This Forecast/Master Schedule Planning module lets you create and maintain shipment forecasts and master production schedules.

Introduction to Forecasting/Master Schedule Planning
Explains why calculated forecasts are useful in MRP.

Creating Forecasts
Explains different methods of creating forecasts, including a creation workflow and sections on forecasting simulation and simulation setup, creating criteria templates, calculating forecasts, creating forecasts manually or with demand planner, modifying forecast results, copying and combining forecasts, generating reports, making forecast data visible to MRP, deleting and archiving forecasting detail records, and maintaining forecasts outside of forecast simulation.

Consuming Forecasts
Explains different methods of consuming forecasts and gives details on sales order demand, net forecast calculation, and forward and backward forecast consumption.

Creating Master Production Schedules
Details how master production schedules (MPS) use forecasts and explains how to create and manage master schedules in different ways, how to deal with available-to-promise inventory, multilevel master scheduling, maintaining master schedule orders, verify capacity for master schedules, handle seasonal demands and requirements, and generate master schedule reports.

Using functions in the Forecast/Master Schedule Planning module, you can calculate and record the number of units of a given item you expect to ship each week from a given site.

These forecasts are used to develop the master production schedule and drive material requirements planning (MRP).

Forecasts and master schedules can be created for any item, but are usually created for end items, critical subassemblies, and service parts.