Simple MRP

As a Purchasing Planner or Production Planner
I want to calculate which items need replenishment and get a list of suggested supply orders based on current inventory and demand
So that I have a clear, actionable starting point for placing purchase or production orders without manually checking each item

Setup:

1. Open Reverse Planning – Simple MRP.
2. Click Calculate Simple MRP. The request page shows the active Planning Template for Simple MRP.
3. Review the template settings: start/end date, demand types included, supply types included, trigger on inventory level (Zero, Safety Stock, or Reorder Point).
4. Set item or location filters if needed (or rely on those saved in the Item Filter Template attached to the template).
5. Run the calculation. The journal shows one line per item/location that fell below the trigger level within the calculation period.
6. Each line shows: current inventory, end inventory, lowest inventory, first date below the trigger level, open sales/purchase/production quantities, and a suggested Action Message.

Note: Lines are only generated for items that actually trigger a supply need based on the template's Trigger on Inventory Level setting. Items with sufficient stock are excluded unless Always Insert Supply Lines is enabled.

As a Planning Administrator or Senior Planner
I want to define reusable Planning Templates that specify exactly which demand and supply types are included, what date range to use, and what triggers a supply suggestion
So that different planners or planning scenarios can have consistent, repeatable calculation settings without re-entering parameters each time

Setup:

1. Open Planning Templates from within the Simple MRP journal (or search for it directly).
2. Create a new template with a unique Code and set Planning Feature to Simple MRP.
3. In the Calculation Interval section, set Default Start Date Formula (e.g. <-CW> for start of current week) and Calculation Period (End Date, Lead Time, or Rolled Up Lead Time).
4. In the Demands section, configure which demand types are included: Sales Orders (All, Only Released, None), Sales Blanket Orders, Sales Quotes, Transfer Demands, Production Components, Service Orders. Enable Include Only Items with Demand Orders to exclude items with only safety stock demand.
5. In the Supplies section, configure: Purchase Orders (All, Only Released, None), Purchase Quotes, Production Orders, Transfer Supply, Assembly Orders. Set Purchase Order Date (Expected or Promised Receipt Date).
6. In the Simple MRP section, set Trigger on Inventory Level (Zero, Safety Stock, Reorder Point) and optionally enable Trigger on End Inventory (only trigger if the end inventory — not the lowest — is below the level).
7. Link an Order Quantity Template and an Item Filter Template if applicable.
8. Save the template. It is now available when running the calculation.

As a Planning Administrator
I want to set date formulas on Planning Templates so that start and end dates recalculate from today every time the template is used
So that the same template can be run weekly or daily without anyone changing dates manually

Setup:

1. On the Planning Template, set Default Start Date Formula to a formula relative to work date (e.g. <-CW> for start of current week, <0D> for today).
2. Set Default End Date Formula to a formula relative to the start date (e.g. <+8W> for eight weeks forward).
3. Each time the calculation runs, the actual start and end dates are recalculated from the current work date before the calculation begins.
4. The Demand Forecast start and end dates follow the same formulas if linked to a forecast.

As a Purchasing Planner
I want to have the system automatically calculate how much to order for each item based on reorder parameters — not just suggest that an order is needed
So that I can carry out orders without manually determining the quantity for each line

Setup:

1. Create an Order Quantity Template (search for Order Quantity Templates or open from the Planning Template).
2. Set Calculate From: Zero (order enough to bring inventory to target), Lowest Inventory (top up from the lowest projected point), End Inventory (top up from the end-of-period inventory), or Lowest Inventory after Forecast.
3. Set Calculate To: Safety Stock, Reorder Point, Reorder Quantity, Reorder Point plus Reorder Quantity, Maximum Inventory, or Zero (fixed quantity scenarios).
4. Optionally enable Use Order Modifiers to apply Minimum Order Quantity, Maximum Order Quantity, and Order Multiple from the item or SKU card.
5. Set the Rounding Principle and link a Date Template to control the suggested due date.
6. Link this template to the Planning Template in the Order Quantity Template field.
7. In the Simple MRP journal after running the calculation, click Suggest Quantity to Order. The system fills in the Quantity to Order field for all lines using the template logic and marks Accept Action Message.

As a Purchasing Planner
I want to have the suggested order date automatically set to reflect when the item first falls below a critical level — not just a fixed date
So that purchase orders are timed to arrive exactly when needed rather than defaulting to the planning start date

Setup:

1. Create a Date Template (search for Suggest Date Templates) and add Date Triggers to it.
2. Each trigger specifies: Trigger on Date (Today, First date below Zero, First date below Safety Stock, First date below Reorder Point, or a specific date), and Planning Direction (Forward or Backward).
3. Link the Date Template to an Order Quantity Template.
4. When Suggest Quantity to Order runs with this setup, the calculated due date on each planning line reflects the trigger event rather than defaulting to the start date.

As a Purchasing Planner
I want to automatically split suggested orders that exceed a maximum order quantity, or consolidate demand within a lot accumulation period into a single order
So that the planning output respects item-level constraints and produces realistic, actionable order proposals

Setup:

1. On the Order Quantity Template, enable Split Orders by Maximum Order Qty. to automatically split lines where the suggested quantity exceeds the item's Maximum Order Quantity.
2. Enable Split Orders by Lot Accumulation Period to consolidate demands within the same Lot Accumulation Period (from the item or SKU card) into one line per period.
3. When both are enabled, splitting takes precedence over accumulation where they conflict.
4. Split lines appear in the Simple MRP journal with the Is Split Line or Is Lot Accumulation Line column marked, making them easy to identify.

Note: These are preview features that must be enabled in Feature Management. The columns are only visible when the respective feature is active.

As a Purchasing Planner
I want to control what happens when a demand requires an order to be placed in the past — because the lead time means it should have been ordered already
So that the planning output is realistic and I know which lines require immediate action

Setup:

1. On the Order Quantity Template, set Past Planning Policy:
   • No Action: the calculated date is kept as-is, even if it is in the past.
   • Warning Only: the line is marked with a Planning Date Warning but the date is not changed.
   • Adjust to Work Date: the planned order start date is moved to today.
   • Adjust to Planning Start Date: the planned order start date is moved to the calculation start date.
2. When Suggest Quantity to Order runs, lines affected by this policy show the Planning Date Warning, Calculated Starting Date, and Calculated Due Date columns in the journal.

As a Purchasing Planner
I want to run the Simple MRP calculation for a specific subset of items — such as items from a specific vendor, item category, or product group — without entering filters manually each time
So that I can run targeted planning calculations for different buyers or product segments using a saved, reusable filter

Setup:

1. Open Item Filter Templates (search or open from the Planning Template).
2. Create a new template and click the Filter Text field to open the item filter dialog.
3. Set filters on any item field — item number, item category, vendor, global dimension, or any other field.
4. Save the template and link it to the Planning Template in the Item Filter Template field.
5. When the calculation runs, only items matching the filter are included.
6. Enable User Item Filter has Priority on the Planning Template if the filter entered on the request page at run time should override the template filter.

As a Logistics Planner
I want to get one planning line per item per location (and per variant) rather than one aggregate line across all locations
So that purchase orders and transfer orders are created for the correct location rather than requiring manual splitting after the calculation

Setup:

1. On the Planning Template, enable Calculate per Location. The calculation generates one line per item/location combination.
2. Enable Calculate per Variant to additionally split by item variant.
3. Combine with Only use Stockkeeping Units to restrict the calculation to items that have an SKU card for the relevant location/variant combination — useful when planning rules (lead time, vendor, reorder point) are defined at the SKU level.

As a Production Planner
I want to plan the full BOM hierarchy in one action — so that when Simple MRP suggests a production order for a top-level item, it automatically calculates the component requirements and suggests purchase or production orders for those too
So that I get a complete multi-level supply plan in one calculation run rather than having to re-run the calculation manually for each BOM level

Setup:

1. On the Planning Template, enable Run for all Low Level Codes.
2. Also enable Auto run Suggest Qty to Order and Auto run Carry Out Actions (both are required when running for all low-level codes).
3. When the calculation runs, it starts from low-level code 0 (top-level items), runs Suggest Quantity to Order and Carry Out Action Message automatically, then recalculates for low-level code 1 (first-level components), and so on through all levels.
4. The result is a complete set of planning lines in the Planning Worksheet covering all levels of the BOM.

Note: Run for all Low Level Codes cannot be combined with Auto run next Template.

As a Planning Administrator
I want to define a sequence of Planning Templates that run automatically one after another in a single calculation
So that I can build a planning hierarchy — for example, first plan purchase items, then plan production items using the purchase planning output — without manually triggering each template in sequence

Setup:

1. On the first Planning Template, set Auto run next Template to the code of the next template.
2. Also enable Auto run Suggest Qty to Order and Auto run Carry Out Actions on the first template (required for chaining).
3. On the second template, optionally set its own Auto run next Template to continue the chain.
4. When the first template's calculation runs, it completes the full cycle (Calculate → Suggest Qty → Carry Out), then automatically starts the second template's calculation.
5. The chain continues until all templates in the sequence have been processed.

Note: Recursive template references (where template A chains to template B which chains back to A) are detected and blocked with an error.

As a Purchasing Planner
I want to open the Simple MRP journal pre-populated with lines for all items in my filter — not just items that are short — so that I can create purchase orders directly from the journal without running a shortage-based calculation
So that I can use the journal as a direct order entry tool for items I always replenish on a schedule

Setup:

1. On the Planning Template, enable Always Insert Supply Lines.
2. Disable Trigger on Inventory Level (it is set to blank when Always Insert is enabled).
3. Run the calculation. Every item matching the filter gets a line in the journal regardless of inventory level.
4. Use Suggest Quantity to Order to fill in the order quantity, or enter it manually.
5. Carry out the accepted lines to the Planning Worksheet.

Note: This mode is most useful when combined with Item Filter Templates that target specific vendor groups or item categories that are always ordered together.

As a Purchasing Planner
I want to retain a journal line after I carry it out so that I can create a second planning line for the same item — for example, one line for a purchase order and another for a transfer order
So that complex multi-source supply scenarios can be handled from a single journal without re-running the calculation

Setup:

1. On the Planning Template, enable Keep Line After Carry Out.
2. Alternatively, enable it per line in the journal using the Keep Line After Carry Out column.
3. When Carry Out Action Message runs, lines with this flag enabled remain in the journal after the planning line is created, allowing the planner to modify the quantity and replenishment system and carry out again for a different order type.

As a Purchasing Planner
I want to exclude items from the Simple MRP calculation if they already have lines in the Planning Worksheet from a previous run
So that re-running the calculation does not overwrite or duplicate planning lines that were already reviewed and accepted

Setup:

1. On the Planning Template, enable Skip if Already Planned (enabled by default).
2. When the calculation runs, items that already have lines in the planning worksheet are skipped and their existing lines are not deleted.
3. This allows partial re-calculation — for example, re-running for new items added to a filter without disturbing the planning output for items already processed.

As a Demand Planner
I want to include forecast demand alongside actual sales orders and production components in the Simple MRP calculation
So that the planning output anticipates future demand from the forecast rather than only reacting to existing orders

Setup:

1. On the Planning Template, set Demand Forecast to the BC production forecast to include.
2. Set Demand Forecast Start Date and Demand Forecast End Date to control which forecast entries are included (these default to the calculation start and end dates if left blank).
3. Run the calculation. Forecast entries are included as demand alongside the configured order demand types.

Note: Enabling a forecast and also enabling Trigger on Actual Demand Orders has a specific interaction: actual demand orders still drive the trigger, but the forecast quantity is shown in the inventory level columns and can influence the Suggest Quantity to Order calculation (when Calculate From is set to Lowest Inventory after Forecast).

As a Group Planner
I want to calculate supply needs for my company based on demand that exists in another BC company
So that a central purchasing company can plan supply for subsidiaries without users having to switch companies

Setup:

1. On the Planning Template, set Plan from other Company to the name of the source company.
2. Run the calculation. Demand (sales orders, production components, etc.) is read from the specified company, while supply orders are created in the current company.
3. For companies in a different tenant, set External Tenant Code instead of Plan from other Company.

As a Purchasing Planner
I want to see a breakdown of what is driving each planning line — which sales orders are creating demand, which purchase orders are providing supply, and how inventory evolves over the period — without leaving the journal
So that I can verify the planning suggestion and make informed adjustments without opening separate pages

Setup:

1. In the Simple MRP journal, select a line. The right-hand factbox panel shows:
   • Calculation Fact Box: a summary of key inventory figures for the selected item/location.
   • Item Demands: a breakdown of all demand entries (sales orders, components, forecasts, etc.) contributing to the calculation for this line.
   • Item Supplies: a breakdown of all supply entries (purchase orders, production orders, etc.) included for this line.
   • Calc. Inventory: a period-by-period inventory projection.
   • Item Planning / SKU Planning: the item or SKU's reorder parameters (safety stock, reorder point, reorder quantity, lead time).
2. Click Graphical Inventory Profile (if installed) to open a visual chart of the inventory profile for the selected item.

As a Demand Planner
I want to convert the lines from the Simple MRP journal into a demand forecast
So that the planning output can feed back into the forecast for the next planning cycle without manual re-entry

Setup:

1. In the Simple MRP journal, select the lines to convert (or use all lines with a Quantity to Order filled in).
2. Click Convert to Forecast. The system calls the Flexible Forecast publisher event and writes the planning line quantities as forecast entries into the active demand forecast.
3. Flexible Forecast must be installed and enabled for this action to be available.

As a Purchasing Planner
I want to open BC's standard Item Availability by Event, Period, Variant, Location, BOM Level, Lot, or Unit of Measure directly from a journal line
So that I can investigate the full availability picture for an item without leaving the planning context

Setup:

1. In the Simple MRP journal, select a line.
2. Use the Item Availability by group in the Navigate menu to open the availability view of your choice.
3. All standard BC availability views are available directly from the journal.

As a Production Planner
I want to calculate the total lead time for produced items — rolling up component and routing lead times through the full BOM — directly from the Simple MRP journal
So that I can see the correct cumulative lead time for each item without leaving the planning context

Setup:

1. In the Simple MRP journal, click Calculate Rolled up Lead Time in the action bar.
2. The report runs for the items in the current filter and calculates the rolled-up lead time by traversing the production BOM and routing structure.
3. Results are stored in the Rolled up Lead Times table and visible from the Rolled up Lead Times page (accessible via the Navigate menu).
4. The calculation period options on the Planning Template include Lead Time and Rolled Up Lead Time — these use the results of this calculation to determine the planning horizon per item.

As a Planning Administrator or Planner
I want to group Planning Templates into named categories and configure which categories each user sees by default when opening the template list
So that planners only see the templates relevant to their role and the template list stays manageable as the number of templates grows

Setup:

1. Open Planning Template Categories (search or navigate from the template list) and create the categories you need (e.g. PURCHASE PLANNING, PRODUCTION PLANNING, FORECAST).
2. On each Planning Template, set the Template Category field to the appropriate category.
3. Planners can open User-Defined Category Preferences from the Planning Templates list to configure which categories they see by default. Each user can select one or more categories; the list will then filter to those categories on opening.
4. Use Show All Templates on the template list to temporarily override the category filter and see all templates.
5. Templates without a category are always visible alongside the selected category templates.

As a Planning Administrator
I want to duplicate an existing Planning Template and give the copy a new code and description
So that I can create a variant of an established template — for example, the same calculation for a different location or vendor group — without re-entering all the settings from scratch

Setup:

1. Open Planning Templates and select the template to copy.
2. Click Copy Planning Template (available both on the list and on the template card).
3. Enter a unique New Template Code and a New Template Description. The existing template's description is shown for reference.
4. Click OK. A new template is created with all settings, filter links (Item Filter Template, SKU Filter Template, Order Quantity Template, Date Template), and date formulas copied from the original.
5. Open the new template and adjust the settings that differ from the original.

As a Logistics Planner
I want to define a reusable filter on the Stockkeeping Unit table and attach it to a Planning Template
So that the calculation only considers items that have a matching SKU card — for example, only items with Transfer replenishment, or only SKUs at a specific location — without entering filters manually each time

Setup:

1. Open SKU Filter Templates (search or open from the Planning Template).
2. Create a new template with a unique code and click the Filter Text field to open the SKU filter dialog.
3. Set filters on any Stockkeeping Unit field — replenishment system, transfer-from location, vendor, or others. The standard setup creates an ONLY TRANSFER SKU filter template that restricts to SKUs with Transfer replenishment.
4. Link the SKU Filter Template to the Planning Template in the SKU Filter Template field.
5. When the calculation runs, only item/location/variant combinations that have an SKU card matching the filter are included.
6. SKU Filter Template and Item Filter Template can be combined: the Item Filter Template restricts which items are considered, and the SKU Filter Template further restricts which of those items must have a matching SKU.

As a Production Planner or Purchasing Planner
I want to convert a monthly demand forecast into actual purchase or production orders by running a two-step template chain: first transfer the forecast period to planning lines, then break those planning lines down through all BOM levels
So that the annual forecast becomes a concrete, level-by-level supply plan without manual calculation

Setup:

1. The standard template setup includes a BREAK DOWN SALES FORECAST category with paired templates for each calendar month (e.g. JAN NEXT YEAR – TRANSFER LINES FROM FORECAST and JAN NEXT YEAR – BREAK DOWN FROM PLANNING LINES).
2. The first template in each pair (Transfer Lines) uses a forecast-only configuration: all sales, purchase, and production demand types are set to None, inventory is excluded, and the linked forecast covers only the target month. It chains automatically to the second template via Auto run next Template.
3. The second template (Break Down) reads the planning lines created by the first template and runs for all low-level codes to generate component-level supply suggestions throughout the BOM.
4. To use this pattern with your own forecast, duplicate a month pair template, update the date range and the Demand Forecast field, and run the first template. The full chain executes automatically.

Note: Templates in the Break Down Sales Forecast category use Trigger on Inventory Level = Zero, Exclude Inventory = true, all demand types = None, and Include Planning Lines = All. The Suggest Quantity Template linked is EXACT DEMAND, which calculates from End Inventory to Zero without order modifiers — producing exactly the forecast quantity as the order quantity.

As a Planning Administrator
I want to refresh all standard Abakion Planning Templates, Order Quantity Templates, Item Filter Templates, SKU Filter Templates, and Date Templates with the latest recommended settings
So that the planning setup stays current with Abakion's best practices without manually reviewing and updating each template

Setup:

1. Open Planning Templates.
2. Click Refresh Standard Templates.
3. The system deletes all templates marked as Standard Template and recreates them from the built-in Abakion defaults — including all categories, Order Quantity Templates, Date Templates, Item Filter Templates (with or without a primary location filter), and SKU Filter Templates.
4. Custom templates (those not marked as Standard Template) are not affected.

Note: On the first installation, standard templates are created automatically when the Planning Templates page is opened. Refreshing overwrites the standard templates but preserves any custom templates you have added. If existing sub-templates (Order Quantity Templates, Item Filter Templates, SKU Filter Templates) exist, the system asks whether to delete and recreate them or only update the planning templates themselves.