By: Richard

What is Master Data in DP? 
Master Data in Demand Planning primarily is Characteristic Value Combinations commonly termed CVCs. CVCs are the planning combinations against which data is stored in keyfigures. 

What is the behaviour of Procurement Type X? 
Procurement Type X - source selection is based on matching due date then priority then cost. If both In-house Production and External Procuremnet is possible then In-house Production (PPM) is chosen as source of supply. 

What is PPDS Fixing Horizon? 
PP/DS fixing Horizon defines the PP/DS time Fence - within that period if heuristic is run no orders get changed. 

What is the reuse mode in Product Heuristic? 
Reuse mode in Product Heuristic - makes the system to reuse orders already present in the heuristic run i.e. orders are not deleted and recreated. 

What is Planning Procedure? 
Planning Procedure in Product Master (PP/DS) defines that when you convert a planned order to process order it is in Deallocated state and not Scheduled state and more. 

Which are the components of the new mySAP SCM Solution? 
SAP SCM 4.1 is the new available Supply Chain Management Solution offered by SAP. The SAP SCM 4.1 System includes SAP APO 4.1 (Advanced Planning and Optimization), SAP ICH 4.1 (Inventory Collaboration Hub) and SAP EM 4.1 (Event Management). 

How about the architecture of SAP SCM 4.1? 
SAP SCM 4.1 is based on the SAP Web Application Server 6.40. All SAP SCM 4.1 Architecture Components can be installed on one hardware server, as long as this server is sized for all used application components. 

What does APO mean? 
SAP APO stands for SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization and is the planning component within the mySAP SCM solution. 

Can SAP APO be used as a stand-alone solution? 
No, SAP APO always requires a backend ERP system for execution functions. In most cases, the backend system is an SAP R/3 system. 

Remark: *Of course, as a stand-alone planning solution it can be !! :) and the connected executed system, which need not be ECC, is to give a well rounded solution there are organizations that have APO alone and integrate to other execution systems, and there are companies that have implemented APO first and R3 later. there are companies that just need planning and don't have to execute it (transport planning and demand planning)*

Can SAP APO and SAP R/3 be installed on the same server and use the same database? 
No, SAP APO requires a separate server. The actual size of the SAP APO system may vary and depends on the data volume to be processed. You can find more details on this subject under the alias /sizing on the SAP Service Marketplace (//http:/service.sap.com). 

How does SAP R/3 communicate with SAP APO? 
Through the APO Core Interface (CIF) which supplies SAP APO with master and transaction data in real time. CIF is delivered through the R/3 Plug-In, which is something you have to install in your SAP R/3 system. This is the same Plug-In that you need for connecting a BW or a CRM system. 

What about the exchange of data between the two systems? 
With SAP APO you have a real-time integration to SAP R/3. The minute you change something in one system, it is immediately being transferred to the other and vice versa. And that goes for all data, be it a sales order, a production order or a purchase order. You do not have to perform any batch jobs for transferring data between the systems. 

OK, SAP APO is a separate system. Do I have to maintain the master data twice? 
No. You create and change master data exclusively in SAP R/3. If you want to work with SAP APO, you need to transfer the master data from the SAP R/3 system. 
Depending on the scenario you want to use in SAP APO, you may have to enhance the transferred data with SAP APO specific settings, which are not relevant to SAP R/3. 

What is an easy, cost efficient way of installing some standard SAP APO scenarios? 
The answer is: SAP Best Practices for Supply Chain Management. Choose one or more of the mySAP SCM business scenarios that SAP Best Practices for SCM provide.

SAP Books
SAP APO Books  - Certification, Interview Questions and Configuration

SAP APO Tips
SAP APO Tips and SAP Advanced Planner/Optimizer Discussion Forum

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