What is characteristics-dependent planning in SAP SCM-APO-CA-CDP - Characteristics-Dependent Planning?

SAP Term: characteristics-dependent planning

• Component: SCM-APO-CA-CDP

• Component Name: Characteristics-Dependent Planning

• Description: Characteristics are used together with master data to classify and specify objects such as materials, stocks or resources. If is not possible to work with configurable materials products, the number of valid characteristic combinations and their various characteristic values would amount - when incorporated in the material master - to infinity.

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• Key Concepts: 
  Characteristics-dependent planning (CDP) is a planning method used in SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO) to create a plan based on the characteristics of the products or services being planned. CDP allows for the creation of plans that are tailored to the specific needs of the customer or organization. It also allows for the creation of plans that are more accurate and efficient than traditional planning methods.
  
  How to use it: 
  In order to use CDP, the user must first define the characteristics of the products or services being planned. This includes defining the product's attributes, such as size, color, and weight. Once these characteristics have been defined, the user can then create a plan based on these characteristics. The plan can be used to determine how much of each product should be produced, when it should be produced, and where it should be produced.
  
  Tips & Tricks: 
  When creating a plan using CDP, it is important to consider all of the possible scenarios that could occur. This includes considering different customer demands, different production capacities, and different supply chain constraints. Additionally, it is important to consider how changes in one characteristic may affect other characteristics. For example, if a product's size is changed, this may affect its weight and color as well. 
  
  Related Information: 
  CDP is part of SAP's Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO) suite of tools. Other tools in this suite include Demand Planning (DP), Supply Network Planning (SNP), Production Planning/Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS), and Global Available-to-Promise (GATP). These tools can be used together to create an integrated planning system that is tailored to the specific needs of an organization or customer.