Forecast Control
Use the Forecast Control item attribute to tell Master Scheduling/MRP the types of demand that you place for models, option classes, options, and mandatory components. Master Scheduling/MRP uses the Forecast Control value you assign to each assemble-to-order and pick-to-order item when forecasting and master scheduling models and options.
Independent Forecast Demand
Independent forecast demand is demand that you place for an item by directly entering forecasts for the item, rather than exploding forecast to the item.
If you forecast demand directly for an item, then set Forecast Control to Consume.
Exploded Forecast Demand
The forecast explosion process generates the "exploded forecast demand" for an item by collecting the forecasted demand for all the components in the item's bill of material. You typically generate exploded forecast demand for items, such as option classes and options, whose demand is directly related to or derived from the bill of material structure for other items.
If you forecast demand for an item by exploding demand from a higher level item in a bill of material, then set Forecast Control to Consume and derive.
If you forecast demand for an item directly, and explode forecast demand to the item, then set Forecast Control to Consume and derive.
Sales Order Demand
Sales order demand is demand that you place when your customers order configurations. As your customers order configurations, Order Entry can automatically place sales order demand for each model, option class, and option selected by your customer when they place the order.
If you place sales order demand for an item, but do not forecast the item, then set Forecast Control to None.
Derived Sales Order Demand
Under normal circumstances, Order Entry does not place sales order demand for mandatory components when your customers order configurations.
You can set the Forecast Control attribute to Consume or Consume and derive to automatically place demand and consume forecasts for mandatory components when you place sales orders demand for configurations that include the mandatory components.
If you forecast demand for a mandatory component, either directly or through forecast explosion, then set Forecast Control to Consume or Consume and derive.
