The Materials Planning module integrates with the Sovman Bill of Materials and Works Order modules and the Sage Line 100 Stock Control, Sales Order Processing and Purchase Order Processing modules.

Materials Planning explodes inputs multi-level through the Sovman BOM producing a time-phased requirements plan. Inputs to the MRP run are taken from two sources:

• Any forward order quantities for manufactured items from sales order processing.
• Any panned production entered through the planning maintenance function within materials planning.

Inputs are exploded and netted against stock and on order to produce the materials plan.

The plan can be viewed on the screen with drill down windows displaying the actual transaction details for any column, e.g. purchase order details for on order.

The plan may also be printed as a report with selections on product group, item and depot.

Sage Line 100 purchase orders may be generated automatically from the plan.

Features

• Materials Planning uses a calendar identifying the manufacturing week and actual week. The calendar may be specified for any number of years ahead and is 2000 compliant.
• The plan may be projected over a planning horizon in weeks.
• Sales forecasts may be entered into the plan for any item. Materials Planning will take the greater of the forecast or actual requirements for any week when projecting the plan.
• The plan displays the available stock, requirements, forward order, purchase orders, planned inputs, work-in-progress and requisitions for each week in the calendar over the planning horizon. Pop-ups display transaction details for each category.
• Materials Planning uses re-order levels, re-order quantities and top-up quantities to recommend requisitions within the plan. For works order items, these may be created as planned inputs dynamically on the planning screen. These inputs are immediately exploded and the effect can be viewed.
• The planning screen is linked to the explosion and implosion chains within the BOM so that the user can 'navigate' up and down the BOM to view the effect of planning changes in real time.
• Requisitions for bought out items may be converted automatically to standard Sage Line 100 purchase orders. Items may be excluded from this process.