications, see my book “Planning Horizons and Timings in SAP APO,”) in the system to the method that is applied to a particular product location.
    Many companies document the configuration in the project configuration documentation. I have written many of these documents myself.
    Configuration Spreadsheets
    I …

  • Introduction to SAP APO DP

    ByPrimary Researcher

    Executive Summary

    Demand Planning or DP covers forecasting is SAP APO’s most popular application.
    We cover the basic functionality and concepts of SAP DP.

    Introduction
    In this article, you’ll get a high-level overview of the entire SAP APO DP.
    For some time, the main area of differentiation between forecasting software was the algorithm used to drive the results. However, over the past few years, software companies began using more sophisticated databases that allowed fast response times for looking and forecasting at different levels in the product, location, and time dimensions.
    How SAP DP Can be Implemented
    SAP …

  • Introduction to SAP APO

    ByPrimary Researcher

    … the entire SAP APO suite.
    What is APO Made Up Of?
    SAP APO is made up of a series of applications that address most companies’ supply chain planning areas. One area of great interest to companies is how SAP ERP supply chain planning differs from the advanced planning available in SAP APO. While a point-by-point comparison could be its own book, generally speaking, SAP ERP contains a simplified version of some of the SAP APO functionality, so an application from SAP ERP can be substituted, at a lower level of functionality, for an application in SAP APO. To …

  • An Important Issue with Subcontracting in SAP APO

    ByPrimary Researcher

    Executive Summary

    Subcontracting functionality works in specific SAP APO modules. It is essential to understand the subcontracting process flow.

    Introduction
    I cover subcontracting in this article. Subcontracting, in supply chain management, is the outsourcing of a manufacturing process, where the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) provides some of the parts or a semi-finished good to the subcontractor. Therefore, a stock transfer would have to be created to move the material from the OEM to the subcontract locations, and a purchase requisition/order would need to be made from the supplier to the subcontract location.
    The Background on The Subcontracting Issue …

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    How to Understand the Key Figure Setting Options in SAP APO

    ByPrimary Researcher

    Executive Summary

    Covering the Planning Book configuration, which means understanding Key Figure options and the available settings.
    Key Figures used in DP and their configuration are covered in this article.

    Introduction to Proportional Factors
    When reviewing a Planning Book, it is important to consider that each Key Figure has many ways to configure. For instance, if we look at just one area, calculation, there are multiple ways that a Key Figure can be calculated based upon another input. In this article, you will learn all about the configuration options regarding the proportional factors.
    Our References for This Article
    If you …

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    Has Optimization within SAP APO Failed?

    ByPrimary Researcher

    Executive Summary

    Optimization in SAP APO has failed in both SNP and PP/DS.
    There are repeated problems with cost settings, and this failure is widely censored by SAP consulting companies that prefer to bill customers for what is a dead solution.

    An Appraisal of the True State of Optimization in SAP APO
    If one looks at PP/DS implementations – the optimizer is rarely used in production. Those that do use it end up using it infrequently. I recently heard of PP/DS being run with the optimizer, but the source is very pro-SAP and very pro-IT (meaning …

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    The Brightwork Research & Analysis Rating and Risk for SAP APO PP/DS

    ByPrimary Researcher

    Executive Summary

    This is the Brightwork Research & Analysis software rating series.
    We rate both the software and estimate the risk of implementing each application.

    MUFI Rating & Risk for SAP APO PP/DS
    MUFI: Maintainability, Usability, Functionality, Implement ability
    Vendor: SAP (Select For Vendor Profile)
    Introduction
    SAP Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS) is the production planning and scheduling application within the SAP APO or SAP SCM (SAP’s new nomenclature for the suite is SCM, but most people still refer to it as APO) suite.
    SAP APO is a broad advanced planning suite that includes, depending on how you …