SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (SAP APO) supply network planning (SNP) helps to provide medium- to long-term planning for procurement of products to meet customer demand. SNP heuristics help to plan the constant flow of products through the entire network of the supply chain. Deployment comes into the picture after an SNP run has completed and has generated receipt elements. In an ideal scenario if there are no changes to demand and supply, then deployment is irrelevant. However, in a practical scenario, both demand and supply vary from planned quantities and therefore the deployment run is important. Deployment typically works on confirmed production orders or stocks at the source location. Deployment determines which requirements can be covered by the existing supply. If the produced quantities (supply and demand) match actual plans, then the result of deployment is a confirmation of the supply network plan. If the available quantities are insufficient to cover the demand, the system makes adjustments accordingly The deployment run generates confirmed planned orders using best practice distribution planning processes. The basic idea of deployment is to convert planned stock transfers into confirmed stock transfers (confirmed distribution requirements and receipts) according to the available supplies, the demands, and the deployment strategy. The deployment run takes into account four different deployment horizons:

• Pull deployment horizon: This horizon refers to the period of time over which deployment takes into account the planned distribution demand. The horizon starts from today’s date. During the deployment run, the system attempts to fulfill all distribution demands within this horizon. Distribution begins on the first day for which distribution demands exist in the system and ends on the last day of the pull deployment horizon.
• Push deployment horizon: This horizon refers to the period of time over which deployment takes into account the receipts defined in the ATD (Available-To-Deploy) receipt category group of the location master. The horizon starts from today’s date.
• Safety stock horizon: This horizon is only used during a specific push rule strategy and confirms planned issues that would have to be covered by safety stock at the source location if the difference between the demand and deploy date is smaller than the safety stock horizon. This is explained in more detail later in this article
• SNP checking horizon: Deployment uses this horizon to calculate the quantity available for distributing to demand locations. It puts a limitation on the quantity that is available within the push deployment horizon. Within the SNP checking horizon, deployment calculates the ATD quantity for a period by adding up the ATD receipts from the current and preceding periods, and subtracting all the ATD issues within the SNP checking horizon.

Figure 1 shows the important horizons that are available under the Demand and Supply Profile in SNP. Push rule strategies are deployment strategies that are used if the quantity to be deployed is more than the total demand. It means you have more than the required inventory available to fulfill demands of all the distribution centers. In that case, how the system would allocate quantities to different centers is based on different options available within the push rule.

A Business Scenario

Consider my example of a simple supply chain network of a manufacturer consisting of a single plant and multiple distribution centers. Figure 2 diagrams the supply chain network that is discussed in this article. Product (PROD-Z) is manufactured at PLANTZ and shipped to the distribution centers DCY and DCZ based on demand and corresponding supply.

Master Data Configuration in SAP APO

Before running the deployment, you need to have master data configured in the system for the following objects:

• Locations
• Products
• Transportation lane
• Resources
• Production Process Model (PPM) — PPM is not needed for deployment. This is more for the products at the source location (i.e., a plant to be used as the source of supply when creating a planned order)

Locations

To configure the master data for locations, execute transaction code /SAPAPO/LOC3. I have created Location PLANTZ of location type (1001) and DCY and DCZ of location type (1002) as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5.

Products

To configure master data for products, execute transaction code /SAPAPO/MAT1. For my example, create products PROD-Z at locations PLANTZ, DCY, and DCZ. Figure 6 shows product PROD-Z at PLANTZ.

Transportation Lane

To configure master data for a transportation lane, execute transaction code /SAPAPO/SCC_TL1. I have created transportation lanes from PLANTZ to DCY and DCZ and assigned the product PROD-Z to each lane. Figure 7 shows the transportation lane from PLANTZ to DCY.

Resources

To configure master data for resources, execute transaction code /SAPAPO/RES01. Define RES-Z at location PLANTZ as shown in Figure 8.

Production Process Model (PPM)

To configure master data for a PPM, execute transaction code /SAPAPO/SCC03. Figure 9 shows the PPM for PROD-Z at PLANTZ.

Simulation of Push-Rule Strategies

In this section I describe the following push-rule strategies:

• Pull distribution
• Push rule P Demand within the pull horizon
• Push rule X – Push by demands
• Push rule S – Push taking safety stock horizon into account
• Push rule Q – Push by quota arrangement

Pull Distribution

With pull distribution (i.e., without a push rule), demands that are lying within the pull horizon are met through deployment. Stock is distributed as per the due dates specified at individual demand locations. It is important to note here that no supply is used to satisfy the demand prior to the demand date. To maintain the settings for pull distribution, execute transaction code /SAPAPO/MAT1. In the main screen, enter the name of product (PROD-Z) and the location (PLANTZ) and then click the Change button as shown in Figure 11. This action opens the screen shown in Figure 12. In the SNP 2 tab, enter 12 in the Pull Depl. Hor. (pull deployment horizon) field and 10 in the Push Depl. Hor. (push deployment horizon) field. In the Push Distributn (push distribution) field no values are entered. To get a list of strategies in push distribution, click the Push Distrbutn field to display a pop-up screen with a list of strategies (Figure 13). Note the first field is blank, denoting pull distribution. Select this field and click the save icon to save your data. To view the demands at distribution centers, execute transaction code /SAPAPO/RRP3. A demand quantity of 100 each is present at DCY and DCZ, respectively, for Product PROD-Z for five days as shown in Figures 14 and 15. Load the data in the interactive planning book via transaction code /SAPAPO/SDP94 for location DCY as shown in Figure 16. Figure 16 shows demand of 100 for five days. Click the execute icon highlighted in Figure 16 to run location heuristics. After you run the location heuristics, you can see that the Distribution Receipt (Planned) key figure is populated with receipts of quantities of 100 each for five days as per the demand. The location heuristics program also internally creates a purchase requisition with an amount of 100 to satisfy the demand with the source as PLANTZ as shown in Figure 17. Similarly, you run location heuristics for PROD-Z at location DCZ. Select location DCZ and click the execute icon highlighted in Figure 18 to run the location heuristics. The location heuristics program then creates purchase requisitions of 100 each to satisfy the demand as shown in Figure 18. Now data is automatically loaded for product PROD-Z at location PLANTZ. Figure 19 shows the Distribution Demand (Planned) key figure is populated with a quantity of 200 for five days. These are the demands of quantities of 100 that are coming from the two distribution centers—DCY and DCZ—as shown in Figures 17 and 18. You also have receipts available in PLANTZ as shown in the Production (planned) key figure (Figure 20). Before you run the deployment heuristic, notice that the Distribution Demand (Confirmed) key figure is empty and that the Distribution Demand (Planned) key figure shows a demand of 200 each day. To execute the deployment heuristic, click the Deployment button highlighted in Figure 22. After deployment is executed, notice that Distribution Demand (Confirmed) key figure is populated with a quantity of 200 each until March 3 as shown in Figure 23. To get the details, right-click any of the quantities of 200 created in the Distribution Demand (confirmed) key figure. At the bottom of the screen, you can see that the quantity of 200 is used to confirm the demands of 100 at each of the distribution centers (DCY and DCZ) as shown in Figure 24.

Results Interpretation

The reason why demand is only confirmed until March 3 and not until March 4 is that the pull deployment horizon was until March 3 (Figure 21). So deployment only considered the demand until March 3 to confirm. Since the pull strategy was used for deployment as per the configuration made in the Product Master screen in Figure 13, the demands were satisfied as per the due date. This means that even though there were more receipts available in PLANTZ than the demands required by both distribution centers (DCY and DCZ), these demands were satisfied only on the due date. For example, the demand of 200 on February 29 was satisfied only on February 29 and not before that date. Data is also automatically loaded for PROD-Z at DCY and DCZ. Figures 25 and 26 show a confirmed quantity of 100 each for both the distribution centers until March 3.

Push Rule P – Demand within the Pull Horizon

With push rule P all supply is distributed immediately to meet all demand lying within the pull horizon. To maintain the settings for pull distribution, execute transaction code/SAPAPO/MAT1. In the main screen that appears, enter the name of product (PROD-Z) in the Product field and PLANTZ in the Location field. Click the Change button (Figure 27). In the SNP 2 tab of the next screen (Figure 28), enter 12 for the pull deployment horizon, 10 for the push deployment horizon, and a value of P in the Push Distributn (push distribution) field. After you enter these values, click the save icon to save your data. Demands of 100 each are present at DCY and DCZ, respectively, for five days as was the case earlier in Figures 14 and 15. Similar steps are carried out that are described in the above section on pull distribution (i.e., location heuristics are run at both DCY and DCZ to create purchase requisitions of 100 to satisfy the demands). These demands appear as a total of 200 each in PLANTZ. You have receipts available in PLANTZ as shown in the Production (planned) key figure (Figure 29). To execute the deployment heuristic, click the Deployment button highlighted in Figure 30. After deployment is executed, notice that the Distribution Demand (Confirmed) key figure is populated with a quantity of 200 on February 29 and a quantity of 600 on March 1 as shown in Figure 31.

Results Interpretation

The reason why demand is only confirmed until March 3 and not until March 4 is because the pull deployment horizon was until March 3, as shown in Figure 21. So deployment only considered the demand until March 3 to confirm. Here are the reasons why the confirmed quantity is 600 on March 1:

• Note the pull horizon was until March 3
• On February 29 demand was 200 and supply was also 200, so a quantity of 200 was confirmed on February 29.
• The total remaining demand until the pull horizon was 600 (200 on March 1, 200 on March 2, and 200 on March 3).
• On March 1, demand was of 200, but available supply was 800. Since the total supply (800) is enough to satisfy all the remaining demands until the pull horizon (600), all 600 were confirmed on March 1 only.
• This behavior follows as per strategy P maintained in the Product Master screen in Figure 28. With this strategy all supply is distributed immediately to meet demand within the pull horizon and this is what happened in the above scenario.

Data is also automatically loaded for PROD-Z at DCY and DCZ. Figures 32 and 33 show a confirmed quantity of 100 on February 29 and 300 on March 1 to satisfy demand until March 3.

Push Rule X – Push By Demands

With push rule X all supply is distributed immediately to meet demand in the system (i.e., in this case the pull horizon is ignored). To maintain the settings for pull distribution, execute transaction code /SAPAPO/MAT1. In the main screen that appears (Figure 34), enter the name of the product (PROD-Z), enter the location (PLANTZ), and then click the Change button. This action opens the screen in Figure 35. In the SNP 2 tab, enter the pull deployment horizon (12), the push deployment horizon (10), and the value X in the Push Distributn (push distribution) field as shown in Figure 35. After you enter these values, click the save icon. As per a similar scenario as the above section, demands of 100 each are present at DCY and DCZ, respectively, for five days as shown in Figures 14 and 15. Similar steps are carried out that are described in above sections (i.e., location heuristics are run at both DCY and DCZ to create purchase requisitions of 100 to satisfy the demands). These demands appear as a total of 200 each in PLANTZ. You have receipts available in PLANTZ as shown in the Production (planned) key figure (Figure 36). The push deployment horizon is until March 1. The pull deployment horizon is until March 3. To execute the deployment heuristics, click the Deployment button shown in Figure 37. After deployment is executed, notice that the Distribution Demand (Confirmed) key figure is populated with a quantity of 200 on February 29 and a quantity of 800 on March 1 as shown in Figure 38.

Results Interpretation

The reason why only demand until March 3 is confirmed and not until March 4 is because the pull deployment horizon was until March 3. So deployment only considered the demand until March 3 to confirm. Here are the reasons why the confirmed quantity is 800 on March 1:

• Note the pull horizon was until March 3.
• On February 29 demand was of 200 and supply was also of 200, so a quantity of 200 was confirmed on February 29.
• The total remaining demand until the pull horizon was 600, and the total remaining demand in the system was 800 until March 4.
• On March 1, demand was of 200, but available supply was 800. Since the total supply (800) was enough to satisfy all the remaining demands in the system (800) all 800 were confirmed on March 1 only.
• This behavior follows as per strategy X maintained in the Product Master screen in Figure 35. With this strategy all supply is distributed immediately to meet demand and the pull horizon is ignored. This is what happened in the above scenario.

Data is also automatically loaded for PROD-Z at DCY and DCZ. Figures 39 and 40 show a confirmed quantity of 100 on February 29 and 400 on March 1 to satisfy all demands until March 4. The difference in the behavior and quantity created by each of the three strategies discussed above is shown in Figure 41.

Push Rule S – Push Taking Safety Stock Horizon into Account

With push rule S safety stock at the source location is used to fulfill only the demands within the corresponding safety stock horizon and no demands outside of this horizon. To maintain the settings for push rule S distribution, execute transaction code /SAPAPO/MAT1. In the main screen that appears (Figure 42), enter the name of product (PROD-Z), enter the location (PLANTZ) and then click the Change button. In the SNP 2 tab of the next screen (Figure 43), enter the pull deployment horizon (e.g., 12 days), the push deployment horizon (e.g., 10 days), SNP Stock Transfer Horizon (e.g., 10 days) and value S in the Push Distributn field. After entering these values, go to the Lot Size tab as shown in Figure 43. In the Lot Size tab, enter the value of the safety stock (600) as shown in Figure 44. Click the save icon (not shown) to save your entry. As per a similar scenario as the above section, demands of 100 each is present at DCY and DCZ, respectively, for five days as shown in Figures 14 and 15. Similar steps are carried out that are described in above sections (i.e., location heuristics are run at both DCY and DCZ to create purchase requisitions of 100 to satisfy the demands). These demands appear as a total of 200 each in PLANTZ. Note that there are no receipts available in PLANTZ as the Production (planned) key figure is blank as shown in Figure 45. The push deployment horizon is until March 1. The pull deployment horizon is until March 3. The safety stock horizon is until March 1. To execute deployment heuristics click the Deployment button shown in Figure 46. After the deployment is executed, notice that the Distribution Demand (Confirmed) key figure is populated with 400 quantities on February 21 as shown in Figure 47.

Results Interpretation

Here are the reasons why the confirmed quantity is 400:

• Note the safety stock horizon was until March 1.
• There were no additional receipts available at PLANTZ other than the safety stock of 600.
• When deployment was executed, based on the push strategy S maintained in the Product Master screen in Figure 43, safety stock at PLANTZ was used to confirm the demands lying within the safety stock horizon.
• This means demands lying on February 29 and March 1 of 200 each were inside the safety stock horizon. So when deployment was run, total demands of 400 lying in these two days were confirmed.
• Even though safety stock of 600 was there, only 400 was confirmed as demand on March 2 was outside the safety stock horizon.
• On February 29 demand was of 200 and supply was also of 200, so a quantity of 200 was confirmed on February 29.

Push Rule Q – Push By Quota Arrangement

With push rule Q the entire supply is distributed immediately according to the set quota arrangements for the demand locations. The demand situation at the destination locations is ignored in this instance. To maintain the settings for pull distribution, execute transaction code/SAPAPO/MAT1. In the main screen that appears (Figure 48), enter the name of the product (PROD-Z) and the location (PLANTZ). Click the Change button. In the SNP 2 tab of the next screen (Figure 49), enter the pull deployment horizon (12), push deployment horizon (10) and the value Q in the Push Distributn field. After entering these values click the save icon. To create the outbound quota arrangements, execute transaction /SAPAPO/SCC_TQ1. In the main screen that appears (Figure 50), enter the name of the model (000) and the location (PLANTZ). In the Quota Arrangement Direction section, select the Outbound Quota Arrngmnts (outbound quota arrangements) radio button and then click the Change button. In the next screen (Figure 51), click the create icon. In the same screen, enter the name of the product (PROD-Z) and the End Date (12/31/2016). Select the Allow Reqmt Splitting (allow requirement splitting) check box and then click the enter icon as shown in Figure 52. In the same screen, click the create icon (Figure 53) to create the quota arrangement. In the same screen, enter the name of the Location (DCY), Quota Arrangement (60 [denotes 60 percent]) and then click the enter icon as shown in Figure 54. Similarly, create one more entry for location DCZ for 40 percent of the quota arrangement. Click the save icon to save the changes as shown in Figure 55. Demands of 200 are present at DCY and 300 at DCZ as shown in Figures 56 and 57. Similar steps are carried out that are described in above sections (i.e., location heuristics are run at both DCY and DCZ to create purchase requisitions of 200 and 300 to satisfy the demands at locations DCY and DCZ, respectively. These demands appear as a total of 500 in PLANTZ. Note that there are receipts of 1,000 available in PLANTZ as shown in the Production (planned) key figure. To execute deployment heuristics, click the Deployment button shown in Figure 58. After deployment is executed, notice that the Distribution Demand (Confirmed) key figure is populated with 1,000 quantities. To get the details, right-click the 1000 quantity created in the Distribution Demand (confirmed) key figure. At the bottom of screen, you can see the quantity of 600 is sent to DCY and 400 to DCZ as shown in Figure 59.

Results Interpretation

Even though demand from both the distribution centers (DCY and DCZ) together was 500, a quantity of 1,000 was deployed because I used push rule Q as one of the settings entered in the Product Master screen in Figure 49. Therefore, supply was greater than the requested demand of 500. Distribution of receipts happened to both the locations (DCY and DCZ) as per the quota arrangement. Since 60 percent was allocated to DCY and 40 percent to DCZ in Figure 55, 60 percent of 1,000 (600) was sent to DCY and 40 percent of 1,000 (400) was sent to DCZ. Data is also automatically loaded for PROD-Z at DCY and DCZ. Figures 60 and 61 show a confirmed quantity of 600 and 400 on February 29.