Understanding Supplier Release Scheduling

Supplier release scheduling provides the suppliers with consistent shipping information and advanced demand profiles to support the goal of just-in-time production and delivery. You can create supplier release schedules that meet the buyer's purchasing needs and enable suppliers to plan their production and shipping schedules. Using supplier schedules enables you to convert the purchase order messages that are generated by running the MRP/MPS Requirements Planning program (R3482) into a realistic supplier plan. The supplier schedule identifies both short-term and long-term needs for purchased items at the facility.

Buyers can use supplier schedule master information, based on blanket orders, to set up and maintain supplier contracts with information about delivery criteria. If you want to use more than one supplier for an item, you need to define supplier split percentages. You can communicate supplier schedules to the suppliers using electronic data interchange (EDI) or print.

Supplier release scheduling enables you to:

• Support item-specific relationships for scheduled shipments at the supplier's site.

• Set up blanket purchase orders and material shipping arrangements with each supplier.

• Generate a shipping schedule for all supplier-scheduled demand within the release horizon.

• Generate multiple supplier schedules for a single item.

• Adjust the shipping schedule for unplanned events, and create blanket order releases.

• Capture supplier commitments.

• Release commitments against existing blanket orders in the form of purchase orders at the release fence automatically.

• Print supplier schedule information, or send it to the supplier using EDI.

• Maintain a history of supplier schedules and commitments.