Planning With or Without Locations

Article
09/16/2022

Before you start utilizing planning engine, we recommend deciding about whether or not to use locations. There are two main straightforward ways:

demand lines always carry location codes and the system fully uses stockkeeping units, including the relevant location setup. Learn more at Demand at location.
demand lines never carry location codes and the system uses the item card. See the Demand at a "blank location" scenario below.

Demand at location

When the planning system detects demand at a location (a line with a location code), it will behave in different ways depending on 2 critical setup values.

During a planning run, the system checks for the 2 setup values in sequence and plans accordingly:

Does a SKU exist for the item on the demanded location?

If yes, then:

The item is planned according to planning parameters on the SKU card.

If no, then:
Does the Components at Location field in the Manufacturing Setup page contain the demanded location code?

If yes, then:

The item is planned according to planning parameters on the item card.

If no, then:

The item is planned according to the "minimal alternative" which covers the exact demand. The planning parameters are set as: Reordering Policy = Lot-for-Lot, Include Inventory = Yes, all other planning parameters = Empty. (Items using reordering policy Order remain using Order as well as the other settings.)

Tip

If you often plan for demand at different locations, then we recommend that you use the stockkeeping units capability and avoid demand on blank location. Learn more at Set Up Stockkeeping Units

See variations in the scenarios below.

Note

The Components at Location field in the Manufacturing Setup page are very important in governing how the planning system handles production demand lines.

For production demand, Business Central will use the same location for subassembly and components as the one stated on the production order. However, by filling in this field, you can redirect the subassembly and components to another location.

You can also define this for a specific SKU by selecting a different location code in the Components at Location field on the SKU card. Note, however, that this rarely makes sense as the planning logic may be distorted when planning for the SKU component.

Demand at "blank location"

In general, when the planning system detects demand at a blank location (a line without a location code), the item is planned according to planning parameters on the item card.

The Locations Mandatory field in the Inventory Setup page, the Components at Location field in the Manufacturing Setup page, or stockkeeping units will affect how the planning system handles demand lines with/without location codes. If one of following statements is true, the demand on blank location is also considered a deviation and the planning system will react by outputting the "minimal alternative": The item is planned according to: Reordering Policy = Lot-for-Lot (Order remains Order), Include Inventory = Yes, all other planning parameters = Empty.

The Components at Location field in the Manufacturing Setup page has a value.
A stockkeeping unit exists for the planned item.
The Location Mandatory field is selected.

Scenarios

See variations in the setup scenarios below.

Setup 1

Location Mandatory = Yes
SKU is set up for WEST
Component at Location = EAST

Case 1.1: Demand is at WEST location

The item is planned according to planning parameters on the SKU card (including possible transfer).