The attachments on this post are my publications in the magazine SAPTips. They focus very specifically on a deep area of APO (What is now SCM).

Supply Distribution in SAP APO

This article focuses on using Supply Distribution to move material through the supply chain without a demand signal. This is useful for moving inventory that is left over, but is less than the min lot size. I used the Supply Distribution functionality specifically at a client

Pushing Inventory Through the Supply Chain (with APO)

(click to open PDF)

The APO Alert Monitor

The APO Alert Monitor was an excellent reporting tool in addition to alerting the planner to issues. It was highly configurable and could give one a good snapshot of what was occurring within APO.

How to use the APO Alert Monitor

(click to open PDF)

APO Project Management and Administration

APO has a very different administration and skill set from SAP ECC. This article was really a guide for those project managers of APO on staffing and planning.

keys-to-apo-administration.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Currently Working On My First Book

My next publication will be Discover SAP SCM which you can find out more about here:

http://sapplanning.wordpress.com/scm-book/

Integration Documents

I have worked on a number of project that required connection planing systems to SAP. This requires integration. The documents attached here deal with SAP integration.

Logistics Information System for SAP Integration

This paper describes integration to external planning system using the LIS Structure

LIS Structure of SAP Integration

(click to open PDF)

XML for SAP Integration

Written at the height of technological hype cycle regarding XML, this paper explained how XML could be used as the integration document to facilitate communication between a planning system and SAP ECC.

atheoreticalusexmland_sap.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Integration Diagrams

SAP Integration with External Planning System Through Operational Data Store

Shows the data flow with SAP, external planning systems, client legacy, all moving through an Operational Data Store. There are different opinions on whether an integration database is a help or a hindrance.

sapplanningintegrationwods.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Planning System Integration Document

This is a complex technical integration diagram which shows successive loops through the system, or sequences of data as they iterate through the entire planning and execution systems.

planning-architecture.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Demand History Integration to Demand Planning System Document

When a demand planning system is installed, it must use demand history data from the legacy system. This document describes an integration of demand history through an ODS (Operational Data Store).

forecastto_demandplanning.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Creating a New Material

This demonstrates how a new material flows through ECC (R/3) as well as SCM (APO)

creatinganewmaterialsap.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Service Parts Optimizer (part buyer)

When I first started consulting I worked on a project to create a service parts planning system. This document describes how this system worked. Its objective function is the same as what now drives commercial software like MCA’s Service Parts Optimizer.

Availability Maximizer

(click to open PDF)

MindJet is an extremely interesting mapping software that allows for extra creativity. It is perfect for mapping any complex system. I have mind mapped most of the SCM modules. Since you need Mindjet to read the files, I have exported them to PDF. This loses some of the information, but keeps the graphic.

Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling Solution Architecture

This is the module within SAP SCM which allows you to model production planning. This diagram shows the major features of the system

PP/DS Solution Architecture

(click to open PDF)

Demand Planning Solution Architecture

This is the module within SAP SCM which allows you to perform forecasting . One of the more difficult modules, it runs forecasting methods on what is essentially a BI datamart. This diagram shows the major features of the system

DP Solution Architecture

(click to open PDF)

Sales and Operations Planning Solution Architecture

This is not a module, but rather a process which draws in different modules. It is debatable to the degree S&OP is actually in SCM as the SAP product it interacts with (SEM) is considered so weak. S&OP is a tricky area generally, in terms of its implementation, if you ask 10 different people you get almost as many answers. Clearly, very few companies doe S&OP, more accurately is sales selling whatever the can and operations and finance asked to deal with it. After all, “you can’t just turn a customer away.” Too many sales people promoted to the executive suite makes for unbalanced processes.

SOP Process in SCM

(click to open PDF)

Transportation Planning and Vehicle Scheduling Planning Solution Architecture

Soon to be renamed TM or TMS, this lightly installed module helps with transportation planning, mostly for internal fleets. I have never understood the focus on transportation by companies. I think is something to be outsourced to third parties, but for some reason transportation continues to be a hot topic.

tpvs.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Bill of Material

Graphically shows how the bill of material works in SAP

bom.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Capable to Promise

Very theoretical solution within supply chain planning in general and within SAP SCM. Essentially moves beyond checking future planned inventories to checking future planned productive capacity. I have never seen a company capable of doing this.

ctp-capable-to-promise.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Global Available to Promise Solution Architecture

Uses the output of supply network planning (see below) to develop future planned inventory on hand levels. The ultimate idea of GATP is to accept, reject or confirm future demands. The most intelligent GATP systems have the ability to route demands from the lowest costs sources (either based upon production costs, transportation costs, inventory holding costs, etc..) to higher cost sources when the lower cost sources are not available. GATP systems require heavy maintenance and tend to only be applicable to companies with a high profit margin on their goods that are severally capacity constrained and produce in many locations.

gatp-basics.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Materials Requirements Planning

Often confused with Manufacturing Requirements Planning. MRP is exactly what it says. It uses a demand plan, many bills of materials to calculated what materials and when materials will be required. MRP is famously unconstrained by productive or procurement constraints. MRP tells you merely what and when you should begin producing or procuring, nothing more. In this way it is a pre-advanced planning concept and exists in SAP ECC and not SAP SCM. MRP is the dominant way planning is done in the US and in other relatively advanced countries.

mrp.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Supply Network Planning

A method of managing the movement of material between supply facilities and customer locations to meet the demand plan. In SAP SCM the two most common ways of running SNP are Capable to Match (a privatization heavy method) or Heuristics.

snp.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Human and Team Interface Process on a Large Supply Chain Planning Project

This diagram shows in detail how to manage complex interactions on a project between multiple software companies and the client. Following a process like this can help manage scope creep and direct the overall project. Generally I have found documents like this to really help the project move towards a constructive track….if the process can be agreed to. That of course is a big if.

sap-sc-project-interface-process.pdf

(click to open PDF)

Technology Analysis in the Education Sector

I am very proud of my work on a pro bono project for the St Raymond’s school. This involved an analysis of their educational technology. I learned a tremendous amount about how technology is practically rolled out in an education setting. I was afforded access and attention from several schools which allowed me to effectively compare and contrast how different schools were managing their technology investments.

This involved analyzing schools in regards to:

• Infrastructure
• Computers and software
• How computers were used in the classroom (both by teachers and students)

The results were a set of recommendations to make specific technology investments which was focused on giving students the most improvement in their education for the dollars spent on the upgrades. The article below discusses the contribution to the school’s technology program from this effort.
St Raymond’s Pro Bono

(click to open PDF)