Assigning Stocks Authorizations

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
  • Assign FMPO authorizations to Force Elements and Positions
  • Explain the FMPO assignment attributes and assign Product Authorizations to Force Elements and Positions

Defense and Security: Stocks Authorizations

The image shows various military equipment including a helicopter, a tank, and a truck. It also shows icons representing Force Element and Position, which are likely used to organize and manage the equipment authorizations for military units.

In this lesson, we will use the Manage FE app to assign equipment authorization to units, and the Manage Position app to assign equipment authorization to positions.

The image shows two types of material authorization assignments allowed by D&S: FMPO Authorizations (for non-consumable materials) and Product Authorizations (for consumables). It illustrates these with icons representing a helicopter, a truck, bottles, and a barrel.

FMPO assignments are designed for major items, while Product authorizations are targeted at more cheap and common items.

The image shows the authorization process on the FMPO-Variant level. It explains that authorizations can be assigned to Force Elements and/or Positions, and that the total FE authorization is the sum of directly assigned FMPOs and FMPOs assigned to all positions under that FE. The image also includes an Assignment Key Fields section listing various fields used in the authorization process, such as Force Element ID/Position ID, FMPO-Variant, and Material (Assignment) Indicator. Icons are used to represent the Force Element, Position, and various material types.

The assignment key is a composition of the following:

  • The Force Element / Position the FMPO is assigned to +
  • FMPO-Variant +
  • Usage Type +
  • Start Date +
  • End Date +
  • Material Indicator +
  • Status

Example: One FMPO variant can have multiple assignments to the same Force Element, provided that those assignments have different Usage Types and / or Material Indicators and / or Validity Dates.

The image shows a Force Element management screen with a table listing various equipment items, their descriptions, status, quantities, usage types, and other details. The table includes items such as assault rifles, tanks, pistols, and camouflage nets. An icon is shown for managing Force Elements.

Using Manage Force Element App → Material facet, you can see and assign equipment authorizations to the force element.

The FMPO-Variant assignment attributes to Force Element and Position are (almost) identical.

An FMPO-Variant with ACPs can be expanded to see all the components:

  • All the assignment attributes of the FMPO-Variant are replicated to the ACPs assignments
  • The system multiples the ACP's quantity based on the master data
  • The adjustment value is reflected as well across all ACPs
The image shows an FMPO-Variant assignment screen, with a header that includes the Usage Type (Organization Structure), Validity (Valid From and Valid To dates), and Status (Approved). The screen also displays general information about the Flexible Material Planning Object ID and Variant ID.

This is the header of the FMPO-Variant assignment, seen on the General Information tab.

The image explains that equipment authorizations may differ based on the usage type, and that the system supports multiple concepts of equipment authorization. It discusses two approaches: Augmentation, where wartime authorizations are valid in peacetime, and Independent, where wartime and peacetime authorizations must be defined separately. The image includes a usage type dropdown menu and graphs illustrating the quantity of different equipment items authorized under each approach.

The concept must be defined during the implementation project, so the authorizations are assigned properly.

When selecting the 'augmentation' option, it could be that a (small) part of the peacetime authorizations is not relevant, and should be ignored.

This can be done by using 'Adjustment value' as explained the following figures.

When running Authorized-Actual Reports (see next lesson), the material authorization filter selection should consider this approach.

The image explains that equipment authorizations are valid between a 'start date' and an 'end date', and that these dates are typically taken from the 'authorization document' which forms the basis for the planning. The image includes a sample FMPO-Variant assignment screen displaying the Valid From and Valid To dates, as well as a graph illustrating the quantity of equipment authorized over the valid date range.

Start Date default value is 'today', however, the user can assign any future date (for example, to reflect a future arrival of a new weapon system).

End Date default of 31/12/9999. It is a good practice to keep that date until the authorization is delimited once any of the other attributes (for example quantity) is changed.

The image explains that the D&S system offers three basic quantity fields: Quantity (mandatory), Minimum Quantity (optional), and Maximum Quantity (optional). It states that if the Minimum and Maximum Quantity fields are assigned, the values must follow the rule Minimum Quantity ≤ Quantity ≤ Maximum Quantity. The Quantity field is used for all processes and reports, while the Minimum and Maximum Quantity fields have a business meaning that can be defined during the project and impact readiness calculations.

The Quantity field is the one taken into account for calculating the authorizations, together with the Adjustment Value (see more details later).

The Minimum Quantity and Maximum Quantity fields are informative and optional.

Basic Data

The image explains a Weighting Factor, a value representing the relative importance of the assignment in readiness calculations, and a Readiness Mandatory Indicator, a flag marking if the assignment is mandatory for mission readiness. It also shows related dropdown menus.

The figure illustrates the following details:

Weighting Factor

The Weighting Factor is a value between 000 to 999.

Representing the relative importance of the assignment in the FE's material readiness calculation, and impacts the Authorized-Actual (AAC) Report.

Material Category
A selection from a fixed dropdown list that impacts the Personal Functional Equipment Management (PFEM) app:
  • Functional Equipment
  • Personal Equipment
  • Structural Equipment
Material Indicator

A value selected from a configurable list.

The business meaning of the material indicator can be defined during the project.

That field is part of the assignment key.

Readiness Mandatory Indicator

A flag that marks if that assignment is mandatory for the object (that is, FE / Positions) to be mission ready.

This can be considered in the readiness reports.

The image explains the Adjustment Value, which is a positive or negative number added or subtracted from the Quantity field to calculate the Adjusted Authorization. This allows temporary adjustments without changing the formal authorization. The Authorized-Actual Report considers the adjusted quantity instead of the original Authorized Quantity when an adjustment is made. The image also shows an Adjustment Reason dropdown menu with various options like Lack of Budget, Hi-Tempo, Low-Tempo, etc.

Adjustment reason is a configurable list. The user can select the reason for the temporary increase or decrease of the authorized quantity.

Mass Creation Indicator - If flagged, the authorization is considered relevant for mass creation of procurement proposals as a result of the Authorized - Actual Report.

Packing Instruction is related to Equipment Package. See relevant unit and lesson.

The image explains Initial Supply Relevance, where the planner can define if the FMPO-Variant is relevant for Initial Supply and how it will be provided. It also shows an Initial Supply Status indicator for the material.

The meaning of "Relevance for Initial Supply" is that there are product ACPs for that FMPO.

The image shows the list of variants linked to a FMPO header in the SAP system. It displays information about the flexible material planning objects, including FMPO ID, FMPO Description, Variant, Variant Description, Variant Status, Authorized Quantity, Assignment Indicator, and Packing Instruction. It also shows the product information, including Item ID, Product, Product Description, Maintenance Status, Initial Required Quantity, and Assignment Indicator. The image provides details about a specific variant called RADIO SET VHF-FM - ENCRYPTED.

FMPO HMMWV Variant 30 has a nested structure. The Radio Set VHF-FM Variant 20, which is a mandatory FMPO ACP of the HMMWV, has in its turn a subordinate mandatory ACP: an encryption-decryption device.

The image shows the FMPO Assignment screen in the SAP system. It displays information related to a specific FMPO, including the Flexible Material Planning Object ID, Variant ID, and Usage Type. The Assignment Information section includes fields for Quantity, Basic information like Weighting Factor and Material Category, and Initial Supplies details like Adjustment Value and Initial Supply Relevance. The image also has dropdown menus for various fields like Functional Equipment, Material Indicator, and Local Augmentation.
The image displays the FMPO Assignment screen in the SAP system. It shows a list of Flexible Material Planning Objects, including their FMPO ID, Description, Variant, and Authorized Quantity. The image also shows the Accompanying Parts section, which lists the Product ID and Description. The text below the image indicates that after the assignment, all mandatory ACPs (direct and indirect) are inherited.S

The ACPs that were defined as part of the FMPO master data are pulled by the system, with the right multiplier:

  • All Mandatory FMPO ACPs are assigned automatically.
  • In case that the FMPO ACP has a structure of is own, the system assigns the derived ACPs automatically. In this example, MPO 1000000006 (Encryption-Decryption Device) was automatically assigned, as it is a Mandatory ACP of FMPO 1000000007 (Radio Set VHF-FM).
The image shows the FMPO Assignment screen in the SAP system, displaying a list of Flexible Material Planning Objects. It includes the FMPO ID, Description, Variant, Variant Description, and Authorized Quantity for each object. The Accompanying Parts section shows additional Product ID and Description information. The image highlights the Authorized Quantity values and the Variant Description details for the selected Flexible Material Planning Objects.

You can manually select an item from the list of Optional FMPO ACPs and add them to the authorizations.

The FPO selection list is restricted to the Optional ACPs.

The image shows the FMPO Assignment screen in the SAP system. It displays a list of Flexible Material Planning Objects, including the FMPO ID, Variant, Variant Description, and Authorized Quantity. The Accompanying Parts section lists the Product ID, Material Description, and Initial Required Quantity. The image also includes a Select Material panel with various filters and search options.

You can manually select an item from the list of Optional Product ACPs and add them to the authorizations.

The FPO selection list is restricted to the Optional ACPs.

At this point, the reorder point information does not impact the MRP parameters of the material master of that product in the relevant SLOC (Storage Location).

This has to be manually adjusted by the logistic planner.

The Initial Requirement quantity on the assignment line is a product of FMPO-Variant quantity and the (initial required) quantity.

The image displays information about the FMPO (Flexible Material Planning Object) assignment process in the SAP system. It explains that mandatory Product ACPs (Accompanying Parts) are automatically assigned by the system, while the user can manually select relevant Optional Product ACPs. The initial required quantity is based on the multiplication of the lead FMPO assignment and the quantity defined in the FMPO master data. The image also states that the reorder is for the single FMPO assignment.

At this point, the reorder point information does not impact the MRP parameters of the material master of that product in the relevant SLOC.

This has to be manually adjusted by the logistic planner.

***The quantity on the assignment line is a product of FMPO-Variant quantity and the (initial required) quantity.***

The image displays a list of products that the FE (or position) is authorized for. The list includes the Product, Product Description, Quantity, Usage Type, Valid Start Date, Valid End Date, and Status for each product. The text below the image states that these authorizations will not reflect in the AAC report.

Products can be assigned to a Force Element or Position, even if they are not models (or ACPs) of an FMPO.

This functionality is likely to be used for items of lesser value, which are not significant enough to show in the AAC report.

Manage Flexible Material Planning Objects

Protagonist

The Material Planner is responsible for maintaining Flexible Material Planning Objects (FMPOs), including the assignment of Models and Accompanying Parts to Variants and activating them. The Organizational Planner is responsible for assigning the FMPO to a position or force element.

Business Storyline

  1. As a Material Planner, you are responsible for maintaining the material authorizations master data. You are required to create a Flexible Material Planning Object (FMPO) for a Carbine Rifle with three variants:
    • Variant 1: Only carbine rifle (models assigned to FMPO)
    • Variant 2: Carbine rifle with a bipod (FMPO as Accompanying Part)
    • Variant 3: Carbine rifle with a bipod and scope (FMPO for bipod and Product for scope as Accompanying Parts)
  2. As an Organizational Planner, you are responsible for assigning the FMPO variant for the carbine rifle only to a force element.
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