Create classical multi-period models

This topic describes how to create a classical Network multi-period model from a sequence of planning cases, each covering a single period.

1. Select base case for multi-period model

   

   Select the single plant case which will be the base starting point for the multi-period model.

2. Add multi-period model

   

   In the Supply Chain Model group of the Home ribbon tab, click the lower half of the Add Model button, and choose Add new Multi-Period Model from the menu. The New Multi-Period Model window appears.

3. Name model

   

   Enter a name for the model in the Name field. Optionally, choose a Location and enter a description in the Description box.

4. Create model

   Click OK to create the model. The new model appears in your Private Share in the list of models in the Supply Chain Models tab.

5. Open the new model and configure periods

   

   Open the new model and go to the Periods page. Configure the period durations for the model.

   

   Particular multi-period configuration elements to pay attention to are:

   • Supplies

   • Demands

   • Plants

     In the multi-period model review the supplies, demands and constraints for the new workspace. These are imported from the source plant representation.

     Note: The classical multi-period model opens in the Network environment, which presents a different view of the supply chain model, enabling easier handling of the multi-period data, as well as allowing different multi-period grouping and constraints to be easily created.

     Warning: When adding new periods, new embedded cases are created in the multi-period model to represent the new periods. These cases are initially identical to the base case and need to be edited to change their settings.
     For example, you may create a multi-period model based on the 01 Jan case, and then add 02 Feb and 03 Mar periods. This creates two new embedded cases for 02 Feb and 03 Mar, but these are initially identical to the original 01 Jan case. The settings of 02 Feb and 03 Mar, such as feedstock and sales prices, should be edited.

6. Configure plant periods

   

   Ensure the new periods are associated with the relevant plant case. For each period an embedded subcase is created, which is used to configure period-specific overrides for that period.

7. Configure the period specific information

   

   Configure the per-period information. Group the periods as required and override the original case settings where period-specific information is different.

   

   Enter any period-specific constraints. These can be entered directly in the relevant grid:

   • Supplies: automatically imports the period-specific purchases. Editing the supplies automatically edits the associated embedded sub-case table.

   • Demands: automatically imports the period-specific sales. Editing the demands automatically edits the associated embedded sub-case table.

   • Constraints and alerts: automatically imports the period-specific constraints. Editing the constraints automatically edits the associated embedded sub-case table.

     Adding multiple periods automatically creates new embedded subcases representing the different periods. Where period specific changes are required, these can be made for the relevant period in the associated grid.

     

     When multiple periods are created and the associated plant is defined across these periods, a matching number of embedded cases is created which map to these periods. Editing constraints in the multi-period environment edits the associated period-specific model. Edits to period specific models can also be made by editing the relevant plant case.

     Note: The watch sets in the source single period model are made available in the new multi-period workspace. These can be used to directly edit the per-period configurations for the workspace.

8. Review and transfer per-period settings

   

   When initially added, the new embedded cases for each period will be identical to the base case used to create the multi-period model.

   Edit the per-period settings to redefine the per-period constraints and configuration for the plant.

   Where per-period settings are already defined in another workspace, you can use the Update Case wizard to transfer the period-specific case information between these models.

   

   Within the Update Case dialog choose the embedded plant case which is mapped to a specific period as the target and transfer material from the alternative source.

   

   After transferring the case settings the embedded period cases configurations are shown in the multi-period grids.

9. Optimize the multi-period model

   

   Click the Run button in the Modelling group of the Home ribbon tab to optimize the multi-period model. Review the optimization results in the Solution Metrics window, available from the Metrics button in the Views group of the Home ribbon tab.

Creating a multi-period model creates a new, independent model for the plant. Changes made in the original model are not automatically incorporated into the new one.

Changes to original single plant models can be incorporated into the multi-period model via two workflows:

• Replace the plant model

• Update the case

Changes made in the multi-period model can be merged back into the original source model via Update Case.