Definition
Predictive Material Requirements Planning (pMRP) is a simulation tool in SAP S/4HANA (introduced in 1909 release, enhanced in later versions) that helps planners simulate future supply and demand situations without impacting live production data.
It’s not a replacement of classic MRP Live (MD01N), but rather a strategic, scenario-based planning tool.
🔑 Key Features
- Simulation-Based
- Runs outside the operational MRP.
- Doesn’t consume or change transactional data.
- Lets you create “what-if” scenarios.
- Strategic Planning
- Used to analyze future capacity needs (work centers, suppliers).
- Helps in long-term material and resource planning.
- Simplified and Fast
- Runs on HANA in-memory engine for high performance.
- Designed for planners to quickly test different assumptions.
- Capacity Evaluation
- pMRP highlights overloaded work centers or suppliers.
- Helps decide where to shift demand or procure differently.
- Integration with Fiori Apps
- Fiori app: “Schedule Predictive MRP”
- Fiori app: “Process Predictive Material Requirements Planning Simulations”
- Allows planners to create, run, and review simulations directly in a user-friendly UI.
📊 How Predictive MRP Works
- Input Data:
- Current BOM, routing, planned independent requirements (PIRs), sales orders.
- Master data from Material Master, Work Centers, Source Lists.
- Simulation Run:
- Planner selects a horizon (e.g., next 6 months).
- pMRP simulates demand propagation through BOM levels.
- System calculates required materials and capacities.
- Review Results:
- Fiori app displays pegging relationships (which demand consumes which supply).
- Shows shortages, overloads, and feasibility.
- Planner can adjust demand, capacity, or sourcing options.
- Decision Making:
- Adjust demand forecasts.
- Negotiate supplier capacity.
- Plan for hiring/overtime.
- Use results to refine operational MRP runs (MRP Live).
✅ Difference Between MRP Live and Predictive MRP
| Feature | MRP Live (MD01N) | Predictive MRP (pMRP) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Operational planning | Simulation / Strategic planning |
| Impact on Data | Creates real planned orders, requisitions | Only simulations (no impact) |
| Speed | Optimized for HANA, large data volumes | Even faster (focused data sets) |
| Horizon | Short to mid-term | Mid to long-term |
| Use Case | Day-to-day supply execution | What-if capacity and supply-demand scenarios |
🌟 Example Use Case
A company expects a new sales forecast of 20% higher demand for Product A in the next quarter.
- Planner uses pMRP to simulate:
- How much extra raw material will be needed.
- Whether supplier X can handle the extra demand.
- If internal work center capacity will get overloaded.
- Based on results, planner negotiates supplier contracts or hires temporary labor before running actual MRP Live.
👉 In summary: Predictive MRP = Scenario Planning Tool in S/4HANA. It enables strategic, AI-ready, in-memory simulations to validate supply and capacity feasibility before committing changes in the operational MRP.
We can deep-dive into AI/ML enhances Predictive MRP (e.g., demand sensing, auto-buffer adjustments), since this connects directly to my earlier blogs related to inventory provisioning using AI
MP's S/4HANA 