Hello Siva,
I believe Demand Planning is a great tool if configured and used properly otherwise it become just data entry tool within few months after implementation.
APO-DP common issues/concerns which I can think of -
1. There is no event/audit log for changes done within Planning book.
2. Uploading data directly from Excel into Planning Book.
3. Forecast Modeling and Error measurement is not easy to understand for the planners.
4. Outlier Correction does not work as desired.
5. CVC creation is tedious job(especially for new product).
6. Exception Mgmt. by Alert Monitor can be simplified for end user experience.
7. DP BOM functionality and all the issues related to it.
8. Multi screen/transaction code kind of application makes it more less user friendly experience and requires team of skilled consultants(Functional/Technical/Admin) to maintain/support the applications. Unlike in the past there were application which had single screen and with single person controlling/maintaining the entire application.
Common enhancements which I can think of now.
1. Automate or simplify CVC creation process
2. Automatic update of Selection profiles
3. Security role/authorizations based on Master data for Planning Book etc.
4. Uploading excel data into APO-DP
I want to emphasize importance of end user training should be included as a part of overall project pan. It should definitely cover Statistics Modeling and various Demand Planning functionalities.Finally, Any application or software program(like APO-DP) cannot be held accountable for a user’s lack of theoretical and practical knowledge.
Hope this will help.
Thank you
Satish Waghmare