Time Profiles define a time interval used for managing planning data.
A time profile is made up of time profile levels (for example, months, quarters, or years). Each level is made up of periods, which are identified by a number, and describe the start and end time of the time period in question.
If you want to perform aggregation or disaggregation along time, then the periods on different levels need to form a hierarchy. In this hierarchy, time profile levels can have multiple parents, and there can be time profile levels without a parent level.
The sample models delivered with SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) for Supply Chain also provide time profile definitions. Launching the Sample Model Entities app will guide you to see the time profiles delivered with SAP IBP. You can either copy one of these time profiles or create one from scratch in the Time Profiles app.
After creating and activating a time profile, you must load a time profile data file, or schedule an application job to create the time periods.
The standard bucket size is in weeks and provides months and quarters additionally.
Time Profile Settings for Inventory Optimization
The time profiles cam consist of the following levels:
Weekly: represents a normal calendar week
- Weekly (technically): represent a modelling to enable correct calculations in case calendar weeks fall into two months.
Monthly: represents a calendar month
Quarterly: represents a quarter of a calendar year
Yearly: represents a calendar year
The time profile levels are represented in key figure calculations by the following names:
Weekly (technical): PERIODID5
Weekly: PERIODID4
Monthly: PERIODID3
Quarterly: PERIODID2
Yearly: PERIODID1
Note
Inventory optimization only supports WEEKWEIGHT as a PERIODWEIGHT attribute. It does not support DAYWEIGHT.
As described above, inventory optimization also supports the technical week time profile. Technical week is used to split calendar weeks that span over two months into two separate technical weeks. In addition, inventory also supports the aggregation and disaggregation of data across different time levels.
Unified Planning Area and Inventory Optimization
Within the Unified Planning Process of SAPIBP1, inventory optimization is performed weekly and uses the combined output of the demand planning and demand sensing processes to create an inventory plan. Inventory optimization calculates inventory targets for each material at each location in a supply chain, and considers and compensates for uncertainties in demand forecasts, supply timing, and supply quantity. The inventory plan serves as an input to the SAP Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
As follows general settings of a time profile:
Time Profile
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Description | SAP 3 TP - TW CW M Q Y |
| ID | XXX (3 integers normally). You can also add the specific date i.e. 19122011 |
| Start date | For example, 01/01/2021 |
| End date | For example, 12/31/2029 |
Standard bucket sizes are presented in the following table:
Default Display
| Level | Name | Default Display Horizon, Past | Default Display Horizon, Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technical Week | 65 | 65 |
| 2 | Week | 52 | 52 |
| 3 | Month | 12 | 12 |
| 4 | Quarter | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Year | 1 | 1 |
Note
Observe that the user can define a Start and End Data for the Attributes as Key Figures which will be consumed by the Inventory Optimization Algorithms.
Note
You can use the technical week time profile with inventory optimization to split weeks into sub-weeks. This assigns the weekdays to the correct month for calendar weeks that occur in more than one month. You can model time profile levels with multiple parents, and intermediate levels without parents, and specify the parent-child relationship between them using the base level attribute. You define an attribute that represents the period weighting factor, typically the number of workdays or calendar days. This enables you to use the technical week period type and the period weighting factor attribute to model part of a week that belongs to a given month. You then assign this period weighting factor to time levels and inventory optimization key figures to allow correct aggregation and disaggregation of values. For more information go to SAP Help and search for Using Technical Week Time Profile.
