SAP PP/DS · SAP PP · SAP PP-PI
Optimise production planning – from rough-cut planning to detailed scheduling
Effective production planning is essential for stable manufacturing processes, reliable delivery dates and efficient use of resources.
E&S Swiss Consulting supports manufacturing companies in analysing, designing and optimising their production planning with SAP PP, SAP PP-PI and SAP PP/DS.
Our focus is the interplay of business processes, planning logic, master data and SAP system functions.
Typical challenges in production planning
In many companies, production planning is shaped by complex dependencies, limited capacities and requirements that change at short notice. Typical challenges are:
! Lack of transparency about available capacity and material
! Frequent rescheduling and unstable production sequences
! Insufficient alignment between rough-cut and detailed planning
! High manual planning effort
! Incomplete or inconsistent planning master data
! SAP planning functions not used to their full potential
! Difficulties integrating planning and manufacturing
We help analyse the root causes systematically and derive suitable improvement measures.
Our SAP PP/DS consulting services
Focus
Production planning and detailed scheduling with SAP PP/DS
SAP PP/DS (Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling) supports the planning of production quantities, resources and production sequences.
We advise on designing and optimising planning processes, for example in the following areas:
- Analysing the requirements and receipts situation
- Planning resources and capacities
- Optimising production sequences
- Using planning heuristics and optimisation methods
- Taking set-up times and set-up sequences into account
- Visualising planning results in the SAP planning tools
- Identifying and handling planning exceptions
The goal is production planning that is realistic, transparent and usable in day-to-day operations.
Production planning with SAP PP
SAP PP and SAP PP-PI cover the core processes of production planning and production control. Our consulting includes:
- Production master data and manufacturing structures
- Bills of material, routings and production versions
- Material requirements planning (MRP)
- Production orders and process orders
- Capacity planning
- Integration with materials management and manufacturing processes
We do not look at SAP PP and SAP PP-PI in isolation, but as part of the entire value chain.
SAP S/4HANA and ePP/DS
SAP S/4HANA opens up new possibilities for integrated production planning.
We help companies evaluate existing planning processes, define requirements for ePP/DS and develop suitable solutions for the future SAP system landscape.
The focus is on functional requirements, sensible use of SAP standard functions and integration into existing business processes.
Our consulting approach
01
Analyse
We examine existing planning processes, system usage, master data and the organisational framework.
02
Design
Together we develop suitable planning strategies, define requirements and evaluate possible SAP solution approaches.
03
Implement
We support the configuration, integration, testing and go-live of the optimised planning processes.
04
Improve
After go-live, we support the stabilisation and continuous further development of production planning.
Assessing production planning holistically
Our production planning assessment
Sustainable improvement starts with a well-founded assessment of where you stand. Our production planning assessment evaluates the performance of your planning along six dimensions:
- People
- Processes
- System usage
- Data
- Technology
- Continuous improvement
On this basis, we identify improvement potential, prioritise fields of action and develop a practical roadmap.
What are the benefits of optimised SAP production planning?
Well-aligned production planning can help to:
✓ Increase planning transparency
✓ Use capacities in a more targeted way
✓ Reduce manual planning steps
✓ Stabilise production sequences
✓ Take material availability better into account
✓ Link planning and manufacturing processes more closely
✓ Strengthen the basis for more reliable delivery dates
Which improvements can be achieved depends on the starting situation, the processes and the data quality.
SAP PP/DS consulting for demanding production environments
Our experience includes production and SAP projects in the pharmaceutical industry, mechanical and plant engineering, mobility & transport and the defence sector.
We take into account the specific requirements of different manufacturing structures and combine SAP expertise with a practical understanding of industrial processes.
Frequently asked questions about SAP PP/DS
What is the difference between SAP PP and SAP PP/DS?
SAP PP supports the core processes of production planning and production control. SAP PP/DS adds extended functions for detailed production and sequence planning, taking resources and capacities into account.
When does SAP PP/DS make sense?
SAP PP/DS is particularly worthwhile when production processes are complex, limited resources have to be taken into account or detailed sequence planning is required.
What is ePP/DS?
ePP/DS (Embedded PP/DS) refers to the functionality for advanced production planning and detailed scheduling integrated into SAP S/4HANA. It allows the corresponding planning processes to be embedded more closely in the SAP S/4HANA system landscape.
How does optimising production planning begin?
It starts with an analysis of existing processes, master data, planning parameters and system usage. On this basis, specific fields of action and suitable improvement measures can be derived.
Let us improve your production planning
Would you like to use SAP PP/DS in a more targeted way, optimise existing planning processes or develop production planning further as part of SAP S/4HANA?
E&S Swiss Consulting supports you with analysis, design and implementation.