Understanding Ad Hoc Schedules
If you do not have supplier information that is based on a blanket order, you can still perform supplier release scheduling by creating ad hoc schedules. You can create an ad hoc schedule when the schedule quantities have changed after you regenerate the supplier schedule to fulfill additional requirements.
Ad hoc schedules are created for the supplier who is specified in the order message in the MPS/MRP/DRP Message File table (F3411). During the MRP generation, the Supplier field on the message is populated from the Item Branch File table (F4102) if a supplier was defined for the item. If you did not define a supplier for the item, you can add a supplier to the message manually. If the message does not specify a supplier, the system uses the split percentage that was set up for the item in the Supplier Schedule Master File table. If no split was defined for the item, you cannot generate an ad hoc schedule.
Two methods are available for creating ad hoc schedules:
You can run the Supplier Schedule Generation program and set a processing option to create ad hoc schedules for items for which no blanket orders exist.
You can use the Ad Hoc Schedule Revisions program to enter ad hoc schedules manually, for example, to meet unplanned demand.
You create ad hoc schedules based on item branch information, as well as supplier information that you can set up independently from a blanket order. For example, you can set up shipment patterns and dates, as well as split percentages for the suppliers.
When you use the Supplier Schedule Generation program to create a supplier release schedule and no blanket order exists for the item, the system reads the MRP messages from the MPS/MRP/DRP Message File table and searches for available supplier information, for example, a shipment pattern that is defined for a supplier and an item. If the system locates a shipment pattern, it adjusts the MRP request date to the first available shippable date, based on the shipment pattern. If you did not define shipment dates for the item, the system uses the MRP message request date for scheduling.
The Ad Hoc Schedule Revisions program, which is accessible through the self-service portal workspaces, can be used by both the buyer and the supplier. This program enables you to enter schedules even when no MRP messages and no forecast exist for the item. The buyer can use this application for:
Entering a new ad hoc schedule, for example, in response to an alert.
Editing the planned quantity in an existing ad hoc schedule.
Editing the committed quantity that is entered by the supplier on an ad hoc schedule.
Every time that a schedule changes, the system automatically notifies the supplier using email.
The buyer can use the application to respond to a new ad hoc schedule by entering a commitment quantity.
Schedules are displayed in chronological order, starting with the earliest date and displaying planned, committed, and released quantities, as well as cumulative values and the difference between planned and committed quantities.