Here you define the demands for which you want to create forecasts. In the supply chain there are different flows of parts from different sites to different customers. A flow is a subset of transactions in one of these flows, typically based on transactions found in the customer order lines. Different flows make it possible to split demand into groups and to make a separate forecast for each group.
The figure above represents the flow of parts from the warehouse (a typical site in IFS) to two customer groups. Flow 1 represents the demand from customer group 1 (C1), and flow 2 represents the demand from customer group 2 (C2). These flows are called base flows because they cannot be broken down into smaller pieces. It is impossible to see the demand from a specific customer within the group.
A base flow represents the demand from a specific distribution channel. For each base flow, you define which transactions the flows contain. The transaction is then aggregated into periods (defined by the period version), and a forecast is made for each flow. Each base flow has its own set of forecast parts. Each part includes historical demand and a forecast.
If you want to make a forecast of all demand originating from the warehouse, you can make a new flow called flow 3 that contains the demand from flow 1 and flow 2. This is called a combined flow, i.e., it contains two or more base flows. The demand on a combined flow is calculated by aggregating the demand found in the base flows. The same is true for adjusted forecasts. This aggregation is done on the fly in the Demand Plan Server. Therefore, when you modify the adjusted forecasts in flow 1, this directly affects the adjusted forecasts in flow 3. Similarly, an increase in adjusted forecasts for flow 3 by 10% results in the forecasts for both flow 1 and flow 2 to be increased by 10%.
In addition to base and combined flows, there is imported flow. Imported flows are the same as base flows, except that they receive, via e-mail, flows created by other demand plan servers. You can also set up which flows are to be exported form this demand plan server to other demand plan servers. The same flow can be distributed to many demand plan servers. The receiving servers must have some imported flows to store the exported flows from the sending servers.
There are no system effects until the server is started.
Demand Plan Server
Demand Plan Server/Base Flows
Demand Plan Server/Combined Flows