Fieldnotesby Arjun Sai
SAP MM5 topics · study guide

Planning, MRP & demand inputs

How SAP decides what to buy, how much and when — from independent requirements through MRP Live to lot sizing.

ScopeCovers material planning relevant to purchasing. Detailed production planning belongs to PP.
01

MRP & consumption-based planning

MRP calculates net requirements from demand (sales orders, PIRs, dependent requirements, reservations) against available stock and fixed receipts. Consumption-based planning uses past consumption instead: reorder point, forecast-based or time-phased planning.

  • MRP type in the MRP 1 view: PD (MRP), VB (manual reorder point), VM (automatic reorder point), VV (forecast-based), ND (no planning).
  • Planning results: planned orders or purchase requisitions, with exception messages.
  • Planning horizon and planning file entries limit which materials are planned.
T-codes & apps
MD01NMD03MD04MD05MD06MD07
From the field: Use MD04 as the 'single source of truth' when a buyer and a planner disagree — it shows every element MRP considered.
02

MRP Live & the S/4HANA planning run

MRP Live (MD01N) runs planning on the HANA database and is the standard planning run in S/4HANA. Classic MD01/MD02 remain for specific cases. Fiori MRP cockpit apps support exception-based work.

  • Planning scope can be a plant, material list, MRP controller or product group.
  • Some legacy features (e.g. certain BAdIs) force a fallback to classic ABAP planning.
  • Fiori apps: Monitor Material Coverage, Manage Material Coverage, Detect Unnecessary Supply.
T-codes & apps
MD01NMD04Fiori: Monitor Material Coverage
03

Planned independent requirements & forecasting

PIRs represent the demand plan (e.g. from S&OP or IBP) at material/plant level. Forecast-based planning uses historic consumption and a forecast model (constant, trend, seasonal) to predict future requirements.

  • Strategy group in the MRP 3 view controls how PIRs and sales orders consume each other.
  • Forecast parameters live in the Forecasting view; MP30/MP38 execute single or mass forecasts.
  • Consumption mode and forward/backward periods define PIR consumption.
T-codes & apps
MD61MD62MD63MP30MP38
04

Reorder point, safety stock & lot sizing

In reorder point planning, a procurement proposal is created when available stock falls below the reorder point. Safety stock buffers uncertainty. The lot-sizing procedure decides the order quantity.

  • Lot sizes: EX lot-for-lot, FX fixed, HB replenish to maximum, WB weekly, MB monthly.
  • Rounding value and minimum/maximum lot size apply after lot sizing.
  • Automatic reorder point (VM) calculates reorder point and safety stock from forecast and service level.
T-codes & apps
MM02 (MRP 1/2 views)OMI4
05

Planning-relevant master data & statuses

Several material-master fields steer planning: MRP controller, planned delivery time, GR processing time, procurement type (E in-house, F external), special procurement key, and material status blocking MRP.

  • Special procurement keys model consignment (10), subcontracting (30), stock transfer (40 / U-type keys) and phantom assemblies.
  • Planned delivery time can be taken from the info record if configured.
  • Material status with 'MRP' message B blocks planning entirely.
T-codes & apps
MM02MD04
Put it into practice

A material keeps running out

A fast-moving packing material runs out every month-end even though MRP runs nightly. Using MD04, identify whether the cause is lot size, planned delivery time, safety stock or missing demand, and propose a fix.

Check yourself

Interview-style questions

Name four MRP types.

PD (deterministic MRP), VB (manual reorder point), VM (automatic reorder point), VV (forecast-based); ND means no planning.

What is MRP Live?

The HANA-optimised planning run (MD01N) that is the standard in SAP S/4HANA.

Which lot-sizing procedure orders exactly the shortage quantity?

EX — lot-for-lot.

Official study material

SAP Help Portal · product documentation ↗