Training › Manufacturing and logistics › Lesson 2 of 5
Run material planning and raise work orders
Run the plan, check why each order is suggested, and turn the right ones into work orders and purchase requests.
The steps
Find it
- In the menu on the left, under MANUFACTURING, tap Material Planning. On a phone, open the menu with the button at the top left first.
- The plan compares what you owe customers with what is on the shelf and on order. Planned Orders shows its suggestions.
Run the plan
- Tap Options. The horizon is how far ahead the plan looks, and the bucket size how finely it dates what it suggests.
- Tap Run plan. A run changes nothing on its own: it only suggests what to make or buy, how much and by when.
- Tap Time-Phased Grid to see each item week by week: stock, demand, supply and what is left, so a shortage shows weeks ahead.
- Back on Planned Orders, each row is a suggestion and the date to place it. Tap Why on a row to see the demand behind it.
Scenario: you have decided, but the order is not raised yet
- Tap Run plan, then Pin on the row. The next run leaves a pinned order as it is.
- A suggestion you think is wrong is dismissed with Drop. It comes back on the next run while the demand behind it is still there.
Scenario: you agree with the suggestions
- Tap Run plan, then Select all convertible, or tick only the rows you agree with.
- Tap Convert and confirm with Convert. Bought items become purchase requests in Procurement; made items become work orders on Production.
Scenario: a busy season you have not quoted yet
- Tap Demand. Planning sees open quotes and work orders, but not sales you only expect.
- Tap Add demand, choose the item, the date it starts from and the quantity, keep Forecast, and add it. The next run plans for it.
More detail is in the guide.
Check yourself
You pin a planned order. What does the next run do with it?
- Converts it into a purchase request
- Leaves it as it is
- Drops it from the plan
Show the answer
Leaves it as it is
What does converting a bought item create?
- A purchase request in Procurement
- A work order on Production
- An invoice to your customer
Show the answer
A purchase request in Procurement
Does running the plan change your stock or orders on its own?
- Yes, it raises every order automatically
- No, it only produces suggestions you accept or ignore
- Yes, it cancels old work orders
Show the answer
No, it only produces suggestions you accept or ignore