Supply planning converts unconstrained demand into a feasible plan using inventory, materials, capacity, lead times, and operating constraints.
Diagnose a planning snapshotPurpose
The job is to determine what can be fulfilled, when, from which source, and with which tradeoffs.
Core inputs
Demand, on hand, open supply, BOM, lead times, capacity, yields, calendars, policies, priorities, costs, and constraints.
Core outputs
A feasible production, procurement, transfer, and inventory plan plus exceptions requiring a decision.
Constraint hierarchy
Separate hard constraints from policies and preferences. Model material, labor, equipment, logistics, cash, regulatory, and customer constraints explicitly.
Cadence and horizons
Strategic, tactical, and execution horizons need different detail. Freeze zones and review cadence determine which actions remain feasible.
Exception management
Good planning focuses attention where risk, value, service, and decision lead time intersect, not on reviewing every SKU equally.
Test your own assumptions.
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Diagnose a planning snapshot