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How to use forecast explosions

As a production planner, you want to be able to build and manage a complete forecast structure from a sales or production order. After all, you want insight into purchasing needs, planning load, and lead times. Forecast explosions can be automatically generated. This article explains how it works.

 

 

With the fully integrated forecast functionality in both the client and the API, where automatic building, deletion, and replanning are standardized, you can automatically build, manage, and delete a complete forecast structure in MKG from the sales or production order.

 

 

The 'Explode Forecast' and 'Remove Explosion' buttons

 

On the sales order line and the production order line, you will find the Explode Forecast button. In the sales order, a pop-up appears where you can choose the options 'Explode', 'Remove Explosion', or 'Apply Changes'. Applying a change, such as in the delivery date, order quantity, or order unit, is done per line.

In the production order, a complete forecast structure for both materials and underlying subassemblies is built via Explode Forecast, where the planning is also fully included. Does an explosion already exist? Then it is first removed. Loop detection prevents circular references.

The Remove Explosion button on the production order line ensures that the entire structure of the forecast assembly is removed. Linked purchase orders remain intact.

 

 

How does exploding work?

 

  • General: When exploding, any existing structure is first removed. If there are changes to the delivery date or order quantity, the structure is fully replanned. If no production order exists yet, it is automatically created.
  • Building explosion: First, the active BOM is retrieved. Materials and subassemblies are then built on multiple levels, with a check for blocked items. Loop detection prevents infinite structures.
  • Removing forecast structures: Underlying forecast productions are removed. Productions linked to purchasing are removed. The purchase order remains intact.
  • Planning: The forecast assembly and all underlying subassemblies are automatically included in planning. The date is adopted according to material requirements. In case of changes, the entire structure is replanned. New collections for planning show the complete structure in a Gantt view on the 'Production Overview (8002)' form on the production order.

 

 

How to use the functionality

 

 

Explode Forecast in a sales order line

 

1

Select one or more sales order lines.
2

Click Explode Forecast and choose the desired action:

  • None
  • Explode
  • Remove Explosion
  • Apply Changes
3

If you want to apply changes, adjust the delivery date, order quantity, or order unit.
4

Execute the action.

 

 

Explode Forecast in a production order line

 

1

Select a production order line.
2

Click on Explode Forecast and confirm. The existing structure is now removed, the explosion rebuilt, and the planning automatically processed.

 

 

Remove Forecast Explosion in a production order line

 

1

Select a production order line.
2

Click on Remove Forecast Explosion and confirm. The entire explosion is removed. Only the assembly, including underlying subassemblies, remains.

 

 

 

Points of attention, tips, and limitations

 

  • With the Explode Forecast action on the sales order line, the 'Explode' option will first remove an existing explosion and then completely rebuild it. Any changes in BOMs are included.
  • With the Explode Forecast action on the sales order line, the 'Apply Changes' option will retain an existing explosion and only change quantities and dates. Any changes in BOMs are not included.
  • Linked purchase orders will never be removed after removing explosions.
  • When creating underlying production orders, set batch sizes are not applied.
  • When planning operations, infinite planning is always applied.
  • If there is no Delivery Date or Transport Date entered on the sales order line, the assembly will be planned forward. This means that underlying production orders will be planned for this and will likely fall behind.
  • If there is no Planning Date entered on the assembly, the assembly will be planned forward. This means that underlying production orders will be planned for this and will likely fall behind.
  • For a good result, it is important to fill in a date.

 

 

Production Overview

 

On the 'Production Overview (8002)' form in the production order, you get a complete overview of all components, including underlying production order subassemblies, PC materials, PC operations, and planning operations. A Gantt view of the planning completes the overview.

 

bill of materialssales order linefinal assemblydelivery dateproduction order sub-assemblyreplanplanning operationproduction order material pcproduction order operation pcforecastplanning dategantt viewtransport