Sales Order Delivery Promises for S&OP in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Editor's Note: During January, Dr. Scott Hamilton will be publishing a series of deep-dive articles about different aspects of S&OP for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 in his column The AX Solution Architect.  The first two parts, on demand forecasts and forecasting stocked components, were published earlier this month. 

Realistic promise dates for sales order shipments and deliveries can help improve customer satisfaction and supply chain coordination.  The initial assignment of a realistic delivery date should align with the item's S&OP game plan, and a sales line with an unrealistic promise date should be highlighted as an exception requiring follow up.  After initial assignment, the dates should be changed to reflect changes in the situation, such as changing dates to reflect projected delays.  Sales orders with unrealistic or past due dates will negatively impact the usefulness of an item's S&OP game plan and the suggestions for supply chain coordination.

This article reviews the major options for making sales order delivery promises using Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.  The explanation also applies to AX 2009, and highlights a few differences.  The three major options include sales lead time, ATP (Available-to-Promise) and CTP (Capable-to-Promise), and all three options enforce basic rules to help ensure realistic promise dates.  For example, the basic rules include consideration of calendars, transportation time, and order entry deadlines.  A fourth option (labeled None) disables the enforcement of the basic rules, thereby allowing assignment of unrealistic dates.  This fourth option is also referred to as "disabling delivery date control". 

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