SKEP Multisourcing

The SKEP Multisourcing module enhances to the SKEP Planning module and is essential in a multi-site distribution environment. It optimizes the flow of demand and products between distribution sites and production sites in multi-site networks. Using SKEP Multisourcing with SKEP Planning enhances the quality of a plan for a multi-site environment. It also improves customer service levels by allowing inventory movement between distribution sites and by reducing cycle times.

Options
The three main functions of SKEP Multisourcing include managing inventories of all distribution sites, allocating the net requirements of all distribution sites to the production sites using allocation parameters, and deploying quantities from the production sites to the distribution sites according to an optimized deployment calculation.

Managing Inventories:
SKEP Multisourcing is able to manage and monitor the inventories of all of the distribution sites in a multi-site environment using various inventory parameters such as Minimum Inventory Level and Maximum Coverage.

Allocation of Net Requirements:
The requirements for all items for all of the distribution sites is totaled and allocated to the production sites according to an allocation percentage table. These allocation percentages can vary with time and more than one distribution site can distribute a particular item.

Deployment:
After production schedules have been created for each distribution site, a deployment algorithm, specific to SKEP Multisourcing, is used to optimize the assignment of inventory to each distribution site. In the event of shortage or surplus, quantities can be re-deployed within product classes using user defined priorities. Inventory can either be kept at the production sites or at the distribution sites. After deployment the user can display and modify flows between the sites in a simulation spreadsheet.

Simulation:
When using the simulation option in a multisourcing database, there are additional capabilities specific to the multisourcing module. The user is able to open multiple flow windows for distribution or production sites, simulate net requirement transfers between production sites, and run the deployment algorithm. Also in the simulation, the user has access to all allocation percentages, allocation rules, and priority levels.

Managerial Interactions
SKEP Multisourcing has the same simulation capabilities as does SKEP Planning with a few additions. The flows of inventory can be monitored, maintained, and displayed in a variety of ways. Screens and windows can be predefined by the user or modified on the fly to aid the planner in easily idenifying problems and recommending possible solutions. The module uses a multiple document interface (MDI), and all the graphs within the simulation window are interactive.

Other Features

• Any change in the requirements or inventory of a site will automatically affect all of the dependent sites.
  
• Any modification of the load or capacity of a production site will trigger visual warning if it results in over-use or minimum inventory violations.
  
• If necessary SKEP Planning can initiate the preparation of a new finite-capacity plan.
  
• Distribution network parameters can be defined by the user.

Reports and Graphs

All reports available in SKEP Planning are also available in SKEP Multisourcing. A report only available in SKEP Multisourcing is called the Deployment Summary Report. This report represents the details of the flow to and from the production sites and the distribution sites.

Computer Interfaces

The SKEP Multisourcing module has an ODBC interface that allows information flow between relational databases and SKEP. Other traditional forms of information exchange such as text files and spreadsheets are also available. The SKEP eXtended module can also be used to link SKEP and ERP.

The SKEP Multisourcing module provides several security features when data resides on a shared network. Data access and write protection can be varied by individual user.

Benefits

SKEP Multisourcing

improves the users ability to manage the flow between the production sites and the distribution sites by providing the following benefits:

• Improve inventory flow
  
• Increase distribution reaction capability
  
• Guide the load of production sites

Optimize inventory allocation

Operating Systems

Client workstation:Windows
95, 98 or Windows NT Workstation,
ODBC 32 bits

Server:
(multi-user version)
NetWare
Windows NT Server

EQUIPMENT

Client workstation:
300 MHz Pentium II,
64 MB RAM

Server:
400 MHzPentium II, data base dedicated server.

Adapta Solutions, Inc., 6525 Belcrest Road, Suite 416, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Tel: 301-209-7537; Fax: 301-209-7535.