PP/DS Optimization with multiple Interchangeable Buffer Containers

[Former Member]

Hi,

We have the following scenario.

WorkCenter_A is a resource that produces several beverage products (Beverage1, Beverage2, Beverage3). It turns ROH materials into HALB materials).

WorkCenter_A deposits the beverages in tanks with a maximum capacity of 11000 liters. There are several tanks that can be used to store all beverages but only one beverage can be stored at a time in each tank. Lets call them Tank1, Tank2 and Tank3.

The final step in the process is to put each bevearge in its corresponding bottle in a resource calle BottlingLine_1.

We are modelling the tanks using resources with storage characteristics (The "set remaining fill levels to 0" indicator is checked and the "Allow multiple products" box is unchecked. The HALBs are produced using a Planning Recipe with an operation on WorkCenter_A. We created a Product Storage Definition to indicate that the HALB must be stored on Tank_1 during that operation. Then the FERT is produced using a Planning Recipe with an operation on BottlingLine_1 and with a storage deifnition to indicate the HALB must be extracted from Tank_1. That data was passed to APO using a CIF. In APO, in teh STORDEF transaction we assigned Tank2 and Tank3 as alternatives for Tank1

The following problems arise during multi-level PP/DS optimization:

1. The optimization run is exceeding the maximum tank capacities

2. The optimization results in sequences that fill the tanks before they are empty. This means "set remaining fill level to 0" setting is ignored

3. The optimization results in sequences that mix several products in a container. This means the "allow multiple products" setting is treated as if it was checked.

4. The optimization does not recognize the availability of tanks 2 and 3. It plans all orders on Tank1 even when it has no capacity and delays are necessary.

What setting are we missing? Where can we find detailed instructions for the use of product storage definitions or a SAP feature that allows us to model alternative resources without creating additional planning recipes (we don't want a recipe per tank since there are many tanks)? Why is the optimizator ignoring the constraints for "set remaining fill level to 0" and "allow multiple products"? We tried inverting the checkboxes to see if we misunderstood the meaning of the checkboxes and got the same results. We understand capacity is a pseudo-hard constraint but remaining fill level and product purity should be hard constraints.

Thank you for your help.

[former_member244427 · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Unfortunately for PPDS optimizer both of these constrains are pseudo hard constraints. Please refer following SAP consulting notes for more details on PPDS optimizer restrictions..

1171154 - Planning of container resources with the PP/DS Optimizer

689101 - PP/DS optimization consulting

712066 - Restrictions of the Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS) optimizer

May be what you are looking for can be done via SNP optimizer + MRP areas for Sloc + Storage Resources.

You can have multiple resources as alternative modes.

Regards

Abhishek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

So there is no way to plan products considering product purity?

[former_member244427 · Accepted solution]

Hello,

I was browsing  through PPDS optimizer profile for thing and noticed there was a setting in the Resource Processing tab right at the bottom for container resource, please check if you have maintained the tick mark Consider Storage Properties.

(IMG>APO>supply chain planning>PPDS>PPT>maintain optimization profile)

F1 help says:

Considering Storage Properties During Optimization

If you set this indicator, the system activates container planning. Optimization then considers container resources regarding the maximum fill level and the settings for product purity according to the resource master data.

Best of luck!

Regards,

Abhishek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Abhishek Rai,

Thanks for researching. We set up the optimizer to "consider container resources" in the optimization profile. My issue is with the behaviour of those resources regarding product purity since it doesn't respect it even when the container resources are set up to avoid product mixing.

Thanks for your help,

Mauricio