Product allocation in delivery processing?

[former_member728196]

Hello,

Product allocation is a type of availbility check in Sales Order processing, I want to use product allocation functionality in SD-Delivery process (VL01N etc..), I tried some configuration, it did not really work. Does someone know how to make it work?

Thanks in advance, Ke

[Former Member]

Hi

Product Allocation by its name means allocating constrained resources or material to a customer. Now production allocation once delivery is created means nothing. Anyways delivery is created meaning the stock is allocated to customer.

I would like to know the business process you are trying to achieve,

Kind regards

sandeep

[Former Member]

Hi Sandeep and Liu,

Your statement "that products are allocated at sales order" is not accurate. But in reference to enabling the product allocation at point of sales order its correct. But say your availablity check is supressed at the time of sales order creation and product allocation is enabled at the point of delivery creation. In such a scenario your product quantity and your product get allocated to delivery.

But this concept has one major disadvantage that you and your customer will not know wether he customer will get what he ordered. And it will be a big hit for you that you have taken order and two or three days down the line you tell your customer that you cannot provide him what he ordered. Hence doing product allocation at the first step of sales order creation is recommnded asnd widely followed process.

Hope this helps,

Abhishek

[Former Member]

Thanks Abhishek for correcting me.

[former_member728196]

Hi Abhishek,

What you wrote is absolutely right, do product allocation check at sales order entry time is the standard and much better way than check it at delivery creation time.

However, is my very special case, the customer need to check product allocation when creating/changing a delivery. I need to know if I can get it or not, actually, I checked the SAP standard program, it seems allocation check will not be performed in delivery document creation. I'd like to know if anyone makes it work and how.

Thanks, Ke

[Former Member]

Hi Experts,

I have a similar question as the original poster. We do check allocations at order create time but also have a special business need to check the product allocations again as part of delivery create. If anybody has experience in accomplishing this please let me know. I will be happy to share more details of the specific scenario.

Thanks,

Michael Campbell

[Former Member]

Try the below steps.

Configuration Overview; Allocation Specific Usage

1.Allocation Procedure (OV1Z) The product allocation procedure is the parent of the entire allocation process. All materials that are to be included in the allocation scheme are required to have an allocation procedure assigned to it in the material master. In addition, as of release 4.0, it is in the procedure that the method of allocation is defined. The user has the opportunity to set an indicator to identify their choice of two different methods (discrete and cumulative allocation) to evaluate the quantities to be considered for product allocation.

2.Allocation Object (OV2Z) The allocation object is the root level of the allocation process where actual data is entered and planned in LIS. The object allows the user to further break down a procedure into smaller parts for future validation of components comprising a specific material

3.Allocation Hierarchy Mapping (OV3Z) Primarily, this transaction permits the assignment of an allocation procedure to an LIS information structure. Secondly, a character is assigned to the information structure to permit collective planning. Finally, the user can assign a step level to the procedure and information structure to sequence the order in which allocation quantities are checked. This functionality allows the user the opportunity to check product allocation against several product allocation scenarios, before the required quantity is confirmed

4.Define Consumption Periods (OV5Z) The allocation consumption periods functionality is only valid if the allocation method flag has been set (OV1Z). If you have de-selected the method field, this functionality is not available. The consumption window indicates the number of past and future periods to be used in the allocation check.

5.Control Product Allocation (OV4Z) In order for the allocation process to function properly, allocation control records are created primarily to map allocation procedure steps to their corresponding objects so that the allocation data records can be located for validation. Secondly, validity periods must be established to indicate when the allocation control records are active. Finally, the user has the option of establishing a conversion factor per allocation control record to accommodate BOM listings of constrained materials

6.Activate Allocation for Requirement Class (OVZ0) In order to turn on allocation in the standard order processing functionality, the requirements class must have a flag indicating that allocation is relevant.

7.Activate Allocation for Schedule Line Category (OVZ8) In order to turn on allocation in the standard order processing functionality, the schedule line must have a flag indicating that allocation is relevant

8.Create Planning Hierarchy (MC61) In order to adequately establish allocation quantities, the user must initially determine the level at which the allocation is to take place and the aggregation factor of the allocation quantities. In this step, the levels for the collective allocation search procedure are also identified.

9.Generate Masking Character (OV7Z) Upon completion of the level determination for the planning hierarchy, the collective allocation masking character must be generated to allow aggregation indicators to be established. This transaction simply reads the hierarchy established in the planning table and then generates a collective mask character for each level of the hierarchy

10.Modify Planning Hierarchy (MC62) This step is a repeat of MC61 where the initial hierarchy was established. In order to complete the hierarchical set up, the collective allocation (mask character) hierarchy must now be maintained with the appropriate aggregation factors

11.Allocation Procedure Assignment to Material Master (MM02) At the root level of the allocation process are the materials. Each material that is to be considered in allocation scenario must be mapped to an allocation procedure. In order entry, then, when a material is entered with a valid allocation procedure in the material master, the allocation data is verified prior to confirming the line item ordered

12.List of Suitable Structures (OV9Z) This report is used to identify potential LIS information structures that can be used in the product allocation process. This report simply reads through the data dictionary and selects all the active information structures that contain the field product allocation object (KONOB) as the first field. This data can then be utilized in the mapping transaction (OV3Z) to link the allocation procedure step to an information structure (previous step).

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Balaji

[former_member728196]

Thanks for the very detailed steps.

These check list works for the sales order (VA01/VA02, etc), but when I created a delivery document (VL01N), the production allocation check is not carried out

Regards