Authorized Materials and Authorized-Actual Comparison (AAC)

An FMPO is a unique D&S object used for planning the authorized materials of a Force Element or position as part of the Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE) or Mission Essential Equipment List (MEEL).

An FMPO is a unique D&S object. A 5-ton truck is an example of an FMPO. The functional/ operational requirement for a '5-ton truck' can be satisfied by multiple types of trucks, each with own material number. When defining authorizations for 3 x '5-ton truck', the planner does not have to specify the make and model. Instead, the planner can decide later what material will be issued to the unit.

Planners have various responsibilities while administering FMPOs. One is the responsibility to maintain FMPO master data, such as deciding whether a new product is to be attributed as a model to an existing FMPO. Another is the responsibility to authorize the FMPOs to units and positions. An example of this would be deciding which units should be authorized to use a new type of rifle. The former responsibility is modeled as "Material Owner", while the latter is called "Responsible Planner".

• Rough planning level
• For example: Handheld maritime VHF radio

• List of relevant material
• For example: Different types of hand-held maritime VHF

A specific Serial number of a hand-held maritime VHF

Flexible Material Planning Object (FMPO) is used to define equipment authorizations, without the need to specify the specific material.

In this example, we'd like the unit to have a hand-held maritime VHF.

There are many makes and models of such radio, but when defining the unit entitlement, the planner should not care or does not know, what model will be issued to the unit.

Also, the radio models may change in time, while the entitlement stays as is.

Model is a specific material of a VHF. This is what the unit will order from the depot.

The unit may have multiple types of VHF radios; all will be counted against the authorization. An FMPO refers to the functionality of an object from a planning perspective. In reality, several different products (materials) can provide this functionality. These products are called:

Models  of the FMPO: A product can be a model of only one FMPO.

One FMPO may have multiple models, which differentiated by OEM and year of production, but share the same operational capability).

Models can be added or deleted from an active FMPO:

• Adding a model means that actual inventory of that product will be counted against the authorization of the FMPO. This will be done when a new material is added (such as a new model of laptop).
• Deleting a model means that the inventory of that product will not be counted against the FMPO authorization anymore. This will be done when that model is obsolete, or in case the planner wants to assign that product as a model of another FMPO.

Models of the FMPO:

• A product may only be a model in one FMPO
• A Model must have a material master record
• Models are used in the logistic processes
  • (inventory, GR, GI, procurement, …)

Serial Number is a specific equipment of one of the models. Every model may have multiple equipment / serial numbers. A serial number is a physical unit, For example, license plate SAP 34567 or the number of the handheld maritime VHF radio (SN ABC123). The SN is individually inventory-managed.

Managing FMPO Hierarchy is done using Manage Flexible Planning Object Hierarchy App

The Hierarchy of a FMPO may have:

- Generic capabilities definition for initial planning followed by detailed planning

• Robust planning
• Sophisticated analysis 

While the Reportable Item Code (RIC) is defined by NATO, FMPO hierarchy is master data that is defined by each nation, and can be arranged by own logic.

In this example, the split of Cargo Trucks over 20 ton is different:

• RIC lists all the trucks in the same level
• The FMPO hierarchy example provide a first split based on mobility and a second one based on winch.

The FMPO hierarchy can be altered (i.e., change to grouping concept) and the assignment of actual FMPOs to the parent can be adjusted.

A Mandatory/ optional accompanying FMPO may have a structure of its own. The system is designed to handle combined and complex structures.

Example:

Each FMPO ACP is an FMPO by itself, and may have a complete structure with own optional and mandatory ACPs.

This is a recursive structure, and these FMPO ACOs can have their own structure as well.

FMPO Structures are implemented through FMPO Variants. Although the models are identical across all the variants of the FMPO, every variant may have a different list of Accompanying Parts.

When adding a model in one variant, the system makes sure that it is copied to all other variants of that FMPO.

It is possible to update the models and ACPs after the FMPO is active and assigned to force elements and positions. However, changes to ACPs do not impact existing assignment of the FMPO variant.

DFPS planning objects – Material Planning Object (MPO), Material Container (MC), Provisions Package (PPA) and Equipment Package (EPA) can be mapped into the new D&S FMPO object:

• An MPO is an object for planning the authorized materials of a force element or position with non-consumable good. The flexible material planning object is an enhanced material planning object that you can use more flexibly.
• A simple MPO with 1 or more models became an FMPO with no ACPs.
• The operational and individual parts of a complex MPO are mapped into the FMPO Accompanying Part section.
• The MPOs of a Material Container are mapped into the mandatory FMPO ACP section without Models (Lead Item).
• The PPA list of materials is mapped into the FMPO mandatory/ optional products ACP list (without Models and Lead Item).

In DFPS, we had dedicated objects for groupings of Authorized Material: Material Container was a grouping of MPOs and Quantities assigned together. Equipment Package was a group of materials moving together, and Provisions Package was a grouping of consumables initially issued together. For more details, follow DFPS documentation. In D&S, the FMPO object contains the modeling capabilities of all 3.

FMPO is a superposition of the existing DFPS planning objects: Material Planning Object (MPO), Material Container (MC), Provisions Package (PPA) and Equipment Package (EPA).

We use the assignment of FMPOs to Force Elements and Positions to reflect the Authorized Material chapter of the TOE.

The assignment key is a composition of:

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

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

• Equipment authorizations can be assigned to:
  • Units (for example ship)
  • Sub-units (for example Engineering Department)
  • Positions
• Each assignment has:
  • Quantities (Nominal, Minimum…)
  • Start and End dates
  • Status
  • Usage Type (Peacetime, Wartime, Operation...)
  • Reason indicator

A key report that allows the commander to quickly understand the material readiness of the unit (that is shortages, excess).

The report is used by the logistic officers to make sure their unit has all the required equipment and initiate:

• Purchase Requisitions, or
• Returns

In a typical Defense implementation, no automatic fulfillment (such as MRP) is used for Weapon systems and main authorized material categories. Instead, the match of actual material into the authorization is evaluated using a graphical Authorized-Actual material report. Later in the process, the gaps found can be used to trigger requests for fulfillment or returns.

The same FMPO may be assigned multiple times (directly and as an accompanying part) to the same FE and its positions.

A key report that allows the commander to quickly understand the material readiness of the unit (that is shortages, excess).

• Assign the actual inventory, Purchase Orders and Purchase Requisitions in descending importance
• Show the gaps on the least important authorization line

An FMPO can be assigned often to the same Force Element and its positions. We distinguish between Actual and Authorized. We associate the actual inventory into the authorized categories in accordance to the FMPO assignments priorities.

The AAC report allows the logistic planner to compare the on-hand inventory against the authorizations, and support his decisions.

• The report can consider current or future authorizations, based on the date selected
• The report can different statuses of the assignment, to support the HQ in long-term planning

This approach to assignment is designed to assist the logistic planner define priorities in evaluating equipment match to authorized.

If the unit has both high and low priority authorizations for the same item, the report will fulfill first the high priority authorizations, so a gap, if exists, will be shown on the lowest priority line(s), and the Purchase Requisition (PREQ) that will be subsequently generated will get the correct priority.

Example:

You have 4 in stock. Priority "very high" needs 3 of them. So you have only one left in your actual inventory for priority "high". But you need two so you need to take one of the stock transfer orders which contains 3. This goes on until Low Priority. At the end there is just one left even if there is a quantity of 5 needed. So the Gap is 4, which is needed in the actual inventory. The gap is shown against the least important priority still unfulfilled.