Synchronizing the Supply Chain Calendars Between the Planning and ERP Systems

Executive Summary

• Why is Synchronization of these Calendars Important?
• What Does a Calendar Represent to a Planning or Execution System?

Introduction

There are frequent issues of accuracy on projects on the various calendars in planning systems and ERP systems.  A calendar is a constraint on activity—standard calendars include the factory and the shipment calendar. However, as with other constraints, while the system requires a specific and exact limitation, the business is often more flexible than that. On calendars, while five days a week may be the average or most common setting, companies may move towards working 6 or 7 days a week during high periods of demand. Often it is brought up that the system is not reflecting these changes, but then no attempt is made to make the calendars flexible throughout the year.

Flexible Calendars

This comes down to a master data function. If a company does, in fact, operate this way, it usually is well understood and can be predicted. What makes the most sense is to create different calendars with differing workdays and have the master data team change the calendars in the system on an ongoing basis. The best way to do this is to create a spreadsheet with the different months of the year or even two-week periods along the top, and then list the calendar category and the side (factory, shipment, etc..) Then enter the calendar name into the intersection. After this process is complete, the master data team’s responsibility is to end the week by checking the calendar set up for the next week and making the necessary adjustments. Of course, these calendar changes must be done in the ERP system and the planning system.