Figure 40: Collaborative Planning
The aim of collaborative demand planning is to exchange period-based key figures between manufacturers, dealers and customers in order to get a consensus-based forecast. In collaborative sales planning, the buyer and seller develop a shared forecast using the Internet and input their information dynamically. It is a
business-to-business workflow, with dynamic data exchange, designed to increase in-stock customer stock while cutting inventory. The basic process consists of six steps. The parties involved need to:
1. Agree on a process: defining each partner's role, determining the degree of confidentiality of shared information, committing resources. Agree on a procedure for dealing with exceptions and performance measurement.
2. Create a shared plan and determining which products should be jointly managed. This includes roles, strategy, and tactics.
3. Develop a single forecast of consumer demand based on combined promotion calendars and analysis of POS data and causal data.
4. Identify and resolve forecast exceptions. This is achieved by comparing current measured values such as stock levels in each store adjusted for changes such as promotions against the agreed-upon exception criteria (in-stock level, forecast accuracy targets).
5. Develop a single order forecast that time-phases the sales forecast while meeting the business plan's inventory and service objectives and accommodating capacity constraints for manufacturing, shipping, etc.
6. Identify and resolve exceptions to the forecast, particularly those involving the manufacturer's constraints in delivering specified volumes. An interactive loop for reviewing orders is thus created.
Using the internet and any web browser, the external partner in the collaborative planning process views and enters forecast data, materials requirements or other key figures in the manufacturer's SAP SCM system. Using only a web browser, the external partner can:
• define selections starting with Release SCM 5.0
• view planning data
• enter, edit, or delete data, for example, the weekly forecast
• choose and execute a macro for data evaluation
• create and display notes
• drill down with standard functionality on one characteristic at a time
• sort column of characteristic values
• access SAP alerts that can also be displayed in Alert Monitor General prerequisites for interactive Supply and Demand Planning:
Assign the user a planning book (choose from SAP Easy Access Demand Planning → Environment → Current Settings → Assign User to Planning Book).
Assign selections to the user. You have the following options here: You can create the selection in interactive demand planning or in interactive Supply Network Planning (SNP) and assign the user there. You can also skip this step, if you activate the selection function for the user. The user can then create selections directly in the Internet planning group, which he can be assigned automatically.
In the SAP SCM system make user settings for collaborative supply and demand planning. These settings let you determine the layout of the Internet planning book, as well as which options are available to the external partner.SAP Easy Access from Supply Chain Cooperation → Environment → Current Settings→
User Settings for Collaborative Supply and Demand Planning. Here, you can set whether the user is allowed to create selections.
Whether the user is allowed to create selections Display or change mode
Graphics display Entering memos Exporting data Column width Headers as footers
Header information in drill-down mode Sorting data in drill-down mode Number of rows in drill-down mode Headers in drill-down mode
Width of the selection box and the descriptive text
In past Releases some of these settings could be made via /SAPAPO/CLP* user parameters
In order to allow Drill-down / Drill-up via the web browser, you must maintain the header information of the corresponding planning book in the SAM module for interactive supply and sales planning (Settings -> Header Information). Select the characteristics which you want to enable drill down and set the “Changeable”
indicator. Here you also have the option to select whether the actual characteristic value or the description should be displayed in Drill down mode.
In the Collaborative Planning, you cannot execute the following:
• Use of large data set on the disaggregated level (data set = number of key figures * number of disaggregated characteristics * time periods)
• Execute the DP/SNP function (transaction /sapapo/sdp94) using an SAP GUI for HTML
• Execute double drill-down
• Use drill-down and drill-up macro
• Display more than 3 macro buttons
• individual characteristics selection (like with Shuffler in DP/SNP)
• Display colors for planning book cells
• Assign/Use the selection which is not assigned to the user
• Create a note in certain cases (see below for details)
• Execute macros in display mode
• Use the RICON macro to display a symbol on the right side of the cell
• display Detail view for SNP planning book
• use VISIBLE macros (ROW_VISIBLE, COL_VISIBLE) to control the visibility of a grid element
• use macros which consider a grid element which is marked / selected by a cursor
• fix a key figure value (fix a cell)
• expand and collapse the grouped rows which are behind a master row.
• Use the repeat header function (user parameter '/SAPAPO/CLP_REPHEAD') when the paging function is active. (Only relevant for SCM Release 4.0)
Note: See note 564186 for more details To implement collaborative planning :
Set up an ITS server for your system and publish the CLP* Services. As of SCM 4.1, the ITS plug-in is integrated into the kernel.
Maintain the WEB_SERVER and the WEB_PROTCL for the logical system in table TWPURLSVR in the SCM system (for example,
"IGOTO-800.WDF.SAP-AG.DE:1080" and "HTTP").
Inform the user that the following menu path connects you to the Internet and the relevant Internet address: Demand Planning → Planning → Collaborative Demand Planning.
Exercise 5: Collaborative Planning
Exercise Objectives
After completing this exercise, you will be able to:
• Use collaborative planning to enter planning data via the internet
Business Example
After configuring the planning table layout in the planning book, customers must be told their URL and log-on data. Then customers can enter their data via the Internet.
Task:
1. Access Collaborative Demand Planning and log on to the system. Select your planning book, DPCOLL##, with the data view COLL##, and the selection COLL##. Go to the Change mode. In the CUSTOMER CORRECTION key figure, enter 10 pieces each month for the next three months for product P-102. ClickEnter and save your entries.
2. Call up interactive planning and check your entries for your DPBOOK##
planning book with the DEMAND PLAN data view. Double-click the selection, PRODUCT##. Load the data for the product, P-102. Drill-down by Customer. Why do you find planning quantities of 10 pieces each month for the next three months for Customer, 0000001032?
Solution 5: Collaborative Planning
Task:
1. Access Collaborative Demand Planning and log on to the system. Select your planning book, DPCOLL##, with the data view COLL##, and the selection COLL##. Go to the Change mode. In the CUSTOMER CORRECTION key figure, enter 10 pieces each month for the next three months for product P-102. ClickEnter and save your entries.
a) Follow this path: Advanced Planning and Optimization → Demand Planning → Planning → Collaborative Demand Planning.
Log on to the system with your SCM user profile.
Select the planning book DPCOLL##, with data view, COLL##, and selection COLL##. Next, click the Choose icon on the right-hand side.
Go to the Change mode by clicking the pencil icon on the far right of the screen. Enter your data, press Enter, and save.
Exit Collaborative Planning.
2. Call up interactive planning and check your entries for your DPBOOK##
planning book with the DEMAND PLAN data view. Double-click the selection, PRODUCT##. Load the data for the product, P-102. Drill-down by Customer. Why do you find planning quantities of 10 pieces each month for the next three months for Customer, 0000001032?
a) Follow this path: Advanced Planning and Optimization → Demand Planning → Planning → Interactive Demand Planning.
Double-select the DEMAND PLAN data view in your DPBOOK##
planning book. Using your PRODUCT## selection ID, load the data for product P-102.
Click theHeader Information Settings icon located above the planning table. Select the CUSTOMER characteristic. Adopt. A navigation bar appears for you to select the individual characteristic values, the total characteristic values, or an overview (Details all) of the characteristic values. Execute a drill-down according to Customer by selecting the Details All option. You will find planning quantities of 10 pieces each month for the next three months for Customer 0000001032 in key figure CUSTOMER CORRECTION, because you only included this customer in your selection for collaborative planning.
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Use collaborative planning to enter forecast quantities using the internet.
Related Information
• SAP Note 597532: CLPSDP40/41: Settings in Collaborative Supply and Demand plg
• SAP Note 564186: CLPSDP: Restrictions in APO Collaborative Planning
• SAP Note 716998: CLP41: Collaborative Planning on SCM Release 4.1 - part 1
• SAP Note 720121: CLP41: Collaborative Planning on SCM Release 4.1 - part 2
• SAP Note 708192: CLP: Restriction with 'URLAMON' parameter
• SAP Note 577845: CLP 40: Install ITS services for APO Collaborative Planning
Unit Summary
You should now be able to:
• Use the selection area to display the data of selected objects
• Create, save, and assign selection IDs to user logon IDs.
• Use the work area for planning
• Explain enqueue management in Demand Planning
• Analyze data using aggregation and disaggregation methods
• Navigate in the work area
• Change proportional factors interactively
• Use the basic planning table functions
• Enter notes to document your planning data
• Fix values of key figures in interactive planning
• Copy between the interactive planning table and Microsoft Excel
• Export your planning book data to Microsoft Excel at the detail, aggregate, and pivotal table levels.
• Explain and use different options for reporting on your planning data.
• Use collaborative planning to enter forecast quantities using the internet.
Test Your Knowledge
1. The demand planner uses the selection ID to quickly display selected objects that are accessed frequently.
Determine whether this statement is true or false.
□ True
□ False
2. To display the data of multiple objects in the work area, select all the objects and select the load data symbol.
Determine whether this statement is true or false.
□ True
□ False
3. You can use Switch columns/rows to display an overview of all the members in your work area.
Determine whether this statement is true or false.
□ True
□ False
4. When you start to plan, the selected data is unlocked by default . Determine whether this statement is true or false.
□ True
□ False
5. You can fix the value of a key figure in Interactive Planning only after you run the forecast.
Determine whether this statement is true or false.
□ True
□ False
6. You select your planning books and data views in the area.
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.
7. You use the symbol to choose which
planning view key figures are to be displayed in the work area.
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.
8. allows the sequence of key figures and characteristic values to be set in the all details view.
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.
9. What are the various tasks that you can perform by right-selecting on cell on the top left of the planning table?
10. What are the main purposes for which you use notes?
11. What are the two prerequisites for fixing?
12. What are the planning prerequisites for Collaborative Planning?
Answers
1. The demand planner uses the selection ID to quickly display selected objects that are accessed frequently.
Answer: True
The demand planner uses the selection ID to quickly access frequently used selections.
2. To display the data of multiple objects in the work area, select all the objects and select the load data symbol.
Answer: True
To display the data of selected objects in the work area, double-select the selected object. If you have selected more than one object, select Load data.
3. You can use Switch columns/rows to display an overview of all the members in your work area.
Answer: False
You can use Switch columns/rows to arrange the periods vertically.
4. When you start to plan, the selected data is unlocked by default . Answer: False
When you start to plan, the selected data is locked. The other planners can use only the other characteristic values and versions from the same InfoCube at this time.
5. You can fix the value of a key figure in Interactive Planning only after you run the forecast.
Answer: False
You can fix the value of a key figure in Interactive Planning before running the forecast. After the value is fixed, it will not change when you change the other values of this key figure at the other planning levels.
6. You select your planning books and data views in the Planning book/data view area.
Answer: Planning book/data view
7. You use the key figure selection symbol to choose which planning view key figures are to be displayed in the work area.
Answer: key figure selection
8. Pivot sorting allows the sequence of key figures and characteristic values to be set in the all details view.
Answer: Pivot sorting
9. What are the various tasks that you can perform by right-selecting on cell on the top left of the planning table?
Answer: When you right-select the cell on the top left of the planning table, you can switch columns with rows, synchronize the table and graphic, change units of measurement, and perform pivot sorting.
10. What are the main purposes for which you use notes?
Answer: You can use notes to explain the reasons for an occurrence and navigate between levels.
11. What are the two prerequisites for fixing?
Answer: The two prerequisites for fixing are: You have created an APO key figure in the Administrator Workbench and assigned it a fixed key figure.
In releases prior to 4.0, if you want to fix the values at aggregated levels, you must define an aggregate for this level in your planning object structure.
12. What are the planning prerequisites for Collaborative Planning?
Answer: The planning prerequisites for collaborative planning are: You have assigned a planning book and authorizations to the user.
You have assigned selection variants to the user.
You have configured the planning table header information for the user, if drill-downs are required.
Unit 3
Forecasting
Unit Overview
This unit will help you understand the concept of forecast profiles with control parameters and forecast errors. Next, you will learn to describe the differences between the various forecasting methods and models for univariate forecasting, causal analysis, and composite forecasting. Finally, you will be able to create your own forecast profiles and execute forecasts in the SCM system.
Unit Objectives
After completing this unit, you will be able to:
• Explain the forecasting process flow
• Create a master forecast profile
• Create a univariate forecast profile
• Use forecast profiles for forecasting
• Use univariate forecasting models
• Use exponential smoothing for forecasting
• Use automatic model selection
• Use outlier correction for performing automatic correction in historical data
• Use the Workday adjustment function
• Choose the forecast errors to be calculated
• Explain automatic aggregation of historical data
• Assign forecast profiles to products
• Use forecast comparison to determine the best forecast model
• Explain multiple linear regression to create forecasts
• Use composite forecasting to execute a forecast
• Use composite forecasting to pick the best forecast model based on an error measure.
• Explain how Demand Planning in SAP SCM might support a consensus based forecast process.
Unit Contents
Lesson: Executing a Univariate Forecast...103 Exercise 6: Interactive Forecasting ... 119 Lesson: Determining the Best Forecast Method...125 Exercise 7: Determining the Best Forecast Method ...133 Exercise 8: Forecast Alert Profile ...137 Lesson: Causal Analysis - Multiple Linear Regression ...143 Lesson: Composite Forecasting ...151 Exercise 9: Composite Forecasting (Optional) ...155 Lesson: Reconciling Demand Plans (Optional) ...159