Assigning Forecast Models

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to assign a forecast model.

Assign Forecast Models App

The Assign Forecast Models app allows you to specify which forecast model is to be used for calculating the mid- or long-term forecast for the planning objects (combinations of master data characteristics) that exist at a selected planning level within a selected planning area.

The assignment of forecast models is an optional step that you can take before starting a simulation or running statistical forecasting in the background by defining a job in the SAP IBP, add-in for Microsoft Excel. If you have forecast models assigned to the available planning objects, you can select the option Consider Forecast Model Assignments in the add-in, thus making sure that the forecast calculated for each planning object is based on the forecast model assigned to that specific planning object. If you have no forecast models assigned, you can only select one forecast model for the entire planning view.

You can assign the same forecast model to as many planning objects as you wish, and the assignment process is facilitated by direct navigation to the respective models in the Manage Forecast Models app.

The figure describes the Settings of the Assign Forecast Models App.

Prerequisites for forecasting with assigned models:

The intended level on which one desires to assign forecast models is modeled as a planning level of the planning area. This level must be time-dependent.
The planning object must exist on the intended planning level where the forecast model assignments are maintained.
The forecast models need to be created before they can be assigned.

The figure describes the Prerequisites for Forecasting.

It is possible to use the model assignments performed in the Assign Forecast Model app in the Web UI in the execution of the statistical forecast models in Excel as shown in the following figure.

The figure describes how to use the Model Assignments in Excel When Executing the Statistical Forecast Models.

If the same planning level is used, you get the option to choose Consider Forecast Model Assignments.

The following two figures show how to do simulations with the assigned forecast models.

The figure describes how to Simulate with Assigned Forecast Models.

Assign Forecast Models

ExerciseStart Exercise

We need to make an assignment for planning combinations because we want to execute some specified Forecast Models for them.

Task 1: Assign Forecast Models to Planning Combinations

Steps

Go to the Assign Forecast Models app. Assign the newly created forecast model PickBestModel## to your planning combinations and explore the use of the filtering possibilities in the app.
1. In the SAP Fiori launchpad, in the Demand Planner group, choose the Assign Forecast Models tile.
2. Choose planning area ZSAP6 and planning level LOCPRODCUSTCALWEEKLY.
3. Choose Save.
4. In the filter at the top, enter all three of your Product IDs, HT_0##, HT_1##, and HT_2## and choose Go.
5. Select all of the Product ID, Location ID, and Customer ID items in the list.
6. Choose Edit Assignment.
7. Choose the PickBestModel## forecast model and the pop-up message will show the reason for assignment change with comments (optional). Choose Assign.
8. Approve the nine planning objects that will be edited if the dialog box appears. The forecast model is now assigned to each of the selected planning objects.

Task 2: Execute Statistical Forecasting in Add-in for Microsoft Excel

The add-in for Microsoft Excel is used to execute the statistical forecast. In this exercise, we run the statistical forecast and view the results.

Steps

Make sure to log in again to SAP IBP, add-in for Microsoft Excel. Run the statistical forecast using the PickBestModel## and be sure to select Consider Forecast Model Assignments at the Product ID, Customer ID, and Location ID level.

Field	Value
Time Period	Weekly
Planning Level	Product ID, Customer ID, Location ID
Consider Forecast Model Assignment	Selected
Planning Level for Assignments	Location \| Product \| Customer \| Calendar Weekly
Forecast Model for Planning Objects Without Assignment	PickBestModel##
UoM to ID	PC
Scenario	Baseline

In the add-in for Microsoft Excel, in the Application Jobs part of the ribbon bar, choose Statistical Forecasting→Run.
A message will pop up informing you that the settings of the view will be copied over to the job prompt. Choose OK.
Set the Time period to Weekly.
Set the Planning Level to Product ID, Customer ID, and Location ID.
Select the checkbox for Consider Forecast Model Assignment and choose the Planning Level for Assignments: Location | Product | Customer | Calendar Weekly.
Choose Next.
Choose Run (the Reason Code and Comment are optional).
A message will pop up informing you about the status of the job with navigation to the detailed status. Choose Navigate to Status to see the status of the job or choose OK to close the pop up.

Go to Course