Define Demand Planning Data

Description of process

The Define Demand Planning Data process allows you to specify the parameters that define:

• The number of periods into which the year will be broken. This is done with the Period Version in the DP Server setup. Typicaly periods used are Quarters, Months or Weeks. User Defined number of periods is possible
• How far back in time to look when making the forecast. Defined as a number of periods defined by the Period Version, field is Max Historic Lengh in the DP Server setup/General.
• How long into the future to project the forecast. Defined as a number of periods defined by the Period Version, field is Number of Forecast Period in the DP Server setup/General.
• Which forecast parameters to use. Default Forecast Model, Default Alpha, Default Beta, Default Rho, Default Moving Average Periods, Default Delta, Default Seasonal Profile, Default Holiday Mix Factor in the DP Server setup/General.
• How (i.e., with which SQL statement) to collect the historical demand for your company. Configured in the Base Flow in the DP Server setup.
• When to start the scheduled forecasting jobs. Configured in the Scheduling in the DP Server setup.
• How to specify the custom fields (Optional). Custom Fields are configured in the Custom Fields in the DP Server setup.
• How to specify the idle times (Optional). DB Idle are configured in the DP Idle in the DP Server setup.
• How to setup and maintain forecast parts. Creating and deleting forecast parts can be done in several ways:
  • Edit Base Flow Parts, a screen where you can add or delete forecast parts with their sales frequency as a help for adding deleting the forecast parts. Like a manual qualify parts job.
  • Forecast Part, info screen where you can add, delete and edit forecast parrts
  • Forecast Parts, over view screen where you can add and delete and also edit the forecast parts parameters.
  • Create Forecast Part form Invnetory Part, button on inventory part that creates forecast parts for all flows connected to the inventory parts site.
  • Qualify Parts, this is a a job that is ran by the DP Server can be run once or also scheduled.
• How to control the user access. User access is controled by publishing parts or groups of parts to users with different access levels, this is done in the Publish Forecast screen.
• How to specify the advance server setttings. There are possible to make configurations on how the DP Server shoud work, these configurations are done in Advanced Demand Plan Server Settings dialog.