The simple MRP journals in Business Central give you a step-by-step way to review planning suggestions before any orders are created. The key functions are Set Action Message, Remove Action Message, and Carry Out Action Message. You find them in the simple MRP journal, the Direct Replenishment Journal, and the Move Demand Dates Journal.
When you carry out actions from a simple MRP journal, the lines are not turned into orders directly. They are moved into the Reverse Planning Worksheet. The Reverse Planning Worksheet is where the actual production orders, assembly orders, purchase orders, and transfer orders are created when you carry out from there.
You can set action messages on all lines at once or only on a filtered selection, for example by vendor number. This lets you bundle and review orders before they are created.
Reviewing and adjusting planning lines in the simple MRP journal
You start by calculating a template. For example, you can run a template for critical items to find the items that are normally critical. The calculation gives you suggested quantities to order based on whichever template you use.
From there you can work directly with the lines. You can change the quantities, change the dates, and adjust the suggestions until they match what you actually want to order.
Setting action messages on selected lines
When you are ready to carry out the lines into production orders, purchase orders, and so on, you first set the action messages. You have two options.
- You can check mark the action messages manually, line by line.
- You can use the Set Action Message function to set them in bulk, either for all lines or within a filter.
If you filter on a vendor number, for instance, you can set action messages on just that subset of lines. This gives you control over which lines move forward.
Carrying out actions moves lines to the Reverse Planning Worksheet
When you carry out actions from the simple MRP journal, the lines are transferred into the Reverse Planning Worksheet. The system asks whether you want to open the Reverse Planning Worksheet, and you can see the lines you just created there.
It is important to understand what Carry Out does at this stage. In the simple MRP journal, Carry Out Action does not create the orders. It only moves the lines into the Reverse Planning Worksheet.
Creating orders from the Reverse Planning Worksheet
The Reverse Planning Worksheet uses the same logic for setting and removing action messages and for carrying out action messages. The difference is what happens when you carry out from here. This is where the orders are actually created, the same way the standard process works in Business Central.
When you carry out from the Reverse Planning Worksheet, the system creates production orders, assembly orders, purchase orders, and transfer orders. This is the last place where you handle and bundle the orders before they are created, so it is your final point of review.
Q&A
Where do I find the Set Action Message and Carry Out functions?
You find them in the simple MRP journal, the Direct Replenishment Journal, and the Move Demand Dates Journal.
What happens when I carry out actions from the simple MRP journal?
The lines are not turned into orders. They are moved into the Reverse Planning Worksheet, and the system asks whether you want to open it.
How do I set action messages on only some lines?
You can check mark lines manually, or use the Set Action Message function within a filter. For example, you can filter on a vendor number and set action messages only on those lines.
Where are the actual orders created?
In the Reverse Planning Worksheet. When you carry out from there, the system creates production orders, assembly orders, purchase orders, and transfer orders. This is the last place to bundle and review orders before they are created.