Smart Buffer Profiler (configuration)
Menu > Smart Buffer Profiler
Last updated
Menu > Smart Buffer Profiler
Last updated
Smart Buffer Profiler (SBP) utilizes part properties and demand history to create profile assignments for parts. Each run creates a new set of buffer profiles with the criteria in the profiler. These buffer profiles will appear in the Buffer Profile Editor after they have been applied to parts. Buffer Profiles created by the SBP are classified in the Buffer Profile Editor as “Auto” whereas those that are imported are categorized as “Custom.”
You can choose which locations will be included in the SBP analysis, but the SBP cannot be run at the part level. The main criteria you will want to set in the SBP are the minimum number of demand pulses required for buffering, the Lead Time and Variability Factors, and the buffer-level Order Spike Horizon. There are a few other factors that you can change - they will be outlined below.
To be able to run the SBP, you must upload the Part and Demand History files. You should also upload the Bill of Material file if running the SBP for Make Parts. In the Part file, ensure that all of the Lead Times, MOQs, and Order Cycles are correct. In the Demand History file, confirm that you are only uploading the demand that you wish to count as buffer-sizing demand. For example, you may wish to remove certain transactions from the Demand History file as they are not "actual" demand (e.g. projected/forecasted demand, safety stock demand, etc).
For SBP to calculate Average Daily Usage (ADU) from the demand history, the “use ADU imported with part record” field must be unchecked in the Processing window.
The Demand History Analysis (DHA) shows the data that the SBP uses to determine buffer profile assignments. This analysis is run independently of the SBP and can be exported for further analysis.
There are two settings at the top of the screen that apply both to the Demand History Analysis and the Smart Buffer Profiler run.
This setting determines how many weeks of demand history the DHA and the SBP analyze. In the example above, it is set to 26 weeks. The columns displayed in the resulting analysis indicate the results of the demand history across this number of weeks. You can change this number as needed and select the “Save and Reanalyze” button to see updated values.
Pentair has a 52 week ADU horizon configured with the Site Administration Processing Settings. The Demand Horizon can be expanded all the way out to 52 weeks to review the exact data the SBP is considering when assigning Buffer Profiles.
The demand history could contain negative values. For example, if material has been returned or if inventory adjustments appear in the demand history. If this switch is turned ON, then negative values will be ignored. If OFF, the negative values will be used as part of the analysis.
The "Weeks of Analysis Demand Horizon" setting in the Demand History Analysis is critical to the SBP run. This setting determines the number of weeks of demand history that the SBP uses to generate buffer profiles. Always make sure that this setting matches the number of weeks of demand history the SBP should consider to generate buffer profiles. This number of weeks typically - but does not always - match the ADU / FDU horizon in the Site Administration settings.
Pentair has decided to turn on "Exclude Negative Demand" so that returns are not having a major impact on the variability, total demand, and demand pulses for parts within the SBP and Demand History Analysis.
The Wizard portion of the Smart Buffer Profiler is where you will establish the parameters for generating new buffer profiles, generate a new set of buffer profiles, and assign these new profiles to parts by location in R+.
The first step in the SBP Wizard is to determine which locations and part types that you want to generate buffer profiles for. For each location on the left hand side of the screen, select the switches in the same row for the part types you want to generate buffers for. If you want to select all part types for a location or deselect all of a column, you can select the "All/None" button at the top of each column.
In this example, Buy parts have been selected at the 1000 Location. Once these selections have been made, click the "Next".
In this screen, you will need to select the minimum demand and order cycle criteria for each part type.
This is the minimum amount of days of demand that a part needs to have in the demand analysis horizon for it to be buffered. It is common that this number should be higher for Buy part types, as you may not wish to buffer an item that has less than a certain amount of usage over the horizon. However, if you are uncertain about the correct cut-off or want to decide what should be buffered during the initial buffer review, you can always buffer all parts by setting this number to 1 (has to have at least 1 usage in the last horizon) or 0 (does not need demand history and everything will be buffered).
This setting allows you to choose a placeholder value for the Order Cycle calculation. When choosing the Green Zone for a part, R+ will consider the MOQ, the Order Cycle, and the Lead Time Factor methods. If there is a small or no MOQ and no order cycle in the data for a part, it is possible that the MOQ or LTF methods recommend a green zone size that covers less than a week of usage. Therefore, if a part does not have an Order Cycle, this placeholder value will be used to calculate the Order Cycle method instead. This protects parts against Green Zones that would recommend ordering more than once a week. This setting is often the same number of days as your work week.
This placeholder will not replace any preexisting order cycle, even if that value is less than the placeholder. If you do not wish to use this setting, set the number to "0" on the part types you don't want to use it on.
Once these values have been entered, click Next.
Pentair does not plan to utilize order cycles for now, but we decided to keep a default value of 7 (to match the work week days) to ensure parts are no recommended for order more than once a week. This only comes into consideration for parts with a small or no MOQ.
In this section, Lead Time categories must be established for each Part Type. The default number of categories for Lead Time Factors is 5. Additional categories can be added using the green “Add” button on the top-right side of the screen. To remove categories, click the Delete button denoted by an “X.”
The lead time categories shown in the above screenshot were determined with the Pentair team when running SBP.
Field
Definition
Id
The category number. This is the number used in the buffer profile to show you what the Lead Time category value is for that part.
Description
This is the Lead Time Category description that will appear on the description of the buffer profile in the Buffer Profile Editor. It is often helpful to add Lead Time ranges (From-To) to this description.
From
The shortest lead time and lower limit of the lead times receiving this category's Lead Time Factor.
To
The longest lead time and upper limit of the lead times receiving this category's Lead Time Factor.
Red Zone Base %
In DDMRP, the Lead Time Factor is used primarily in calculating the Red Zone Base and Green Zone. This is the Lead Time Factor percentage used to calculate the Red Zone Base. It is recommended that this factor match the same category's Green Zone%.
Yellow Zone %
There is an option to change the size of the Yellow Zone by increasing or decreasing the Yellow Zone LTF. Technically, this means that the Yellow Zone calculation is ADU x LTF x LTF (optional). However, it is recommended that you always leave this field at 100 for all categories to ensure that the full amount of Yellow Zone coverage is assigned to the Yellow Zone for each buffer profile.
Green Zone %
In DDMRP, the Lead Time Factor is used primarily in calculating the Red Zone Base and Green Zone. This is the Lead Time Factor percentage used to calculate the Green Zone. It is recommended that this factor match the same category's Red Zone Base%.
Inventory Alert Level
This is the default level where inventory will trigger an alert at the buffer profile level. This alert is calculated as a percent of the Red Zone.
Order Spike Horizon
This is the default number of lead times in the future that R+ will look for order spikes at the buffer profile level.
Spike Threshold
This is the default level where demand pulses will trigger an order spike at the buffer profile level. This alert is calculated as a percent of the Red Zone.
Once the Lead Time categories have been established, click Next.
In this section, Variability categories must be established for each Part Type. In the example shown below, both Buy and Make parts have 5 Variability categories. Additional categories can be added using the green “Add” button on the top-right side of the screen. To remove categories, click the Delete button denoted by an “X.”
Pentair to maintain the variation thresholds quarterly
Field
Definition
Default
When a part has no demand history but should still receive a buffer, R+ will use the selected category as the default Variability category in the part's buffer profile.
Id
The category number. This is the number used in the buffer profile to show you what the Variability category value is for that part.
Description
This is the Variability Category description that will appear on the description of the buffer profile in the Buffer Profile Editor. It is often helpful to add CoV ranges (From CoV-To CoV) to this description.
From CoV
The smallest CoV and lower limit of the CoVs receiving this category's Variability Factor.
To CoV
The largest CoV and upper limit of the CoVs receiving this category's Variability Factor.
Red Zone Safety
In DDMRP, the Variability Factor is used primarily in calculating the Red Zone Safety. This is the Variability Factor percentage used to calculate the Red Zone Safety.
Once the Variability categories have been established, click Next.
Select “Run Smart Buffer Profiler” to generate new buffer profiles. This will only generate the initial buffer profiles. You will have a chance to review them before you accept the changes.
Once SBP is run, a message will display stating that number of new Buffer Profiles that have been created. If running SBP results in no new changes, a message stating “Smart Buffer Profiler has created 0 new profiles” will be displayed.
Select "Next" to accept the buffer profile changes and assign the new profiles to parts.
Last, cancel or accept the recommended changes. By clicking “Accept Changes” the new Buffer Profiles will be assigned to the relevant parts. By selecting "Cancel", you will remove the settings and results of the run from the SBP.
