Demand-Driven MRP: Agile Supply Chain
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Demand-Driven MRP: Agile Supply Chain

An enhancement solution co-developed by Camelot ITLab and SAP enables Demand-Driven MRP to be implemented in SAP's latest planning technology.

This series is available as PDF download at the bottom of the page.

SAP Integrated Business Planning (SAP IBP) is SAP’s cloud solution for real-time supply chain planning. Camelot Innovative Technologies Lab (Camelot ITLab) and SAP have developed the “DDMRP for SAP IBP” add-on solution as the first enhancement for SAP Integrated Business Planning as part of a co-innovation project.

Companies can now also benefit from using the Demand-Driven MRP concept (DDMRP) in the SAP IBP platform. DDMRP for SAP IBP supports all five steps of the DDMRP concept. The solution was confirmed to be “DDMRP compliant” by the Demand Driven Institute (DDI), the global authority for Demand-Driven concepts.

It is regarded as a central milestone in SAP’s strategy to provide an open and expandable infrastructure for a rapidly growing, modern supply chain planning platform. DDMRP for SAP IBP consists of two components: the enhancement module implemented in the SAP Cloud Platform and the configuration module, which is based entirely on SAP IBP standard functions.

Enhancement Modules

The DDMRP for SAP IBP Enhancement Module includes those functionalities that cannot be implemented with standard IBP functions. These comprise, for example, the strategic placement of decoupling points or the dynamic calculation of decoupled lead times in the first two steps of the Demand-Driven MRP concept.

Fig. 1: Visualization of the supply chain network.
Fig. 1: Visualization of the supply chain network.

The graphic above is a visualization of the supply chain network provided to the supply chain planner in DDMRP for SAP IBP. The planner can interactively read all relevant network information and set or remove decoupling points. Simulations and decisions can be incorporated into the active planning process. This functionality supports Strategic Decoupling in particular – the first step of the DDMRP concept.

Configuration Modules

The actual planning and control takes place via preconfigured planning views in MS Excel using the SAP IBP Excel add-in and via dashboards and alerts in the SAP IBP Web Interface. Since SAP IBP is a cloud-based solution, integration with existing on-premise ERP and planning systems through SAP Cloud Platform Integration for Data Services (HCI-DS) is a central component and easily possible. The “DDMRP for SAP IBP Configuration” solution is offered as a Rapid Deployment Solution (RDS), which enables companies to implement a pilot project in very short time.

The DDMRP concept is already in use at internationally operating companies from a wide variety of industries. By introducing and using the “DDMRP for SAP IBP” enhancement solution, they have reduced the variability and stabilized the material flow in their supply chain. Customers benefit from improved service quality and increased agility in the supply chain.

 

Source:
E-3 Magazine July/August 2018 (German)

About the author

Florian Saeman, Camelot ITLab

Florian Saemann is Head of Competence Center Integrated Business Planning at Camelot ITLab.

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