Available to Promise Questions / Advice

Epicor ERP 10
1

Hi,

A bit of background. We are trying to use ATP as a guide for sales and product managers. We have come up against some issues and looking for some help / guidance. We are not running MRP, but using AMM, no advanced inspection. For this example, the parts are purchased and then sold out of stock with no manufacturing. There is no lot tracking.

  1. Dealing with Inspection Time. We have a PO due date for Part XYZ set to 01/11/2017. We could use ‘Receive Time’ to add five days to indicate that the receipt would occur on the 06/11/2017. However, when the receipt is actually made then ATP will take the receipt date. So for example up to the 01/11/2017, ATP will say the expected receipt is 06/11/2017. However when the receipt is entered,01/11/2017, ATP will indicate that qty will be available on the 01/11/2017. The qty at this stage is in inspection processing and not available to be sold by the sales person.

The real issue is that we would like ATP or some other method to keep suggesting the 06/11/2017 or when it actually comes out of inspection. Effectively, the date that qty is available to be sold. Assuming, an inspection / move time of 5 days.

  1. Potentially on some parts which are purchased but go straight into stock or not inspection processing. So for example based on the receipt, leave 2 days before they come available for sales etc.

We could use non-nettable bins, but then visibility is reduced. Fundamentally, we would like to be able to give a date to a sales person when a stock qty is available or what stock is available by a date. I know it requires a bit of education around ATP etc, a bit of tolerance. But just wondering if there is something I am missing in the standard setup or that we need to create something or do something else.

Many thanks in advance

Thanks in advance.

2

Brychan,
The answer to both of your questions is explain how and when the Receive Time value (Part/Site, Part Class or Site) applies. ATP is really just a different view of the Time Phase Data.
A parts Lead Time & Receive Time values are applied during MRP or Generate PO Suggestions.
If PO’s are entered manually then neither value is used and the buyer is required to enter the PO Due Dates Manually.
When the values are used they affect the PO Due Date on the PO, not the ATP nor Time Phase calculation. ATP and Time Phase just uses the Dates on the PO’s, it does not add Receive Time to them.

3

Hi Rick,

Appreciate the feedback. But When using ATP and not running MRP;

If you enter a receive time against a relevant part class such as 5 days, ATP will show a PO receipt as five days later than the due date. So in theory, this works until the Po is received. Once received atp will show date of the actual receipt.

I am looking at alternatives so we can model the availability to sell date without necessarily running mrp etc. Taking into account some time taken on inspection or movements within warehouses. So if atp could take into account receive time when the actual receipt is made then this would provide a good solution for us. I am getting a feeling that a dashboard or the like is the way forward, especially when considering the timing of cross docks and allocations.

Many thanks.