Master plans (form)

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Click Master planning > Setup > Plans > Master plans.

Use this form to create and maintain master plans. For each plan, you can set parameters that define how master scheduling is calculated for the plan.

You can work with several master plans to determine the consequences of various parameter setups. Set the default plan for master scheduling in the Master planning parameters form.

The following tables provide descriptions for the controls in this form.

Tabs

Tab

Description

General

Set up the parameters for the selected master plan.

Time fences

Set up time fences that are used in the master scheduling calculation. All item-dependent time fences that are set up for coverage groups can be overridden in individual situations.

Futures message

Set up parameters that are used when master scheduling calculates futures messages.

Action message

Set up parameters that are used with action messages.

Safety margin

Set up safety margins that are used in the master scheduling calculation. If you specify safety margins, they do not override item-specific safety margins. They are instead added to them.

Intercompany planning

Set up parameters that are used with intercompany planning.

Button

Button

Description

Session log

View the forecast and master schedule statistics that have been run in the past by using the Log form.

Fields

Field

Description

Plan

Enter a unique identifier for the master plan. For example, the master plan that you use daily can be named Current, and other plans for simulation purposes can be called Sim 1, Sim 2, and so on.

Name

Enter a brief description of the selected master plan.

Include on-hand inventory

Select this check box if the master scheduling calculation should include on-hand inventory levels of the item. If on-hand inventory items levels should not be included, planned orders might be generated for items that are already in stock.

Include inv. transactions

Select this check box if the master scheduling calculation should include all expected transactions. These include sales orders and purchase orders, inventory journals, production orders that are not yet registered as physical receipts, and issues from inventory.

Include sales quotations

Select this check box to include sales quotation transactions in the master scheduling calculation.

Probability %

If you selected the Include sales quotations check box, you can select a probability percentage. The master scheduling calculation includes all project or sales orders of the Quotation type that have the same probability percentage or higher.

Include requests for quotations

Select this check box to include requests for quotations. Transactions that have a receipt status of Quotation receipt are included in the master scheduling calculation.

Include requisitions

Select this check box to include demand from requisitions that have the Replenishment purpose in the master scheduling calculation. Requisitions that have the Replenishment purpose and an approved status are included. For more information, see Set up master plans to include requisitions.

Note

This control is available only if Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 or AX 2012 R3 is installed.

Scheduling method

Select the scheduling method for planned production orders that are generated during master scheduling. Operations scheduling provides a rough schedule that does not require you to decide which specific resource performs each operation. This method is also less demanding on system resources.

If you select job scheduling, a planned production order is scheduled in detail, and a job is scheduled automatically for the planned production order when it is firmed.

Finite property

Select this check box to indicate that capacity planning for the planned production order should consider that the requested property ID is available. You create and update properties in the Properties form.

Backward capacity time fence

Enter a time period in days, starting from the requirement date for an order and going backward, during which master scheduling searches to identify available capacity. If no capacity is available, the scheduling proceeds forward from the requirement date for the order.

Finite capacity

Select this check box to indicate that the scheduling of planned production orders will consider capacity that has already been reserved. Note that planned production orders are backward-scheduled from the requirement date. If capacity is not available, the requirement for component items is sought on an earlier date than what the optimal production sequence can carry out.

If the capacity can be changed as the requirement changes, such as when working with shifts, you should not select this check box because calculated processing times will be incorrect.

Note

Scheduling considers capacity that is already reserved only if you selected the Finite capacity check box in the Resources form. Selecting this check box makes the Finite capacity time fence field available to modify.

Finite capacity time fence

Enter a time period in days, starting from the current date, during which planned production orders are scheduled by using finite capacity. This field works with the capacity time fence that you can set up on the Time fences FastTab or in the Coverage groups form.

Examples

  • You enter 15 in this field and set the capacity time fence to 100. Master scheduling uses finite capacity for the first 15 days and infinite capacity for the remaining days of the time fence.

  • You enter 25 in this field, and the item belongs to a coverage group that states a capacity time fence of 10. Master scheduling uses finite capacity for 10 days.

  • You enter 0 (zero) in this field. Master scheduling does not use finite capacity.

You cannot leave this field blank.

Note

This field is available only when you select the Finite capacity check box. To include a resource in finite capacity scheduling, you must select the Finite capacity field in the individual resource or resource group.

Bottleneck scheduling

Select this check box to calculate master scheduling by using finite capacity for those resources that are defined as bottleneck resources.

You can use bottleneck scheduling to extend the finite capacity time fence for a limited number of resources. Bottleneck resources can be scheduled by using finite capacity for a longer period of time than non-bottleneck resources.

This field is available only when you select the Finite capacity check box.

Bottleneck capacity time fence

Enter a time period in days, starting from the current date, during which those resources that are defined as bottleneck resources are scheduled by using finite capacity.

The bottleneck capacity time fence should be greater than the finite capacity time fence. The greater value is used.

This field is available only when you select the Finite capacity check box and the Bottleneck scheduling check box.

Inventory forecast model

Select the forecast model to use in the current master plan. If you leave the field blank, forecast requirements are not included in the master plan.

Include supply forecast

After you select a forecast model, select this check box to include the supply forecast in the current master plan. If you do not select this check box, supply forecast transactions are not included in the master plan.

Include demand forecast

After you select a forecast model, select this check box to include the demand forecast in the current master plan. If you do not select this check box, demand forecast transactions are not included in the master plan.

Reduction principle

Select a method to use to reduce forecast requirements during master scheduling. The following options are available:

  • None – Forecast requirements are not reduced during master scheduling.

  • Percent - reduction key – Forecast requirements are reduced according to the percentages and time periods that are defined by the reduction key.

  • Transactions - reduction key – Forecast requirements are reduced by the transactions that occur during the time periods that are defined by the reduction key.

  • Transactions - dynamic period – Forecast requirements are reduced by the actual order transactions that occur during the dynamic period. The dynamic period covers the current forecast dates and ends with the start of the next forecast. This method does not use or require a reduction key. When you select this option:

    • If the forecast is reduced completely, the forecast requirements for the current forecast become 0 (zero).

    • If there is no future forecast, forecast requirements from the last forecast that was entered are reduced.

    • Time fences are included in the forecast reduction calculation.

    • Positive days are included in the forecast reduction calculation.

    • If actual order transactions are greater than the forecasted requirements, the remaining transactions are not forwarded to the next forecast period.

Planned order number sequence

Select the number sequence to use for picking planned orders. Each time that a planned order is created, it is assigned a sequential number from this number sequence. We recommend that you give the planned orders their own number sequence, so that you can differentiate them from other requirements.

Session number sequence

Select the number sequence to use for job numbers. Each time that you run master scheduling, the entire result of the requirement calculation is assigned a sequential number from this number sequence.

Coverage

Select this check box to override the coverage time fence for the item during master scheduling. If you select this check box, enter the number of days that the master scheduling calculation should cover requirements. The coverage time fence is calculated forward from the current date. Requirements that occur before the current date are always processed.

Freeze

Select this check box to override the freeze time fence for the item during master scheduling. If you select this check box, enter the number of days that planning activity is frozen. No new planned orders are generated, and existing planned orders cannot be changed.

Firming

Select this check box to override the firming time fence for the item during master scheduling. If you select this check box, enter the number of days that planned purchase orders and production orders are automatically firmed. The time fence is calculated forward from the master scheduling date.

Note

An item must be associated with a vendor for automatic firming of a planned purchase order to occur.

Explosion

Select this check box to override the explosion time fence for the item during master scheduling. If you select this check box, enter the number of days that bills of materials (BOMs) are exploded to calculate requirements for component items. The time fence is calculated forward from the current date.

Forecast plan

Select this check box to override the forecast plan time for the item during master scheduling. If you select this check box, enter the number of days that the sales forecast from the forecast plan is included in master scheduling.

Capacity

Select this check box to override the capacity time fence for the item during master scheduling. If you select this check box, enter the number of days that capacity is planned for planned production orders. Master scheduling uses the active production route for the item and schedules backward from the requirement date. If the requirement date for a planned production order is outside the capacity time fence, the lead time is determined by the delivery time of the item. The time fence is calculated forward from the current date.

Action message

Select this check box to override the action message time fence for the item during master scheduling. If you select this check box, enter the number of days that master scheduling generates action messages for requirements. The time fence is calculated forward from the current date.

Futures message

Select this check box to override the futures message time fence for the item during master scheduling. If you select this check box, enter the number of days that futures messages are calculated.

Approved requisitions

Select this check box to override the time fence settings that are defined for the item. In the field, enter the number of days in the past during which demand from approved requisitions that have the Replenishment purpose is included in master scheduling.

Note

This control is available only if Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 or AX 2012 R3 is installed.

Use Futures date as Requirement date

Select this check box to use the futures date as the requirements date for the following order types:

  • Planned purchase orders

  • Planned production orders

  • Planned transfer

  • Planned kanban

Update postponed date as requirement date

Select this check box to automatically update planned purchase orders with the proposed action date. The action date cannot exceed the requirement date.

Receipt margin

Enter the number of days that are added to the requirement date for the receipt during master scheduling. Safety margins for the coverage group and safety margins for the master plan are summed during master scheduling.

For example, if the receipt margin is set to 4 days and a purchase order line is scheduled for receipt on the 15th of the month, master scheduling calculates the adjusted receipt date as the 19th of the month.

Issue margin

Enter the number of days that are deducted from the issue requirement date during master scheduling. Safety margins for the coverage group and safety margins for the master plan are summed during master scheduling.

For example, if the safety margin is set to 4 days and a sales order line is scheduled for delivery on the 15th of the month, master scheduling calculates the adjusted delivery date as the 11th of the month.

Reorder margin

Enter the number of days that are added to the item lead time for all planned orders during master scheduling. Safety margins for the coverage group and safety margins for the master plan are summed during master scheduling.

Include downstream planned intercompany demand

Select this check box to include downstream planned intercompany demand from downstream legal entities in the master scheduling calculation.

See also

About master scheduling plans

Run master scheduling

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