Planning with CDP
The CDP, allows product characteristics to be assigned to different dispositive levels for those responsible to consider in planning.
In various industries, the product variance is so high due to certain properties that it is almost impossible to map it in the system with fixed material numbers. Since this variance must also be taken into account for the respective components or the underlying disposable levels, the challenge is particularly great. To ensure that all factors are taken into account, the construct CDP was created - it means characteristic-based planning.
Highlights of CDP planning
- Transfer of characteristic requirements also in external procurement and stock transfer documents
- Consideration of batch classifications
- Characteristic-based block planning for resources
- Generation of characteristic-based planned independent requirements
What is behind CDP?
CDP, or Characteristic Based Planning, creates a way to take into account in planning based on characteristics that one assigns at the different levels of MRP. In detail: Each demand, which is linked to different characteristics, is covered by a demand creator considering the characteristics of the demand. In case there are several demand originators with the same characteristics, they are covered with one demand originator (considering the MRP parameters).
Note: CDP planning supports make-to-order production as well as make-to-stock production.
![[Translate to English:] S/4HANA embedded PP/DS mit CDP – Merkmalsplanung zur Reduzierung des Auftragsvolumens und Beschaffungsplanung über PP/DS.](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/5/csm_CDP_Prefinal_692b79e587.png)
With CDP, even in make-to-stock production, requirements and receipts can be assigned on the basis of the characteristic values - a clear advantage over classic variant configuration.
How CDP works in practice
The picture shows a typical example. The sales order is used to create the product with the relevant properties/characteristics, thus generating the customer requirement.
In the next stage, the requirements originating from different sales orders are then covered with one planned order due to the identical characteristics. Instead of two separate planned orders, only one is created that fully covers the requirement quantity from the two requirement-creating elements.
The CDP approach looks very similar to a funnel. At the top level, all the properties/characteristics for the material are collected. The MRP levels below this level thus only receive the characteristics/properties that are also relevant for the respective MRP levels.
The CDP is also taken into account in planning support tools such as block planning. This makes it possible to form characteristic-based blocks and thus plan them in a dedicated manner on the resource.
Another major advantage of CDP is that it can be used to generate preliminary planning requirements based on characteristics and thus produce them for the warehouse.
Goods receipt can also be based on characteristics with the help of batch management. This enables users to identify which product with which characteristic properties is already in stock, and to put it into storage based on characteristics.
This is what the CDP ecosystem looks like
CDP not only has a significant influence on planning, but is also taken into account integratively. Example external procurement: CDP also takes into account the characteristic-based requirements for purchased parts in the documents (BANF, purchase order). In this way, the supplier receives the information that a certain purchased part with a certain characteristic value is required by the customer. The supplier then manufactures the purchased part with the dimensions specified in the document and delivers it to the customer.